It's panama season here in the Midwest. I get some looks when I'm out at Walmart or similar. But, invariably I do get compliments. A couple weeks' back, I was at a birthday party - lots of 20-somethings and 3 different people complimented me on the hat or hat/outfit. One guy asked me how much to buy my hat - I told him "no chance" with a smile. I didn't want to burst his bubble by explaining how much such a hat costs. I think that's a big part of it though - like any other clothing - there's a difference between an authentic Montecristi and a $40 tourist hat that just looks like a Panama.
The other aspect, to me, is the hat really does need to coordinate with the outfit. Just like a good looking tie looks bad with a suit/shirt it doesn't coordinate with, so too does a hat. Which is why I need to keep buying more hats so I have more versatility in how I pair them
The other aspect, to me, is the hat really does need to coordinate with the outfit. Just like a good looking tie looks bad with a suit/shirt it doesn't coordinate with, so too does a hat. Which is why I need to keep buying more hats so I have more versatility in how I pair them