How do folks react to your hat wearing?

[Rmccamey]

Thanks for the background, Stefan. I think I'll stick with my modest Gamsbart. The exampes you shared are nice but way out of my league!

The Gamsbart is worn on the hat as hunting trophy and therefore as a display of manliness. They were never intended as brushes. Not always worn on the side, but often on the back as well. They can get quite prominent!

View attachment 556874 View attachment 556873

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[harrytemp]

The more expensive the better. LOL

I wore two similar hats one was a now defunct department store in the 60's hat and a Borsalino. Both creased the same. I get compliments on the Borsalino and I think I look better in it.

It wears much more naturally and looks more 'traveled' due to the soft felt, where the other was stiff and sits like a freshly new hat.

 

[steur]

View attachment 556923
Gämsbart (translates into English as: a tuft of chamois hair worn as a hat decoration,) well you live and learn Stefan. Without Google I would have translated Gämsbart as a hedgehog, a pet hedgehog!

A hedgehog wouldn't be much of a hunting trophy though and hunting a pet is a no go no matter what. Wearing a plume like this would turn the heads where you live I'd imagine.

Thanks for the background, Stefan. I think I'll stick with my modest Gamsbart. The exampes you shared are nice but way out of my league!

A wise choice for now, I think, Randy. The bigger ones go for serious money!

 

[hatsRme]

The Gamsbart is worn on the hat as hunting trophy and therefore as a display of manliness. They were never intended as brushes. Not always worn on the side, but often on the back as well. They can get quite prominent!

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Wow, Stefan! Thank you for that deposit into our brain trust sir. Googoo helped me find Ernst, so we could get our own. Talk about a niche market!!
https://ernstlicht.com/250-hats-hat...v9zi7RQRCA6e1d3Cnzpz8HJYd6SHKFfBoCGiMQAvD_BwE

 

[harrytemp]

Wow, Stefan! Thank you for that deposit into our brain trust sir. Googoo helped me find Ernst, so we could get our own. Talk about a niche market!!
https://ernstlicht.com/250-hats-hat...v9zi7RQRCA6e1d3Cnzpz8HJYd6SHKFfBoCGiMQAvD_BwE

LOL

You are a brave man.

Is that $USD?

I have a beaver brush for shaving and I can take it apart and make somtehing similar. lol

 

[steur]

Wow, Stefan! Thank you for that deposit into our brain trust sir. Googoo helped me find Ernst, so we could get our own. Talk about a niche market!!
https://ernstlicht.com/250-hats-hat...v9zi7RQRCA6e1d3Cnzpz8HJYd6SHKFfBoCGiMQAvD_BwE

A bit late for Octoberfest, but at least we've found something that Max @drmaxtejeda doesn't have yet.

 

[Rmccamey]

A bit late for Octoberfest, but at least we've found something that Max @drmaxtejeda doesn't have yet.

SCOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!,



On a serious note, @drmaxtejeda Max needs to grace us with current pictures of his Ermine and his Mac 100.

 

[Phimaux]

Unfortunately where I live hats are regarded as a fools tool to hide baldness, combine that with the fact that a lot of people are wearing ill fitting hats or brand beanies and you get a recipe for disaster.

I have been laughed at and insulted (and also trying to) about my hat wearing by either younger people who give a damn or around my age who also give a damn about everything and everyone (a good way to say they have zero education and respect for others except themselves). Even try to snatch a photo of me to upload to whatever social media to be ridiculed and probably label as a fascist (according to my sister which already labeled me as one for wearing 1940s/1950s style clothes but reassure his opinion as soon as I started wearing a fedora)

Sorry for the rant, but apart from that, the only good reaction I had was from an old austrian gentleman who said I look straight out of an old clothes catalog and unlike other people I'm well dress not playing dress up

 

[Blare]

Unfortunately where I live hats are regarded as a fools tool to hide baldness, combine that with the fact that a lot of people are wearing ill fitting hats or brand beanies and you get a recipe for disaster.

