To Tilt or Not to Tilt...That is the Question!

[bolthead]

I always tilt, and my hat does too.

LMAO.....very funny J.M.

....btw, I wear mine dead straight on, mostly brim down.

 

[Fredthecat]

Very good observations Art. Behavioral scientists would approve.

I wear my hats straight and on TOP of my head not the back. Just the way they seem to fit. And always did part my hair in the middle.

Never did get the tilt, but then I don't get baseball caps on backwards either.

 

[Undertow]

Mine sits quite tightly, how do others sit? Can you get a little finger between your head and the hat? Does this affect the tilt?

Obviously, it shouldn't sit TOO tightly. You want to be able to pull it off with slight effort but you don't want it to blow off with every gust of wind. Your hair cut may have a little to do with it; less hair may loosen it slightly.

When I was a little younger, while picking out a cowboy hat, the guy fitting me suggested to push the front of the sweatband against my forehead and let the rest of the hat down. He advised I should be able to nod my head and the hat should follow, it should sit about an 1/8 of an inch above my ears and I should be able to use one finger and flick the brim upwards. If all applied, that was a good fit.

I'm not so sure about the flicking (although I see his point) but for the most part, I wear a hat I can fit squarely, comfortably on my head.

I'm between sizes (7 3/8-7 1/2) so if I wanted to wear my hats with a tilt, I would probably have to wear a 7 1/2.

 

[Fridaynight]

I tend to tilt it to the left, and I'm right handed. It's usually intentional, I like how it looks with a bit of a tilt better.
The crazier I'm feeling, the more it tilts. lol

 

[Fatdutchman]

I CANNOT get a hat level on my head without standing in front of a mirror. I believe the greatest percentage of hat-wearers I see in old movies and photographs have their hat cocked off to one side or another. I think it's just the way it was done!

 

[Topper]

Would say personal preference, many various ins-and-outs with fashion and styles over the decades, nay centuries.


Personally I tilt only at times when wearing my smoking cap, fez, Glengarry Cap, boater or my trilbowler

I don't tilt my: Topper, Bowler, Pith, Trilby Panama, Optimo Panama, Tweed flat cap, tweed shire hat, Balmoral, Akubra, Ushenka or my riding helmet.

 

[akaBruno]

I started tilting my hat when I was told my Daddy did. I'm right handed but I tilt left. My Daddy was right handed and tilted right but (he had no choice) he didn't have a left hand.

BRUNO

 

[Topper]

I believe the greatest percentage of hat-wearers I see in old movies and photographs have their hat cocked off to one side or another. I think it's just the way it was done!

Possibly due to the angle shot forthe camera? ... Thus can see the actors face better...

 

[Art Fawcett]

Well, there goes THAT theory down the tubes!! But, but, it sounded good didn't it?lol lol lol

 

[Matt Deckard]

Cocking the hat ads seasoning to the look.
Straight on is fine too... depends on my mood.

Tilt is fine for a funeral if that's how you wear your hat. I don't see a problem with it. I see the hat straight on at times as looking more awkward.

I tend to lean it to the right as a matter of that being the way I just put on my hat. It's not a concious thing.

 

[funneman]

Tilt

I always try to tilt to the right, also right handed.

I just like the look.

It seems to me that a hat without a tilt is just a hat,
but a hat with a tilt, now that conveys an attitude.

 

[scotrace]

Somewhere on here I read that tilting to the left - so that the lower side is on the left - is "as the French do."

I'm right handed, and tilt to the right.

 

[SinatraStyle]

Tilt

I typically wear my hats tilted slightly to the right. I am also right handed, but I guess we'll have to leave it up to the "experts" to determine if there is a correlation.

I do wear one of my hats straight (more or less). It has a wider brim and seems to fit and look better straight on.

As for funerals and other such occasions...I would say wear your hat it whatever manner is normal for you.

 

[Russ]

I tilt mine towards the wind.

 

[Spellflower]

For a long time, I wasn't comfortable in my Federation. Then I rebashed it with a center dent, and began tilting it to the left. Suddenly, it was my favorite hat.

I think the tilt gives a nice angular look, and I like the non-conformity implied by a slight asymmetry. I definitely tilt more when I'm feeling more rebellious or adventurous (out on the town, rather than going to work).

As for handedness, I agree with Joel Tunnah that it makes more sense to tilt away from the handed side, for the same reason that mens' shirts have the pocket on the left side: because your dominant hand crosses your mid-line more easily than it maneuvers on the same side of the body. At least I think that's why I tilt to the left despite my righthandedness.

The only time I tilt to the right is if I'm walking or driving with the sun to my right. Actually, I guess I do tilt on the way to work- if the sun is in my eyes on the drive in.

 

[Benny Holiday]

My avatar gives it all away - tilt to the right, and Art, I am right-handed, so I support your theory!

Speaking of avatars, Scotrace you look as cool as Sam Spade in yours. That's a great photo.

Of course, tilting or not is just personal preference. See the picture of Matt drawing a bead with his automatic to see what happens when someone criticizes the way he wears his hat! lol

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I think I would rather go hatless than wear a hat without a tilt. With caps I sometimes get such a jaunty angle that it looks like it is almost about to fall off.

The best part is wearing a hat with a brim where you can get a "sweep" such that the lower part of the brim is on the "down" tilted side, whereas the flipped up side is on the "up" tilted side.

 

[Brad Bowers]

A southpaw here, I put my hat on with my left hand, and my hats tilt to the right.

Brad

 

[Samsa]

I tilt to the right (consciously), and am right handed.

 

[art92101]

tilt it

I tilt on an as needed basis. Jazz club? you have to tilt!