All You Need to Know About Hat Etiquette

[Edward]

Never had a problem finding somewhere to put my hat in any restaurant I've been in. [huh] Probably as well - I don't drive, so no handy car to leave it in, and I won't leave the house without a hat on.

 

[gtdean48]

I know certain "clubs" in Atlanta don't allow hats worn inside after 5pm.
I went to one after a Braves game & was told to remove my team cap.
They felt it cheapened their ambiance or something. They're okay with the lunch crowd wearing caps & hats but not the evening crowd.

 

[1961MJS]

With the absence of hat racks, hat checks, etc. the safest place for my hat---anywhere--- is on my head. I'm always shocked at how many people---especially kids will grab them and treat them like they're worthless objects. You don't know how many times I've had to tell people just what that hat costs.

If anyone says anything about it I simply tell them that my head is substituting for a hat rack.

Hi

From reading "Hatless Jack: The President, the Fedora, and the History of American Style" I believe that the hat check girl is one of the major downfalls of hat wearing. According to the book, each and every time you checked a hat, you had to give the girl a quarter. That's fine today, giving a girl a quarter to watch a $300.00 hat. Back then (1940's an 1950's), a month of so of checking would suddenly become more expensive than the hat.

Later

 

[scottyrocks]

I know certain "clubs" in Atlanta don't allow hats worn inside after 5pm.
I went to one after a Braves game & was told to remove my team cap.
They felt it cheapened their ambiance or something. They're okay with the lunch crowd wearing caps & hats but not the evening crowd.

I've been in restaurants that ahev had signs that read 'No caps' or 'No ball caps.' No mention of real hats, though, probably because almost no one wears them. When I go into a real restaurant, I take off my real hat.

 

[scottyrocks]

Hi

From reading "Hatless Jack: The President, the Fedora, and the History of American Style" I believe that the hat check girl is one of the major downfalls of hat wearing. According to the book, each and every time you checked a hat, you had to give the girl a quarter. That's fine today, giving a girl a quarter to watch a $300.00 hat. Back then (1940's an 1950's), a month of so of checking would suddenly become more expensive than the hat.

Later

What's even better than that is watching the hat (and/or coat) checker jam the little number card into the ribbon. More than once I have had to ask said oaf to just put the ticket either on top of, or into, the hat.

 

[TipTop]

Tank bag? Tail trunk? Bikes can be very different. You have to understand where my POV comes from. Here is my ride of choice:

Not exactly a whole lotta room for anything but me and a sandwich.

Sandwich, tank bag? I am still looking for a spot to park registration papers.

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/14606732-md.jpg

 

[Blackthorn]

It's not even clear what type of hat it is from the picture. Although it has a bill, it's not a baseball cap. It is something called a Robo-cap, made of denim. It was one of those purchases I made at a bike event many years ago. It folds up smaller and flatter than a baseball cap and I don't have to worry about breaking the brim when I tucked it in somewhere while riding. The brim is a double layer of denim and it keeps the sun out of my eyes when off the bike. It has some other interesting features, but if a person doesn't like it, they don't like like it.

Anyway, this is what is looks like:

That's a majorly interesting hat, Scotty. I googled it and found the web site, and I have to say, if I stll wore hats other than fedoras, I'd be ordering one of those right now. How inventive!

 

[Destinys Agent]

OK, As a rank noob, I've read a fair amount of this thread. From this I have compiled my own etiquette which I believe is applicable today and also, in my area. Where I live, there isn't anyone wearing a hat. Neither are there many people who are likely to remember what the proper protocols are so:

I will remove my hat whilst inside whether that is in a church, doctors, hospital, public house, a post office, someone's dwelling or an office. It seems right to me to do so. If I enter an office building, I would remove my hat when being introduced to my appointment. I'm not sure about an elevator. I went out for the first time with my Jaxon C Crown yesterday and twice left my hat in place in an elevator with many woman present. That's before I knew what I was expected to do. I didn't seem to get a bad reaction, especially when I made sure the door didn't close on any of them. As for a bank, again, I feel it would be correct to remove my hat when being introduced to someone but not necessarily when being served by a cashier, female or not. I twice also rode the train with my hat on and that felt OK.

As for tipping my hat, as has been alluded to previously in this thread, it's unlikely that any of the 'ladies' I go past day to day would know what the protocol is but I'm certainly willing to remove my hat if speaking to a a female acquaintance or acquaintance's partner. I'm also willing to show my respect in a similar way to any older gents and their partners.

I think I will play it by ear for anything else. I definitely don't want to be disrespectful to anyone.

Are there any glaring omissions or does this sound OK - I especially welcome comments from my UK hat wearing colleagues.