I have been laughed at and insulted (and also trying to) about my hat wearing by either younger people who give a damn or around my age who also give a damn about everything and everyone (a good way to say they have zero education and respect for others except themselves). Even try to snatch a photo of me to upload to whatever social media to be ridiculed and probably label as a fascist (according to my sister which already labeled me as one for wearing 1940s/1950s style clothes but reassure his opinion as soon as I started wearing a fedora)

Sorry for the rant, but apart from that, the only good reaction I had was from an old austrian gentleman who said I look straight out of an old clothes catalog and unlike other people I'm well dress not playing dress up

Well that sure is disappointing to hear... and rather surprising as I thought hats are generally part of Spanish culture.

 

[Phimaux]

Well that sure is disappointing to hear... and rather surprising as I thought hats are generally part of Spanish culture.

Only during the Fairs and the Rocío and just the traditional Cordoba Hat and even then some people skip them completely as to not suffer this stigma, especially young people in their late 10s and early 20s.

It could also be that I live in a "rural area" (biggest town in the zone) and often people tend to be extremely closed minded or outright violent (in a psychological sense) to new things at least here. I can say I did not have this problem in cities like Jerez de la Frontera, Sevilla or Madrid even saw some chaps around my same age of 24 years wearing fedoras in Madrid, probably because people there usually don't pay attention to your clothes unless you are going nude.

Edit: people in my home town lack stimulus and new things, their first answer to is to ridicule or be angry about this new stimuli and new things, people being different or simply having other tastes don't match their very limited minds and views which makes you the gossip of the younger generations in town (in my case) or just the gossip of the people living here.

Like I said the only normal/good interaction was with an Austrian gentleman from my town which I will be grateful for

Sorry for the rant, but apart from that, the only good reaction I had was from an old austrian gentleman who said I look straight out of an old clothes catalog and unlike other people I'm well dress not playing dress up

For the rest I ignore everything and continue with my day as I didn't hear/saw a thing.

 

[Granville]

I've been wearing fedoras for a couple of years now and the most common remark I get is "My father always wore a hat!" Early on I would ramble a bit about my hat journey and, yes, daddy always wore a hat (short-brimmed - it was the sixties) and my lids are in large part a tribute to him, but now I've boiled it down to a succinct, "That's why I wear 'em."

 

[DeaconKC]

I had one of the nicest things happen at church a couple weeks ago. I usually wear a western style fedora [broad brim] and there is a teen boy there who is autistic. He has kind of take a liking to me and he said he really liked my hat and asked if he could try it on [this is VERY unusual for someone autistic]. Anyway it was a hair too big but he really liked it. I had a new hat like it but in a different color that I had bought but it was a bit tight, so I had only worn it a couple of times. So I took it to Church and it fit him perfectly. He loves it and his Mom said she has to tell him to take it off!

 

[hatsRme]

I had one of the nicest things happen at church a couple weeks ago. I usually wear a western style fedora [broad brim] and there is a teen boy there who is autistic. He has kind of take a liking to me and he said he really liked my hat and asked if he could try it on [this is VERY unusual for someone autistic]. Anyway it was a hair too big but he really liked it. I had a new hat like it but in a different color that I had bought but it was a bit tight, so I had only worn it a couple of times. So I took it to Church and it fit him perfectly. He loves it and his Mom said she has to tell him to take it off!

Very, very, VERY nice, Deacon!!

 

[scottyrocks]

I had one of the nicest things happen at church a couple weeks ago. I usually wear a western style fedora [broad brim] and there is a teen boy there who is autistic. He has kind of take a liking to me and he said he really liked my hat and asked if he could try it on [this is VERY unusual for someone autistic]. Anyway it was a hair too big but he really liked it. I had a new hat like it but in a different color that I had bought but it was a bit tight, so I had only worn it a couple of times. So I took it to Church and it fit him perfectly. He loves it and his Mom said she has to tell him to take it off!

That's a great story. You did a very nice thing.

