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How do folks react to your hat wearing?

Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,871
Location
Minnesota, USA
My wife, son, and I were at Men's Wearhouse today. My son and I were getting fitted for custom suits for my daughter's wedding this April. I walked in wearing what I wore to worship services this morning. The salespeople there are used to seeing me wearing a hat. I usually get nice comments but today was different. The store was the most active I've ever seen. My salesperson had to keep running off to help others. Which was fine with me as my wife and I were busy making some color choices etc. I was sitting at a tall table/desk looking at swatches when I noticed several people hovering around me. I had my fedora sitting on the table/desk crown down. When I looked up the comments started coming. All very nice and polite. Before I knew it they had formed a semi-circle around me and I was fielding questions about hats and hat styles. Later, one of the salespersons said it looked like I was holding court!

This was the outfit I was wearing. (Picture taken outside of the church building this morning.)

View attachment 212017

Yours would be the only court I would volunteer to attend. Bill you have style. I like your style.

Thanks for sharing. Eric -
 

Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,871
Location
Minnesota, USA
Hats bring back memories for some.

This morning my chores included splitting some wood. The wood was chainsawed and stacked near the road so I set up my kit ready to split and transport to the fire pit. I was cutting to add to the rick cord in the backyard. (A rick cord is 4'x8'x16".) I started and was down to my flannel shirt and fedora quickly in this mornings 15' temps.

After a couple of stacks and hauls (on a toboggan) to the backyard I was nearly done. I pulled my cotton handkerchief out of my pocket and wiped my brow and the leather sweat on the hat. It was at this time I noticed a local police car parked a ways off with two officers walking towards me. I stopped and headed to them. We met in the street. The officers hailed good morning. The officers said they see me walking my dog around the neighborhoods and lake often. They notice me because of the dog(s) and my hats. We shook hands in greeting. The older one asked if his partner could take a pic of the two of us. He told me his grandfather wears hats like mine and he wanted to bring the image to show grandfather. He was visiting his grandfather this evening at the retirement center. Stopping today was motivated by his memory of his grandfather splitting wood in his fedora at the family cabin.

We posed, sweaty me and a big burley policeman with his protective vest and an overcoat. After the picture taken, handshakes and then we moved on. Me to finish my "small wood project" and the officers to their morning. When I see those officers again I will follow up on grandfathers reaction.

It brought pleasant memories of my late grandfather. He wore a fedora all the time, to work, home projects, hunting, fishing, auto repair - all the time.

i-dTMVxc3-M.jpg


Cheers to nephew, grandfather and my neighborhood policemen.

Eric -
 

quikrick

One Too Many
Messages
1,100
Location
Bay Area, California
Hats bring back memories for some.

This morning my chores included splitting some wood. The wood was chainsawed and stacked near the road so I set up my kit ready to split and transport to the fire pit. I was cutting to add to the rick cord in the backyard. (A rick cord is 4'x8'x16".) I started and was down to my flannel shirt and fedora quickly in this mornings 15' temps.

After a couple of stacks and hauls (on a toboggan) to the backyard I was nearly done. I pulled my cotton handkerchief out of my pocket and wiped my brow and the leather sweat on the hat. It was at this time I noticed a local police car parked a ways off with two officers walking towards me. I stopped and headed to them. We met in the street. The officers hailed good morning. The officers said they see me walking my dog around the neighborhoods and lake often. They notice me because of the dog(s) and my hats. We shook hands in greeting. The older one asked if his partner could take a pic of the two of us. He told me his grandfather wears hats like mine and he wanted to bring the image to show grandfather. He was visiting his grandfather this evening at the retirement center. Stopping today was motivated by his memory of his grandfather splitting wood in his fedora at the family cabin.

We posed, sweaty me and a big burley policeman with his protective vest and an overcoat. After the picture taken, handshakes and then we moved on. Me to finish my "small wood project" and the officers to their morning. When I see those officers again I will follow up on grandfathers reaction.

