Art of Manliness - Latest Comments in Bringing Back the Hat

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Nick — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:59:42 -0000

After realizing I didn't have any actual hat hats (sorry ballcap, you don't count as a hat hat) I bought myself one of these.
http://realdealbrazil.com/d...

It ain't exactly pretty, and it sure as hell isn't formal. But the things damn near indestructible, and I love it. Even though people tend to act like they've never seen a man in a hat before.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Hastonia — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 10:23:14 -0000

You forgot the Cowboy Hat...................

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Thomas Schwitz — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 15:03:01 -0000

Before you go out and buy a fedora, please know the difference.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Jack — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 13:33:48 -0000

We need an update on this article that includes a how-to on how to select and buy a hat. Cheap hats look cheap. Certain head and face shapes pair well with certain hats and not others. And a revision needs to include the classier Panama hats.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

geedavey — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 21:39:50 -0000

Just so you know, some style "gurus" say that unless you are a funeral director, you shouldn't wear a black suit. Of course, several million observant Jews disagree.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Greg — Wed, 28 May 2014 19:45:58 -0000

I am very much a Flat Cap fan. To me it is the perfect hat for almost any attire. It can be worn casually in a t-shirt (but limit t-shirt usage, dress like a man), or with cotton/wool dress pants and a button up shirt, so long as the cap is made of a good fabric and cut well.

Baseball caps are worn WAY to often. Its too casual and doesn't say a lot about you as a man. Visors are for golf and poker games (think Data from Star Trek TNG), and fedora's with a raise brim in the back are now exclusively for the "bro." Don't be a bro. Ever.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Tim Norman — Wed, 28 May 2014 12:59:40 -0000

One of my favorite people that has spent his life wearing hats is the great Tom Waits.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Ethan Dobbins — Fri, 23 May 2014 13:51:37 -0000

What about the "cowboy hat"? I've worn one for a long time...in my opinion the manliest hat around, and also one that if worn can be worn for hard physical work, and to the dance on saturday night. For dirty jobs and stuff like welding I wear a "doo rag" or ball cap.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Steve — Thu, 22 May 2014 15:09:52 -0000

Don't go anywhere without my fedora or straw panama. My head just feels "wrong" without a lid.
I love hats, except for one style--I loathe the "stingy brim fedoras" that seem to be somewhat popular now. Always look too small for the wearer's head, provide no shade or weather protection, and look, well, goofy. Just my opinion, of course.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

DaShui — Wed, 14 May 2014 19:01:35 -0000

Most people have never seen a nice hat:Ofarrel Hats in New Mexico for fedora and cowboy hats.
Sunbody Hats in Texas for Panama and fedora palm leaf hats.
Since I shave my head, I wear one of these every day, and the AA community will b very supportive.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Wilfred Ruck — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:12:21 -0000

Samuel L Jacksons Kangol

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Steven Scott — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 03:32:33 -0000

A possible contributing factor in the decline of hat-wearing could be the sheer "indoorsiness" of modern life. While people in New York City may still walk down the street, most newer towns and cities are built around cars, meaning most of us never walk outdoors farther than the width of a parking lot. We simply don't need hats very much unless we're working or playing outdoors, and a nice (non-ballcap) hat is a nuisance to carry through Walmart.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Dan — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 20:08:07 -0000

Honestly, I don't see what's wrong with wearing a fedora with jeans and a polo, as long as it's a straw fedora, not a wool or leather one. I've been growing my hair long for 9 months and wearing ball caps all the time and I'm getting sick of them, but I don't have an hour to spend styling my hair every day.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

John Edward Gammell — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 00:45:05 -0000

Don't let any of these fools, trolls, idiots, pretentious snobs, or other charlatans tell you that you *can't* wear dress hats or you'll "look ridiculous/stepped out of a play/have no clue what to wear properly/can't pull it off/are under 70.

These morons are mostly mean-spirited and/or jealous idiots who think they can dictate what articles of clothing you can and can't wear. Who cares if they aren't as common as they once were. A great, well-fitted dress hat worn properly always looks good (although do try and avoid pairing it with a ratty t shirt and jeans). So if these imbeciles try to give you trouble, laugh at you, or otherwise belittle you for wearing a hat you personally enjoy, just smile and wave at the bullies, and know that they probably lead miserable conformist lives. They are welcome to think "hats are dead, we're in the post JFK era, or PLEASE don't wear any of these." Yes, they are welcome to be wrong and be one of the grungy t- and jeans ballcap masses. They are not however welcome to try and decide what others CAN or CAN'T wear.

