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How do folks react to your hat wearing?

emigran

Practically Family
Messages
719
Location
USA NEW JERSEY
The supermarket where I frequent each weekend knows me an my chapeau fetish... this past week a fellow came up to me and says... Geez... you don't see those anymore... really nice... where did you get one... we then spoke fondly where and how and about the days when EVERY man wore a fedora EVERYWHERE... always makes my day...!!!
 
Messages
19,425
Location
Funkytown, USA
I think it gives a more "finished" look. It shows you gave a darn when you reached in the closet. Plus, it adds height, which may command a little more respect.
 

Bob Roberts

I'll Lock Up
Messages
11,201
Location
milford ct
I have to get comfortable and used to people looking at me and just smiling... its constantly happening. All the time! I need to learn how to respond in kind and not ignore the looks and stares and smiles.
 

wemedge

New in Town
Messages
28
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
After much deliberation, I have an Akubra Banjo Paterson incoming from DelMonico Hatter. I view hats as a functional part of daily gear. I depend on hats for sun and rain protection. I also have a Federation which has shrunk some so I don't wear it much any more. I wear my hats with pretty standard khakis, toe-cap boots, button-down shirts and sport coat/blazer/Filson tin cloth coats, depending on weather or season. I also have a Filson tin cloth Packer hat which has been great for colder weather. I'm in my 40s.

I must admit, though, having a couple of "cowboy"/Indiana Jones comments (in a not nice manner) from random idiot strangers while wearing the Fed and reading all the "loser" Fedora vitriol on the web gives me pause. It shouldn't bother me, but it makes me a little sad.
 
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Hat Dandy

One of the Regulars
Messages
239
Location
Maple, ON
I must admit, though, having a couple of "cowboy"/Indiana Jones comments (in a not nice manner) from random idiot strangers while wearing the Fed and reading all the "loser" Fedora vitriol on the web gives me pause. It shouldn't bother me, but it makes me a little sad.

Bear in mind those comments from strangers and online posts are from individuals that are effectively mental children or are people who have some form of arrested development. It is best to disregard their comments entirely. Most adults appreciate a fine hat, even though it may not be something they may personally wear.
 

Bob Roberts

I'll Lock Up
Messages
11,201
Location
milford ct
Bear in mind those comments from strangers and online posts are from individuals that are effectively mental children or are people who have some form of arrested development. It is best to disregard their comments entirely. Most adults appreciate a fine hat, even though it may not be something they may personally wear.

At least half the compliments I get are from young adults.
 

sergejvandervreede

One Too Many
Messages
1,934
Location
NL
Today an elderly gentleman complimented me on my panama a young girl passing by rolled her eyes and made a sound like: 'prfffllllgrmmphhh'

Pretty sure she didn't mean it as a compliment [emoji1]
 

tropicalbob

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
miami, fl
I've gotten so used to wearing my straws that when a lady complimented me recently on my VS I had completely forgotten I had it on.
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
men in hats sometimes touch their brim in a "tip of the hat" sort of gesture

most verbal comments usually come from women ... younger women may say nice hat ... older women will sometimes say something similar but with more of a nostalgic tone sort of referencing days of old when men wore hats

children have the best comments ... at a Kings supermarket this morning as I was wearing my Akubra Camp Draft ... a little girl around 4 or 5 asked me if I was a cowboy

absolutely priceless
 

stratcat

One of the Regulars
Messages
212
Location
UK
children have the best comments ... at a Kings supermarket this morning as I was wearing my Akubra Camp Draft ... a little girl around 4 or 5 asked me if I was a cowboy

absolutely priceless
I had a classic from a little boy who came up to me in the school playground as I was going into one school I visit and asked if I was Guy Fawkes!
I know my Fed IV has a high crown, but come on........ (it did make me laugh though)
 