It brought pleasant memories of my late grandfather. He wore a fedora all the time, to work, home projects, hunting, fishing, auto repair - all the time.

i-dTMVxc3-M.jpg


Cheers to nephew, grandfather and my neighborhood policemen.

Eric -
That's awesome Eric. What a great heart warming experience!
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,797
Location
New Forest
Cheers to nephew, grandfather and my neighborhood policemen. Eric -
That's a great story Eric. My Grandfather too was never to be seen without his fedora. He was a retired police officer, sadly, after his death, we couldn't get a single photo. He had three rather possessive sisters, they grabbed every small detail and chattel of his life. By that time, Grandmother was so bereft, they had been married for an amazing eighty years, she was in no condition to stop them. All I ever wanted was a copy of the photo of their wedding day. They stood under an apple tree, in an orchard, with the sunlight streaming through, it was so romantic. Even that photo, I was denied.

But I have uncovered a surprise for you. There was a time when your police, and ours, never had the need to wear body armour. And when two of Miami's finest officers overheard English accents, then how could they not, just this once, dispense with protocol, and pose with a young English lady? They weren't to know that one day, something called the World Wide Web would make them famous on a forum. Nor would a much younger wife of mine.
R001-004.JPG
 

Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,871
Location
Minnesota, USA
That's a great story Eric. My Grandfather too was never to be seen without his fedora. He was a retired police officer, sadly, after his death, we couldn't get a single photo. He had three rather possessive sisters, they grabbed every small detail and chattel of his life. By that time, Grandmother was so bereft, they had been married for an amazing eighty years, she was in no condition to stop them. All I ever wanted was a copy of the photo of their wedding day. They stood under an apple tree, in an orchard, with the sunlight streaming through, it was so romantic. Even that photo, I was denied.

But I have uncovered a surprise for you. There was a time when your police, and ours, never had the need to wear body armour. And when two of Miami's finest officers overheard English accents, then how could they not, just this once, dispense with protocol, and pose with a young English lady? They weren't to know that one day, something called the World Wide Web would make them famous on a forum. Nor would a much younger wife of mine.
View attachment 212367

Thanks sir. Your sisters missed the chance to share the memories and life of your cherised father. In today's digital dominated days, perhaps they would consider allowing such a pic to be shared. An opportunity missed - they loose out.

You are definitely proud of your wife. You have all reasons to proudly showcase her pics (younger or current).

Cheers sir. Eric -
 

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,874
Location
Central Texas
Cheers to all the memories, Eric.

Hats bring back memories for some.

This morning my chores included splitting some wood. The wood was chainsawed and stacked near the road so I set up my kit ready to split and transport to the fire pit. I was cutting to add to the rick cord in the backyard. (A rick cord is 4'x8'x16".) I started and was down to my flannel shirt and fedora quickly in this mornings 15' temps.

After a couple of stacks and hauls (on a toboggan) to the backyard I was nearly done. I pulled my cotton handkerchief out of my pocket and wiped my brow and the leather sweat on the hat. It was at this time I noticed a local police car parked a ways off with two officers walking towards me. I stopped and headed to them. We met in the street. The officers hailed good morning. The officers said they see me walking my dog around the neighborhoods and lake often. They notice me because of the dog(s) and my hats. We shook hands in greeting. The older one asked if his partner could take a pic of the two of us. He told me his grandfather wears hats like mine and he wanted to bring the image to show grandfather. He was visiting his grandfather this evening at the retirement center. Stopping today was motivated by his memory of his grandfather splitting wood in his fedora at the family cabin.

We posed, sweaty me and a big burley policeman with his protective vest and an overcoat. After the picture taken, handshakes and then we moved on. Me to finish my "small wood project" and the officers to their morning. When I see those officers again I will follow up on grandfathers reaction.

It brought pleasant memories of my late grandfather. He wore a fedora all the time, to work, home projects, hunting, fishing, auto repair - all the time.

i-dTMVxc3-M.jpg


Cheers to nephew, grandfather and my neighborhood policemen.

