I'm really into head gear. I'm generally wearing some sort of cap or a wool knit cap. I'm also a fan of formal head wear such as derbies, porkpies, homburgs, and fedoras.

There was once a time when a man wouldn't be seen outside without a hat on. I've looked at pictures of ball games back in the 50,'s 40's 30's and everybody in the crowd had on a hat.

Hats have a certain eloquence about them and they're the ulimate accessory, even more so then a watch or a money clip. To put it bluntly, hats are "fly," as hell.

It's often been said that when Kennedy started appearing in public hatless, that men followed suit and thus because the decline in hat wearing. I think it's fair to say, knowing how to dress period began it's decline in the sixties. It's not neccessary to wear a suit or blazer everyday, then come home lounging around the house looking like Ward Cleaver, but every man should own at least two suits and have two blazers with slacks to go with them. And unintended result of all this single motherhood nonsense is the number of boys and men who don't know how to tie a tie. Which in itself is absurd.

Just curious, do any of you wear formal headwear?

When I was in the Navy I wore a dog dish on my head... other than that I wear the occaisonal ball cap when I'm working in the yard. And I don't even own one suit..

Personally, i don't wear hats because they're made in Tennessee.

Kidding.

The problem with formal hats on young men is that they look more like an affectation, like some dandy trying too hard. That said, I picked up a thick and very warm wool hat in Vienna that looks like a fedora. It's great for keeping the snow and rain out of your face, but I wear it only in inclement weather because, well, as I said, it comes across like I'm trying too hard.

Older men - say, 50+ - look good in them, though, but only with the right outfit. You can't wear a dress hat with jeans. It's hard to even pull one off in anything less than a suit and tie. Unless you're Harrison Ford. Then you can do whatever you want cuz you're Harrison Ford.

On the flip side, I try to wear baseball style caps as rarely as possible - and one should only wear them backwards if one is A) a baseball catcher, or B) using a welding mask.

I tried a beret once. I looked like, well, the pretentious fop that I am. My girlfriend at the time told me to dump and I did.

Funny this thread came up. I have been thinking about my deceased grandparents lately, fond memories of my grandfather wearing a fedora to church every Sunday. I decided to pick up a Stetson fedora on ebay last week, wore it to church Sunday and received many compliments (my 21 year old daughter not one of them). I am 47 so maybe I'm almost old enough to pull it off, but I do agree they really make a man look nice.

In the summer I'll ware a straw Stetson (most of the time),and in the winter it will be a crusher (brown or black). The problem with both, is where do you put it when you're inside. Even the crushers are getting just too expensive to have more than one. The ball cap will slip under your belt, won't get lost.

Styles come and go and one day mens hats will be back in style.

I have a commissioned / serial # Montecristi Panama Hat. Found authentically in Montecristi Ecuador, they take several months just for the weaving process at the higher end. Although somewhat of a dying art form as the younger generations have become mobile in other pursuits, attempts are being made to preserve the fine artisanship. I can not imagine a finer, more perfect cigar aficionado’s hat. They are indeed a remarkable work of art.

“Blocking” is the process of shaping the hat and is also quite a craft. My hat is finished / Blocked by renowned Brent Black in Kailua, Hawaii. The style I chose is called “Keeneland”, and can be seen here:

http://www.brentblack.com/panamahats.html#keeneland

Now that’s a hat! Unfortunately it has been sent back to BB for TLC / re-blocking. This was due to an untimely torrential downpour while on vacation in Florida, and of course occurred during an Air-Boat ride in the Everglades, thus truncating any and all attempts at damage control. The weather changes very quickly in Florida. I now also concur that a “Florida Speed-bump” is also known as an alligator!

I plan to add to this collection next year at:

http://www.brentblack.com/

As I am follicle challanged I wear a hat all the time. I used to like Western hats, but they seem to be out of style here in NYC.

I wear the Panama style in the summer [occasionally a baseball cap], and the wool driving cap style in the winter...

Also also follically challenged...

I like them for protection against sun, rain & cold.

