How do folks react to your hat wearing?

[Short Balding Guy]

On our way back from picking up my hats from Mike at NW Hat Co, we stopped to get something to eat at McD. It was rainy, windy and stormy with worse weather on the way, so we wanted to make things quick. As we were waiting to order, this guy walks by and says "I like your hat," or "Nice hat," or something like that. I said thanks, and after we got our food and picked a table I told my wife, "this may sound crazy to you, but I feel like I want to give that guy my hat." To which she replied, "You ARE crazy!"

But I couldn't help that feeling. I had a new custom 100% beaver fedora in my trunk, along with the Stratton western-to-outback conversion that Mike had also cleaned up for me. I felt like I had 2 new hats in my trunk, and the hat on my head is going to get less use because I like the Stratton outback so much. I was wearing an LL Bean Moose River hat that was made by Stetson. I paid $45 for it, and use it a lot as a beater hat that I don't care about getting soaked or a little dirty. And there was that young man, sitting with his wife and two young daughters eating their breakfast at McDonalds. I felt like it was the right thing to do but let my wife's remark stop me.

I'm not rolling in dough, so just giving away $45 is not something I would normally do. But I still wish I had given my hat to that guy.

I understand the urge. For folks who appreciate hats it is easy to gift a hat. My guitar buddy appreciates hats and I regularly source him hats or gift him a hat our of my wardrobe. We wear nearly the same size and it it is an easy gift. He makes his living playing acoustic blues guitar and wears hats and suits when he plays in public. This summer I found him a great vtg. Stetson Whippet. We get a kick out of playing together in vtg. hats and suits/jackets and dress shoes. My nephews who are nearly the same size regularly come over and "trade-in" a previously gifted hat for a different one. Between vintage and modern (VS) they are well hated. For a couple of my athletes, graduated and off in college who appreciate, they have been gifted and I have been rewarded with pics of them out and about.

I enjoy sharing the hats with those who appreciate. For those who see them as novelty costume items - no way. For those who reach out to touch them - no way. For those who are uncommitted - a polite I do not have one at the moment.

Hatted or capped daily, Eric -

 

[Frunobulax]

As a season ticket holder to our local minor league team, the ushers and ticket takers became familiar faces. One gentleman always points at my hat or his head when he sees me, to signify he's recognizing my lid. He's vocalized a couple of compliments, as well. I, too, have had a fantasy of going down to the park and plopping one on his head for fun. I have no idea what his size is, though.

 

[PeterGunnLives]

I generally only wear my hats in cold or rainy weather. My go-to's are low-end Stetson fedora/trilbies, like this: http://www.jcpenney.com/stetson-donegal-fedora/prod.jump?ppId=pp5007850234&catId=SearchResults&searchTerm=stetson wool fedora
I'll wear either a gray one or a brown one, depending on what else I'm wearing. I don't get much reaction from anyone when I wear them.

...except for the time at the end of the month last October when I was in an upscale grocery store and I happened to be wearing the brown hat along with a tan car coat, a pair of brogues and a narrow tie, and a store employee thought it was a Mad Men costume. I had to explain that it was actually the way I dress every day.

 

[PeterGunnLives]

Oh yeah, and there was that time when I was wearing the brown fedora along with a navy blue suit and a pair of cap-toe oxfords and a narrow tie, and I was walking down the street to go into a record store. A lady who seemed to be in her sixties did a double-take and said to me, "For a second, I thought you were my dad!" I'm only in my early thirties.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Used to think I looked stupid in a hat, but that was before I started wearing fedoras. And it didn't help when I bought a flat cap as a teenager and my mom told me I looked like Stanley Myron Handelman. . . .

That name rang a very faint bell, so I Ixquick'd it. Check. I was a major league Merv Griffin watcher in his early days, so I'm surprised I didn't know who you meant immediately!

 

[M Hatman]

I wear my hats in the cooler weather and in inclimate conditions. I have varied coats and do often wear suits ans sportcoats.....always with bowties! Now the bowties often get a LOT of comment, especially as I have several differant styles and they are all self-tie (I tie them myself). The hats get comments as well, secondary to the bowties and has ALWAYS been positive......


M

 

[Spats McGee]

I wear hats year-round. Felt in the winter, straw in the summer, with the occasional ballcap for sporting events, yard work, etc. My line of work is pretty formal (I'm an attorney), so ballcaps to work are out of the question. I'm also one of only a handful of attorneys that's known to wear a fedora pretty much all the time, so I've kind of become known for it. Other attorneys comment regularly about having seen me walking to court.