Eric -
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,797
Location
New Forest
I'm tellin' ya. One great story after another. Always a pleasure, Robert.
There is a post script to that tale that you might like, it also brings the thread back on track about hat comments.

The photograph with my parents came as a surprise to me, my sister had come across it and had a copy reproduced for me. The suit that my Father is wearing was part of his demob outfit. Every member in the military in WW2 was issued with a civilian outfit of clothes following demobilisation at the end of WW2.

That suit was just what I had been looking for. "Well get a copy of it made," my missus said. So a phone call to Rob at Rocacha, to explain what I wanted got the ball rolling. Rob sent me some material swatches, having chose the one that I wanted, I made an appointment to meet him and get myself measured up. Rob Crossley is a tailor based at Kensington in London, he has made a number of suits for me, they are of excellent quality and fit perfectly.

My Dad wasn't a regular wearer of hats but I do remember a grey, what I thought was a large brim trilby, but was in fact a fedora. An online search found me a perfect match to the suit, a Stetson Sovereign, all the way from Village Hats, San Diego. I couldn't remember if my Father ever wore spectator shoes, I know that they were very popular, so I took a bit of poetic licence and assumed that he did. Colin Johnson is another from whom I regularly buy, he came up with a contrasting pair of spectators.

My suit arrived just after the hat, and a day later the shoes turned up. A spearpoint shirt by Darcy with one of my favourite ties and I'm good to go. Even Tina complimented me. "You look just like your Dad," she said, then added, "apart from a few wrinkles." Fancy looking older than your own Father!

Classic car shows are really not for me, they are ruined by the so called purists who will openly berate you if your car is not factory perfect. Life's too short to get into silly squabbles about such trivial things. However, there is a classic meeting near me that's sponsored by Beaulieu, and it's here, in The New Forest. My car had been seen, would I bring it along?

"Wear your new suit," suggested Tina, she wore a period outfit to compliment mine. Beaulieu loved it, "the hat, the shoes, and those clothes, you two look like you have just stepped out of the MG showroom back when your car was new." Our appearance, for once, upstaged our car, and the three of us graced the front page of that year's brochure. What an honour, what a surprise. More so when I told all the traders that had contributed to my fine outfit. I even sent them a copy of the brochure, including one all the way to San Diego.

old photos 094.JPG
 

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,874
Location
Central Texas
That is so fantastic. You continue to amaze us with your hats, wardrobe and, of course, the old MG. I love to read your stories...you should write a book!
There is a post script to that tale that you might like, it also brings the thread back on track about hat comments.

The photograph with my parents came as a surprise to me, my sister had come across it and had a copy reproduced for me. The suit that my Father is wearing was part of his demob outfit. Every member in the military in WW2 was issued with a civilian outfit of clothes following demobilisation at the end of WW2.

That suit was just what I had been looking for. "Well get a copy of it made," my missus said. So a phone call to Rob at Rocacha, to explain what I wanted got the ball rolling. Rob sent me some material swatches, having chose the one that I wanted, I made an appointment to meet him and get myself measured up. Rob Crossley is a tailor based at Kensington in London, he has made a number of suits for me, they are of excellent quality and fit perfectly.

My Dad wasn't a regular wearer of hats but I do remember a grey, what I thought was a large brim trilby, but was in fact a fedora. An online search found me a perfect match to the suit, a Stetson Sovereign, all the way from Village Hats, San Diego. I couldn't remember if my Father ever wore spectator shoes, I know that they were very popular, so I took a bit of poetic licence and assumed that he did. Colin Johnson is another from whom I regularly buy, he came up with a contrasting pair of spectators.

My suit arrived just after the hat, and a day later the shoes turned up. A spearpoint shirt by Darcy with one of my favourite ties and I'm good to go. Even Tina complimented me. "You look just like your Dad," she said, then added, "apart from a few wrinkles." Fancy looking older than your own Father!