I started wearing hats 15 years ago. After my dermatologist burned, with liquid nitrogen, 24 spots off my face I started wearing hats. I now try to wear one with at least a 4 inch brim in the summer and no less than 3 inches in the winter. I do not wear a dress hat on Sunday, because my exposure to sun is very limited, while going to Church and lunch afterwards.

I have a 5 inch brim palm leaf hat I wear for yard work.

If any of you are looking for an inexpensive, well made palm leaf hat go to: www.sunbody.com. They have may styles, including a fedora style.

Winter presents a much greater challenge to find a felt hat with a wide brim and not get into the western or Austrailian style hats. Stetson makes a couple of fedora sportsman hats, but usually with a 2 and 7/8 inch brim, not quite wide enough. I do not want to pay for a custom hat.

I like the Tilley "Endurable" line of hats, gauranteed for life.
Reputedly one was eaten by an elephant, it passed through its digestive system and after being retrieved from the dung was washed and suffered no apparent damage.
I can't imagine following dumbo around waiting for ones hat to emerge.

Doc, wear one anyway.

I wear cowboy hats year 'round. Have worn them since I could dress myself, and I'm 45 now. I get more compliments than not. Especially when in Boston proper.

My grandfathers always wore them. I still recall "Is yer head cold, boy?" every time I'd wear a hat in the house.

Dad wore a hat outside as well, Armed Forces and police training, I guess.

I grew up around hat wearing men, then off to Police Academy, it was drilled into us that a hat or 'cover' is worn outside. I made it policy when I got rank.

quote:

On the flip side, I try to wear baseball style caps as rarely as possible - and one should only wear them backwards if one is A) a baseball catcher, or B) using a welding mask.

You forgot: C) Police Sniper

I have a good Resistol (beaver felt) that I wear while hunting/camping/etc. in inclement weather...keeps my head dry and warm. However, I refer to it as my "Birth Control hat".

I do not look good in hats. I have seven or eight suits or sports coats and wear them often as the situation dictates. The job requires such and they cover my issue sidearm (but they sure make wearing a ballistic vest rather warm).

Hats also make short men look positively miniscule!

Yes, there is utility in hats for the folically challenged...

As far as style is concerned? It went the way of the $.25 hot dog at the ballpark that you eat while you drink ice cold beer and you smoke your cigar in the stands...it went the way of the 30-game winner...it went the way of salaries that were only 5 digits...it went the way of raccoon pelt coats and penants at the "U"...it went the way of fraternity hazing...it went the way of big cars low to the ground that drive up and down the boulevard all day and all night, and gasoline that was under $.50 per gallon...it went the way of service with a smile, personal telephonic attention, typewriters clacking in offices, switchboards, and written messages...it went the way of phones that rang and you actually dialed...it went the way of respect for self and clothing that is beyond ghetto wear and ghetto talk, yo...but in the ghetto wear, caps and hats are popular...sideways and backwards, but popular. Maybe a fedora is next for Beyonce?

I wear a straw panama style hat I picked up in Puerto Rico. I wear in the summer months, golfing, and cruising in the Caribbean.

quote:

Originally posted by DR505:

quote:

On the flip side, I try to wear baseball style caps as rarely as possible - and one should only wear them backwards if one is A) a baseball catcher, or B) using a welding mask.

You forgot: C) Police Sniper

I have a good Resistol (beaver felt) that I wear while hunting/camping/etc. in inclement weather...keeps my head dry and warm. However, I refer to it as my "Birth Control hat".

I do not look good in hats. I have seven or eight suits or sports coats and wear them often as the situation dictates. The job requires such and they cover my issue sidearm (but they sure make wearing a ballistic vest rather warm).

Hats also make short men look positively miniscule!

DR,
Are you sure its the hat, and not your personality? (now you know, I just couldn't walk away from that one, sorry)...

I have an advancing forehead, so I usually wear a baseball cap. Have many in the closet. I also have a Fedora.

quote:

Originally posted by Bones:

DR,
Are you sure its the hat, and not your personality? (now you know, I just couldn't walk away from that one, sorry)...

Hmm...I never thought of that!

quote:

Originally posted by grouch0:
I have an advancing forehead...

They call that a FIVE-HEAD.