 

[tealseal]

I think that your rules are perfect for the 21st century, Destinys Agent. :eusa_clap

Though a newbie as well, I agree with your take on hat etiquette in the 21st century. As much as myself (and I'm sure others on the Lounge) would like the hat etiquette of the Golden Era to resurface in its full form, the demise of hat racks in restaurants and hat check services (don't give your hat away to coat check folks! learn from my fail), in addition to the demise of proper hat wearing in general will not allow the etiquette of old to be attainable in all forms. Though you, like myself and many others, try our hardest because society WILL NOT tear me from my hat!
You raise a good point about people not recalling the proper protocol. I see so many men, aged 16-60, wearing their ballcaps in nice restaurants. The lack of "proper" etiquette certainly is not entirely a generational issue. For the money you spent on it, here's my opinion:

I don't doff my hat when completing a transaction where I am standing and dealing with someone over a counter, gender regardless. My grandfather, a very dapper man, backed me up on this one. If it happens to be a woman, I occasionally tug slightly on the brim immediately before I depart, as he did. This is the same action I perform if I have inconvenienced someone through collision, or the like.

For me, supermarkets, large department stores, malls, airports, train stations, and the post office feel like public places, and I keep my hat on. I can't imagine taking my hat off to browse H&M or run to catch a connection at Heathrow. For smaller, boutique-type stores I doff my hat. Any of the FL experts that can chime in on when it's OK to keep a hat on when you're "technically" inside would be a big help!

 

[scottyrocks]

Sandwich, tank bag? I am still looking for a spot to park registration papers.

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/14606732-md.jpg

I always keep my papers in my wallet, on me, never with the vehicle. Bu yeah, there's precious little room in those saddlebags.

 

[scottyrocks]

That's a majorly interesting hat, Scotty. I googled it and found the web site, and I have to say, if I stll wore hats other than fedoras, I'd be ordering one of those right now. How inventive!

Yes, and it's very comfortable. The band is not standard, though. It comes with a plain black leather belt buckle band. The southwest-style band on mine was purchased separately.

 

[mikeg]

As a hat newbie, I have been reading a lot here, and learning a lot also! One thing I am struggling with is a hat at dinner in a "nice" restaurant. I have not done this yet, but here are my thoughts: I would hate to put my hat somewhere (extra chair, etc.) and have something spilled on it, stepped on, left behind, etc etc. Also, if I am going to dinner with my wife, I can not wear the hat in the car- not enough head room. So we could drive to the restaurant, park, get out of car and put on my hat. Walk to the front door of the restaurant and take my hat off. Eat dinner, reverse process. So why bother with the hat at all? Just leave it at home?
I would rather wear the hat, even at dinner.

Any more thoughts? Any way around this issue? Do you all still go out with your hat, even if you are only wearing your hat from the car to the door of the restaurant?

Mike

 

[tealseal]

Any more thoughts? Any way around this issue? Do you all still go out with your hat, even if you are only wearing your hat from the car to the door of the restaurant?

Mike

Mike,
I'm also a hat newbie (1.5 years). I put a hat on to fetch the paper. I also frequently travel in vehicles that cannot accommodate a hat do "nice" restaurants. Wear the hat!! Even if it's for 50 feet I feel weird without one. When at a restaurant, I put it on an empty seat. If one is not available, I put it on the ground. If I'm at a nice place, I usually have a jacket, which means I always have a clean handkerchief. That goes under my chair, and the hat on the hankie.
If it won't fit because of chair dimension or features, there is a rather ingenious elastic-and-clip apparatus floating around in the lounge that suspends your hat behind your chair.

All in all: wear and love that hat!

 

[NivlemRulz]

I may get beaten up for this, but I have a still developing rule about hats at someone's house. If I am at an informal gathering at a friends house, I usually leave my hat on. I will wear it on the back of my head most of the time inside. For eating at a table (formal meal) in someone's house I would remove it. Also, I will eat with it on at McDonalds, but not at Ruth Chris Steak House. I also, can't bring myself to leave it on in my Mom's house regardless of the situation haha.

 

[seabass]

Come On guys !
how many of you are sporting your hats when at home on line here F L ?
i do

 

[tealseal]

What's the deal with performing arts?

I have found it difficult to be carrying a hat while performing "ticket wrangling" activities that precede entering the House proper. Is it acceptable to keep one's hat on in the foyer of the theater/hall while obtaining tickets and then presenting them to the usher before finally doffing it once one's seat has been attained? When one has to contend with a lady's jacket in addition, hand space becomes premium (assuming the coat check is not available, as occasionally happens).

 

[Historyteach24]

I am constantly wearing my hats at my house but that it my house other houses and I defer to the owner

 

[Davey_Speedstar]

I have found it difficult to be carrying a hat while performing "ticket wrangling" activities that precede entering the House proper.

I think it's a matter of what's reasonable. If you're already juggling cash, wallet, coat, partner's coat and parafinalia I think it's reasonable to keep your hat on your head rather than introduce it to your juggling routine.

Remember you're there to be entertained, not to do the entertaining

 

[dnjan]

I also, can't bring myself to leave it on in my Mom's house regardless of the situation haha.

If you wouldn't wear it inside at your mom's, why would you consider it OK to wear it inside at someone else's mom's?

 

[NivlemRulz]

Haha, I'm younger than I guess people assume, my friends are not Mom's or Dad's yet...

I guess in general, I have no problem with hats inside, but depending on the company, and/or whose house will determine what I do with my hat. When I wear a hat I want to wear it, not put it in a closet