Greetings all.
I have been lurking here for quite some time. The styles of the 30s and 40s have always intrigued me. My grandfather had a wonderful array of hats, now lost, that held fascination for me. As I entered the workforce, I always lamented the trend towards casual Friday and then towards the casual office. Having gone to parochial schools that required shirt and tie, dressing well always seemed to be normal and the whole polo/chinos thing seemed sloppy.For several years now, I've been resigned to the fact that this is the future, despite the fact that I work in a professional environment.
Something is changing, however.
Over the last several months I've noticed that professional folks in my area (SE Michigan) are starting to dress better. Men and women alike seem to be rejecting the old casual dress standard. Many men in my building are now wearing shirt and tie or jacket to the office on a daily basis. Women are wearing very professional skirts. Most importantly, people are wearing hats. Surprisingly lots of hats.
Just yesterday, in my trip to the local coffee shop, two young men caught my attention. They couldn't have been older than 30, both in suits, one wearing a fedora, the other carrying one. As I continued on my walk, I noticed an older gentleman (50ish) also wearing a fedora and topcoat. Sitting at the coffee shop, two more men, mid-30s, enjoying their coffee with their fedoras sitting on the benches next to them. Lastly, as I returned to the office, a coworker entered the elevator clad in trenchcoat and fedora.
That's 6 in the space of half an hour in one building. Perhaps it's the wonderful Michigan weather
or maybe this is a welcome trend. Has anyone else seen a dramatic upturn in the frequency of hat wearers anywhere? Maybe I will even get over my hesitation and make a trip to Henry the Hatter in Detroit to join them.
I have been lurking here for quite some time. The styles of the 30s and 40s have always intrigued me. My grandfather had a wonderful array of hats, now lost, that held fascination for me. As I entered the workforce, I always lamented the trend towards casual Friday and then towards the casual office. Having gone to parochial schools that required shirt and tie, dressing well always seemed to be normal and the whole polo/chinos thing seemed sloppy.For several years now, I've been resigned to the fact that this is the future, despite the fact that I work in a professional environment.
Something is changing, however.
Over the last several months I've noticed that professional folks in my area (SE Michigan) are starting to dress better. Men and women alike seem to be rejecting the old casual dress standard. Many men in my building are now wearing shirt and tie or jacket to the office on a daily basis. Women are wearing very professional skirts. Most importantly, people are wearing hats. Surprisingly lots of hats.
Just yesterday, in my trip to the local coffee shop, two young men caught my attention. They couldn't have been older than 30, both in suits, one wearing a fedora, the other carrying one. As I continued on my walk, I noticed an older gentleman (50ish) also wearing a fedora and topcoat. Sitting at the coffee shop, two more men, mid-30s, enjoying their coffee with their fedoras sitting on the benches next to them. Lastly, as I returned to the office, a coworker entered the elevator clad in trenchcoat and fedora.
That's 6 in the space of half an hour in one building. Perhaps it's the wonderful Michigan weather
or maybe this is a welcome trend. Has anyone else seen a dramatic upturn in the frequency of hat wearers anywhere? Maybe I will even get over my hesitation and make a trip to Henry the Hatter in Detroit to join them.
