So you want to wear a nice hat, do ya? Fine. Then you need to learn how to wear it like a proper lady or gentleman.
This story was part of Retro Week, during which we fired up the flux capacitor and brought you 1950s know-how on everything from casserole-making to fallout-shelter-building to the joys of letting kids relax and play with trash.
These days there doesn’t seem to be much order when it comes to hats. People wear whatever they like, whenever they like, wherever they like. That’s all well and good, but once upon a time, everybody had a nice hat, and there were rules to follow. If you didn’t, people could instantly tell that you weren’t an upstanding member of society. Well, it’s time we bring those rules back.
When it’s OK to wear a hat
Generally, it’s OK to wear your hat when you’re outside, on the street, or in public areas. It is possible for some of these public areas to be inside, though. For example, it’s OK to wear your hat indoors at places like hotel lobbies, airports, train stations, long indoor corridors, elevators, public transportation, etc.
Ladies, you can wear hats—as long as it’s not a baseball cap—just about anywhere outdoors and indoors, including during some meals (especially if they’re outdoors). If you’re wearing a baseball cap, however, you must follow the same rules that apply to men’s hats.
When to take your hat off
Guys, whether you’re wearing a fedora, trilby or a baseball cap, you shouldn’t wear your hat indoors most of the time (again, some public areas are OK). For example, places where hats are always off-limits include homes, schools, restaurants, cafes, churches, theaters and some businesses (especially if you’re there for business). But even if you are in an area where hats are OK, you should take them off in the presence of a lady. You should also remove your hat during meals, during movies, during the national anthem, during weddings, during funerals, during dedications, while taking photographs and when you’re being introduced to someone.
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