WesternHatWearer

A-List Customer
Messages
366
Location
Georgia
A fellow (the man is in his 30's) repeatedly calls me "Tex" because of the hat and boots. The first few times I ignored the comment and walked on. Now, I just respond by calling him various other states of the union. He will ask why I called him, for example, Colorado; I smile and tell him to think it through before walking off.
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
I thought of this thread about an hour ago

today is my wifes birthday ... I took her on a shopping spree to her favorite store Free People ... I'm wearing my Fawn Camp Draft

first in the parking lot while getting my daughters stroller out of the trunk a man probably in his late 50s walking by said ... hey where do I get a hat like that ... I quickly explained that it is made by an Australian company called Akubra and told him where he could find it on line ... he said... I'm a hat guy myself and I need to get me one of those that right there is sharp.
I thanked him and went on my way

then when leaving and putting putting the stroller back into the trunk a young man probably mid twenties ... stoner type ... long bushy hair and an old Sonics caps said...
hey man sweet hat !
I said thank you sir ... then he responded
thats obviously not something you find in a mall ... to which I said.... no sir it is not

funny how in the same spot going in and coming out I got two comments by two completely different type people... honestly it felt good.

my wife thought it was funny how the comments made me smile
 

AndyR

One of the Regulars
Messages
271
Location
Illinois
Mostly people just smile, like Bob Roberts mentioned early on. I just smile and give a nod hello back to them. Family members say 'nice hat', 'looks good on you'.

Now friends...old friends...those people that used to be closer...well, that's where the nasty stuff comes from. Some of them always seem loaded for bear, with the nasty comments. I have our annual softball team reunion BBQ coming up next month and I thought about wearing a Panama. Then I started thinking about all the derogatory comments and cuts that would come from some of them. Rather than go and not wear it, I'm thinking of not going at all, for the first time.

Friend...I have to start being careful about how I throw that word 'friend' around.

Andy
 

foamy

A-List Customer
Messages
364
Location
Eastern Shore of Maryland
Having just recently gotten into hats, I started out being quite a bit self-conscious. I don't know why as I get looks all the time for the long hair. Add a hat on top of that. I've only been wearing Panamas (3), newsboys (2), berets (2) and buckets (2). Nobody notices a bucket much. The flats get looks and the Panamas more. Generally, the berets get the eyeballs. I've gotten one snicker (young girl) and one compliment (older woman). The few other hat wearers I encounter generally give a nod and smile. When the Fall sets in, I'll start with the felt. That should get the eye brows going.

As to my friends, they'll pull my leg a bit, sometimes make a joke, but they're not malicious at all and it's not constant. They know me, consider me "weird" (being an artist helps) and like me anyway.
 
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AndyR

One of the Regulars
Messages
271
Location
Illinois
A fellow (the man is in his 30's) repeatedly calls me "Tex" because of the hat and boots.

HA! That reminds me of that old Clint Eastwood movie (Coogan's Bluff), where he is an Arizona Ranger in NY. and people keep calling him Tex. He rolls his eyes, sighs and responds softy, "Arizona".

Andy
 

photogravity

One of the Regulars
Messages
148
Location
Central MD
Most people don't usually say anything unless I'm wearing a cowboy/western hat. That said, when I was at a party about 2-3 weeks back I met a hat aficionado who nearly flipped when he saw my Resistol Flatop. We ended up discussing hats for at least 1/2 hour. He's now looking for a Flatop of his own.
 
Messages
19,425
Location
Funkytown, USA
Haven't posted in this thread for a while, but lately mostly compliments. My wife and I were on our way to the ballgame a few weeks ago, her in an Adam Milan we found for her several weeks ago, and me in my Adam Pacesetter (The Adam Family? Oh, sometimes I just crack myself up). A couple about our age (I almost said, "older couple," sometimes I forget I'm not 25 any more). Both nodded at us and said, "Nice hats." And since I've been wearing more fedoras than ball caps at the games I attend, I've gotten a few comments there, as well. Mostly along the "Nifty hat," lines.
 

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