TLDR? One famous Latin phrase sums this all up fine: nil bastardum carborundum. Don't let these b*******'s get you down.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Nate — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:40:27 -0000

I prefer to wear an ivy cap. My favorite is a knit, grey cap that goes very well with my cardigan of the same color. Unfortunately, I've misplaced it, and its been missing for over a month.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

David Windsor — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 22:33:34 -0000

One word

'Tilley'

They make a number of great looking hats, some guaranteed for life not to wear out.

I own 3.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Ted Grodecki — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 01:24:15 -0000

I own a fedora, pork pie, and a bowler. I usually wear the bowler most often. I wear them all the time regardless of my wardrobe. I can be in jeans and be found wearing a bowler. I'm comfortable and really don't care what others think.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Max Rowland — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 06:07:16 -0000

As a Revolutionary and Civil War reenactor, I know a thing or two about hats. Being both tall and stocky, my preferred hat is either a tricorn(not great for general use) or my signature plantation owner's hat. It's black fur-felt with a very low, round bowler-esque crown, and a tremendously wide straight brim. Great for the miserable Long Island summers!

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Shawmutt — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:41:33 -0000

I am partial to Tilley hats. I needed a hat for a boating tour, and happened to find a Tilley hemp hat that was everything I wanted. Then it just kind of stayed on my head all the time.

It's functional, but it's floppy and ugly. I wanted something nicer to wear and went to Tilley and got their Montana hat. It's kind of a cross between cowboy and fedora, and much more interesting than a knit cap. It's functional as well, with drop down ear covers tucked in the cap for the really cold days.

When spring came along I again went with Tilley, the Shantung Fedora.

I love my hats, and will be getting plenty more as time goes on!

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Mr. Bab — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:25:07 -0000

I love my golf caps, especially Dallas sport teams that I can wear out of town. I do wear them with blazers, notably like Marc Cuban, to appear not too dressy. it is just my thing.
In regards to etiquette, I understand the history but if we were to following the history of everything is ridiculous and can be miserable. I trust your roof isn't leaking when I enter your home and I'm not hiding a knife in my hair. I think it's ridiculous, no?

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Daibach — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 17:44:42 -0000

I wear a Fedora when out walking the dog.I usually wear it with my black overcoat or fur collared top coat.
One is always greeted respectfully if you dress the part. If you want to blend in go with the flow and be one of the masses, or man up! Stand tall the ladies seem to love them. When at the races though you are not alone. Dave

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

james — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:08:45 -0000

I never wear a hat to work it would ruin it. but only high days and holidays.I LOVE my fedoras.i have three of them.I do see my sons friends sometimes wear " tea cosies" I don't get them at all.What happens when it rains or is wet and windy horrible! I would love the fur felt hat to return...I think it is. because it is stylish and the general public or fashion world have come round to this...............finally!

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Jasmine — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 23:59:31 -0000

My grandfather wore homburgs and fedoras (think Clark Gable and Walt Disney combined) and he looked great. However some guys dont. Its about picking one that goes with your face shape and colouring. Experiment with a good clear mirror and some cheap hats in various styles say from ebay before buying the one for you. Roughly a small face looks wrong with a large wide hat like a sombrero and top hats with a long face accentuate it. A rakish angle with a panama or fedora looks good with any face shape especially slightly round as it contrasts and balances it out. I am a woman (1940s ish and Kate Bush) and I love my black fedora and white cossack fur hat and wear regularly. Classic shades like cream and black look better than red or striped say. Also measure round the widest part of your head and know in inches or cm and convert it to hat size online. Nothing worse than a "headache hat" or one that looks like your head lost weight! Also dont be scared to try womens hats as they have a better range. HandM in the Uk do fantastic manly womens trilbys and Fedoras.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Rob — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 03:15:03 -0000

I wear a hat every day. One with my postal uniform, a wool flat cap or fedora in winter, a straw Panama or boater in summer.

Re: Bringing Back the Hat

Barry — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:21:49 -0000

I hate to be the one to say it, but most of the hats in this article are completely out of style and would make any person today either look ridiculous or like they stepped out of a play. Bowler? Pork Pie? Seriously? Please do not wear these. The only one that has a chance of being wearable today is the fedora, and even that makes most people look like an Indiana Jones wannabe unless it is sheltering the wearer from cold, snow or rain. The flat cap gets a little cold weather use, but is really better worn for that purpose only and put away for other occasions. I wear hats frequently, but something practical for sun protection or in cold weather rather than as a fashion statement. If a certain formal look, style or fashion is what you are going for, you will be much better off not wearing a hat at all. Sorry, guys, that’s just good common sense. There are many great articles in this collection, but this one misses the mark as far as credible style advice. If you live in Texas or similar places, you can wear a cowboy hat in many cases, and baseball hats are often practical and acceptable casual wear, but if you are trying to sport a homburg, it will be shouting that you are trying too hard, and really have no clue what to wear, and that is the opposite of stylish.