When I was in private practice, if I had to meet a (previously unmet) client at the courthouse, I'd just tell them "You won't be able to miss me. I'll be the cat in the hat."

A number of other attorneys have asked about my hats, and many of them seem like they'd like to try a "real" hat out, but the conservative nature of the legal profession makes them reluctant to stand out.

As for non-lawyers, I get pretty consistent comments, with the occasional "Inspector Gadget" or "Indiana Jones" remark.

 

[Xylophile]

As much as I like a good hat it just isn't something worn much nowadays. Wearing a hat makes you stand out most of the time. In the Internet I've seen a very aggressive anti-fedora stance and a lot of stereotyping on anyone that wears a hat, especially on us younger men.

I haven't had any negative remarks thrown my way, but a family member told me that I was getting some looks when we went to Walmart after church on a Sunday. My friends usually say I dress like the Godfather, I mostly wear chinos with sportcoats, and I've gotten called a pachuco too. All in good fun, never really had any negative reaction from anyone. My Grandfather says my hats suit me and he wears western hats from time to time. What I read on the Internet gets to me sometimes and I become self-consensus about my hat but I still wear 'em because I like it and the weather here sometimes demands it.

At first when I started wearing my new hats, people who know me greeted me with a big smile at the least and some folks teased me a little, in a way that sounded like they wished they had that hat. Strangers smile and seem to be looking at the hat and taking it in like "hey... that looks cool!". I have akubras, a country club polystraw and a BGCD. The CD happens to have a very vintage shape and does look pretty cool. And people tend to smile at me and calle me "sir" more often with a hat on. Its fun!

 

[Redfokker]

Working on a college campus, wearing a "non-hipster" vintage fedora kind of stands out. I think it confuses them.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Working on a college campus, wearing a "non-hipster" vintage fedora kind of stands out. I think it confuses them.

Kick the hat back and flip the brim up and you'll fit right in.

 

[moontheloon]

Kick the hat back and flip the brim up and you'll fit right in.

yeah ... the wearing the hat on the back of the head thing just doesn't fly with me

everyone does their own thing ... I'm all for that ... just think it looks mad wack

 

[Bob Roberts]

yeah ... the wearing the hat on the back of the head thing just doesn't fly with me

everyone does their own thing ... I'm all for that ... just think it looks mad wack

Its all abt degrees. I kick it back just enough. So I only look a little wack.

 

[moontheloon]

Its all abt degrees. I kick it back just enough. So I only look a little wack.

I mean the kick back where the entire forehead is exposed ... like sitting back behind the ears type thing

I can't get down with that look

 

[1mach1]

I went to a Halloween party tonight......begurgingly.
The things we do for our wives.
I was dressed as Indiana Jones. I had three guys ask if I was a cowboy. Really??

 

[Bob Roberts]

I mean the kick back where the entire forehead is exposed ... like sitting back behind the ears type thing

I can't get down with that look

Yep looks gay.

 

[Bob Roberts]

I went to a Halloween party tonight......begurgingly.
The things we do for our wives.
I was dressed as Indiana Jones. I had three guys ask if I was a cowboy. Really??

Wtf Mach? You look abt as much of a cowboy as I do.

 

[EstherWeis]

Kick the hat back and flip the brim up and you'll fit right in.

The funny thing is when people come to my place to order a hat they put on the fitting models like that on instinct.

9 out of 10 I have to step in and have to put it on them correctly.


I think it looks insanely ridiculous on most.
Some I've seen can pull it off, but very rarely.

Can't help but wonder either how the heck they don't loose their hat...

But you know, des gustibus non est disputandum and all that.

 

[moontheloon]

I went to a Halloween party tonight......begurgingly.
The things we do for our wives.
I was dressed as Indiana Jones. I had three guys ask if I was a cowboy. Really??

Cowboy?

they don't know Richard Kimble when they see him?


You switched the samples so Devlin McGregor can give you .... Provasic


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EstherWeis]

I went to a Halloween party tonight......begurgingly.
The things we do for our wives.
I was dressed as Indiana Jones. I had three guys ask if I was a cowboy. Really??

At least there was cheese!

 

[Frunobulax]

I went to a Halloween party tonight......begurgingly.
The things we do for our wives.
I was dressed as Indiana Jones. I had three guys ask if I was a cowboy. Really??

So you went all in as Indy and all she did was throw on a set of fuzzy ears? Doesn't seem fair to me, Harv!