 

[RickP]

Out here in deep East Texas there are lots of baseball caps, trucker caps, and this time of year lots of straw hats. There are a few brimmed felt wearers, but most are older gentleman. Since Im retired I need something to do, so my new job is to try and add a different flair to the area. I get some comments/ complements from folks (particularly middle aged and older ladies), and lots of little kiddos noticing in the grocery. i HAVE had a couple of guys ask me about how they can find a nice hat. A few weekends ago, we had a three day Blues festival here in Crockett, Tx, and it was great to see lots of brimmed hats in the crowd. No negative reactions here, theyre just not used to seeing it

 

[SnowyViking]

When I first moved where I'm living now not a lot people knew me so I'm now called the man with the hat.Guess since I'm the only one here wearing a hat it was easier than remembering my name

 

[M Hatman]

People are used to me here in my town and circles, I DO often get POSITIVE comments from others, especially women (of all ages, which is something for a fat old guy). Often "dapper" or just "well dressed" is used. Sometimes people will ask if I am coming from or going to: church, court, or a funeral. Often whomever is at a drive up service (very often young men and women) will say something about my "cool" hat, which I find interesting. One young man at a McDonald's did want to know where he could get one like I was wearing, as it was exactly what he wanted.

Women (again of all ages) who are well dressed will VERY often comment on my dress. My male friends will often comment on this attention, where in I say: "get a hat, and perhaps dress a little better". I have also received the inevitable, "I wish my husband/boy friend would dress like you" some times while they are standing there! I then have to beat a hasty retreat in those circumstances...... Actually, the men have often been quite well behaved, sometimes asking about the hat and/or my clothes.

Men will sometimes say something as well, but often just that wow glance, "I like the hat but am afraid to ask", or perhaps "What a goof" I am never really sure which. They will sometimes say "I wish I could pull that off" to which I often say: "You Can, if you want to". VERY rarely do I get the "where can I get one".

I do often wear a tie with sport coat when out and about, but drop the sport coat for just a waistcoat in warmer weather (still with tie, but a collarless shirt when VERY warm). Often a mix of modern and vintage, but usually modern with vintage accessories (watch, hat, tie, pocket silk, ring).

Now, unusually (even for me) while recently in Wisconsin at a Antique show, about half the dealers (no exaggeration) and some visitors said everything from "wow, I like how you are dressed" , "Awesome/Love the hat and outfit", to two people saying I was the "best dressed man at the show"! This also happened in two antique shops as well. I do not usually have that many comments.

At historical events I will very often have that many comments, and the "what is your hat and where can I get one", but that is to be expected there, where fellow history buffs/re-enactors like to talk clothes and accessories.

Now outside that day in Wisconsin, In addition to the well dressed comments, I have often had comments in Missouri about my dress asking if I am a traveling preacher , NO KIDDING. That seems to be unique to most areas in Missouri, and occasionally southern Iowa. EDIT: (Now about as often, they think I am Law Enforcement or an Auctioneer, especially if I am wearing a thin ribbon OR type hat, it is just I am always surprised about the preacher thing.)

VERY, VERY, VERY, rarely have I heard anything derogatory from any age group. So much so, I actually cannot remember the last time that happened.

Interestingly, I have just as many positive comments from the younger (even gen Z) as I do the older groups. And yes for the older generations I often get the "My father wore a hat like yours" and one time at a truck stop in Iowa and older couple stopped at my table to say how much they like my hat, and the lady said "You made me think of my father" with a smile......

Whew.....that was a long one....even for me.

 

[belfastboy]

I have a female client that has purchased a number of hats from me. She is very well dressed, classic Audrey Hepburn vibe. She tells me she often gets comments from other women on her great hats and a question on "where do you get them?". She replies..."I know a guy!". They say ..."No, really, where do you get them?". She replies, "No, really, I know a guy." "He is my hatter, I have a tailor and now I have a hatter.". She takes great pleasure in announcing that she has a 'guy'....her very own custom hat maker. I have never been 'the guy' before.

 

[Zombie_61]

Well that sure is disappointing to hear... and rather surprising as I thought hats are generally part of Spanish culture.

As did I, having lived just east of Los Angeles my whole life in a mostly Latino neighborhood. Wide brimmed straw hats are certainly popular here among gardeners, and straw "western/cowboy" hats are popular for family gatherings, backyard barbecues, events that involve horses and bulls and such. But then, these are people of Spanish heritage living in the United States, so I suppose it really boils down to the customs of each locale and country.

 

[scottyrocks]

Once, at a wedding I attended (hatted), I was asked if was the rabbi.