Classic car shows are really not for me, they are ruined by the so called purists who will openly berate you if your car is not factory perfect. Life's too short to get into silly squabbles about such trivial things. However, there is a classic meeting near me that's sponsored by Beaulieu, and it's here, in The New Forest. My car had been seen, would I bring it along?

"Wear your new suit," suggested Tina, she wore a period outfit to compliment mine. Beaulieu loved it, "the hat, the shoes, and those clothes, you two look like you have just stepped out of the MG showroom back when your car was new." Our appearance, for once, upstaged our car, and the three of us graced the front page of that year's brochure. What an honour, what a surprise. More so when I told all the traders that had contributed to my fine outfit. I even sent them a copy of the brochure, including one all the way to San Diego.

View attachment 212541
 
Messages
11,719
While waiting yesterday morning with my wife along with our son and her parents in the staging area of surgical as she was being prepared for gallbladder surgery. Nurses and doctors are bustling around her getting her prepared to go into the OR. I almost don’t notice in my peripheral someone scooting past me as I feel a slight tug on the back of my Cavanagh and I hear... “I love your hat” as I turn and see an OR nurse hurrying into the OR for surgery as the doors close behind her. “Thank You”
 
Last edited:

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,797
Location
New Forest
While waiting yesterday morning with my wife along with our son and her parents in the staging area of surgical as she was being prepared for gallbladder surgery. Nurses and doctors are bustling around her getting her prepared to go into the OR. I almost don’t notice in my peripheral someone scooting past me as I feel a slight tug on the back of my Cavanagh and I hear... “I love your hat” as I turn and see an OR nurse hurrying into the OR for surgery as the doors close behind her. “Thank You”
It's so easy to miss a posting like this, if you don't check every thread, every day, you are bound to miss an important post, The Bartenders have my utmost admiration. Belated though it is, I do hope that all went well with your lady's gallbladder surgery, and how rewarding it must be, in the centre of your wife's medical concerns to be complimented about your hat, there again, who wouldn't compliment a hat as fine as a Cavanagh?

"Planning a heist?" It was a remark made at the bar of the pub/restaurant that we had a late lunch at today. Not realising that it was a quip about my Stetson, I said, "Sorry?" Meaning, sorry I didn't hear you clearly. He smiled and looked at the hat, I then got his gangster implication. He laughed and seeing my trousers said, "will you grow into them?" At that point the proprietress, working behind the bar, came to the rescue. "These two always dress like this," she said. The fellow, quickly realising that he might have overstepped the jocularity said, "how good it is to see too."

Later, after we had finished our meal, we overheard what was obviously a pub quiz, these are very popular in pubs up and down the UK. Some of the questions can be quite tough. most have some sort of mutiple choice answers but others expect you to know. Getting up from our table in the restaurant area, we walked over to where the quiz was going on, just in time to hear the question: "From which Shakespeare play, and which character is saying:
Signor Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances.
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe."
"Act 1 Scene 3 Merchant of Venice," I mumbled, quietly, adding, "The character is Shylock, from the speech, Shylock and The Bond." "Seriously?" Said the fellow at a nearby table, it was the same guy who had gently mocked my hat at the bar. "Believe him," my missus said. The guy scribbled it down feverishly. When the answers came up the questionaire repeated each one. At the Shakespeare question the guy answered, with some authority, that it was Shylock from The Merchant of Venice, everyone looked around at him, he smiled and said: "Act 1 Scene 3." "I'm impressed," said the questionaire, "so's everyone else," said someone from the back of the room, which caused much laughter. "Have to admit," the guy said, "the fellow in the hat told me." My missus, not one to miss an opportunity, said, "now you understand why he wears baggy trousers, it's to house his brains." Cue a roar of approval. Thanks dear, I shall remember that.
Zombie_61, you are going to ask for pictures, aren't you? I remembered.
maroon blazer grey baggies 006.JPG maroon blazer grey baggies 007.JPG
 
Messages
19,429
Location
Funkytown, USA
My missus, not one to miss an opportunity, said, "now you understand why he wears baggy trousers, it's to house his brains." Cue a roar of approval. Thanks dear, I shall remember that.
Zombie_61, you are going to ask for pictures, aren't you? I remembered.
View attachment 215418 View attachment 215419

I have been told by many women that I act as though my brains were in my trousers.

I believe they meant something a bit different.
 
Messages
12,018
Location
East of Los Angeles
...Zombie_61, you are going to ask for pictures, aren't you? I remembered.
View attachment 215418 View attachment 215419
Only because I so enjoy seeing your wonderful attire and how well you wear your various suits, shirts, slacks, hats, and so on, particularly when they are the fruits of your lovely lady's labors. You, and your lovely wife, are always so perfectly dressed for every occasion.
 
Messages
11,719
It's so easy to miss a posting like this, if you don't check every thread, every day, you are bound to miss an important post, The Bartenders have my utmost admiration. Belated though it is, I do hope that all went well with your lady's gallbladder surgery, and how rewarding it must be, in the centre of your wife's medical concerns to be complimented about your hat, there again, who wouldn't compliment a hat as fine as a Cavanagh?

"Planning a heist?" It was a remark made at the bar of the pub/restaurant that we had a late lunch at today. Not realising that it was a quip about my Stetson, I said, "Sorry?" Meaning, sorry I didn't hear you clearly. He smiled and looked at the hat, I then got his gangster implication. He laughed and seeing my trousers said, "will you grow into them?" At that point the proprietress, working behind the bar, came to the rescue. "These two always dress like this," she said. The fellow, quickly realising that he might have overstepped the jocularity said, "how good it is to see too."

Later, after we had finished our meal, we overheard what was obviously a pub quiz, these are very popular in pubs up and down the UK. Some of the questions can be quite tough. most have some sort of mutiple choice answers but others expect you to know. Getting up from our table in the restaurant area, we walked over to where the quiz was going on, just in time to hear the question: "From which Shakespeare play, and which character is saying:

"Act 1 Scene 3 Merchant of Venice," I mumbled, quietly, adding, "The character is Shylock, from the speech, Shylock and The Bond." "Seriously?" Said the fellow at a nearby table, it was the same guy who had gently mocked my hat at the bar. "Believe him," my missus said. The guy scribbled it down feverishly. When the answers came up the questionaire repeated each one. At the Shakespeare question the guy answered, with some authority, that it was Shylock from The Merchant of Venice, everyone looked around at him, he smiled and said: "Act 1 Scene 3." "I'm impressed," said the questionaire, "so's everyone else," said someone from the back of the room, which caused much laughter. "Have to admit," the guy said, "the fellow in the hat told me." My missus, not one to miss an opportunity, said, "now you understand why he wears baggy trousers, it's to house his brains." Cue a roar of approval. Thanks dear, I shall remember that.
Zombie_61, you are going to ask for pictures, aren't you? I remembered.
View attachment 215418 View attachment 215419
Wonderful!
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,797
Location
New Forest
On the: "“WTF’ Hats,” that are hard to believe..." thread, there's a newspaper cutting dating back to 1797 that covers the story of the first person to wear a top hat in public. He was arrested because it was said that his hat was the cause of women fainting, kids screaming, dogs yapping and babies crying. If that's the case I would be sent to the colonies, probably down under.

I'm taking my missus out tonight to celebrate her 70th birthday. I shall be wearing my Zoot suit, we will be going in the MG of course. A table for dinner has been booked and there's a concert by a amateur big band known as Swing Unlimited. There might even be a bit of floor space to strut our stuff. Sorry, I nearly forgot the reason that I would be sent to the colonies. If you think that Joe Public make remarks about a hat, you should hear them go on about a Zoot suit.

robmg-27.jpg
 

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