Hat Etiquette

[RoyJackson]

I'll wear a ball cap inside and when I'm eating, but it really depends on the type of resturant.
When we go out for dinner or whatever, I normally wear a fedora (it looks like an Indiana Jones hat, but it's not) in the Fall and Winter and a Panama hat in the Spring and Summer.
The problem is, as some wrote, is there's few places that have any facilities to leave a hat or overcoat.
Except for the Military, hat etiquette went by the wayside when most men gave up wearing fedora style hats in the 1950's and 1960's.

 

[Bird]

I agree, times have changed and it's no big deal. Just like it's the norm today to wear jeans everywhere. Twenty years ago, I felt uncomfortable going out in jeans. Nowadays, that's all I have (well, okay, there is a suit for funerals.)

Ken

And I don't even own a suit or sport coat anymore.:laughing: I wear Dickies coveralls almost everywhere. I have a son-in-law who is a funeral director and I told him I bought the black Dickies coveralls for fine dining and funerals.:laughing: I do still have two pair of slacks and a few shirts.:laughing:

This reminds me of something else when I started on the police department, we didn't wear the uniform to and from work; changed into the uniform in the locker room at the station. And we were not allowed to wear jeans, shorts, overalls, coveralls, etc. to and from work; had to wear slacks and shirt, or suit, or sport coat. And the old timers said we were lucky, because in their day, they were also required to wear a hat (not a cap) to and from work. :laughing:

And our uniform was a short sleeved, open collar shirt in the summer, long sleeves and tie in the Winter. A bulletin was distributed twice a year telling us what date to change. The old timers said they had to wear long sleeves and tie year round. And before I retired, it was left up to the individual officer to wear short or long sleeved shirts. I wore short sleeves year round.

Yep, customs, as well as fashions, are constantly changing.

 

[Egon]

And I don't even own a suit or sport coat anymore. I wear Dickies coveralls almost everywhere. I have a son-in-law who is a funeral director and I told him I bought the black Dickies coveralls for fine dining and funerals. I do still have two pair of slacks and a few shirts./QUOTE]

Sounds like a fellow who has full confidence in himself!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[bigbull338]

ive been wearing hats an caps all my life.quit wearing the hats because they get in my way.i wear a cap everywhere i go.an the only time i remove it is theres a prayer going tobe said then its back on my head.i had an old friend tell me to take my cap off an i looked him in the eye an said aint happening.the funny thing is he knew i wouldnt take it off before he said something.

 

[Chilly807]

I've got to say I'm surprised after reading this thread, in particular some of the responses from our American friends. I expected you guys would lead the way in tradition.

My head and an egg have a lot in common, particularly that neither are overly hairy anymore. I wear a hat 90% of my waking hours, primarily to keep the sun out of my eyes and off my head, and to keep it warm in cold weather.

I don't consider myself old-fashioned by most standards, but I've always believed a hat had no place on your head in someone's home, and certainly not while you're eating.

To me, wearing a hat in someone's home is a direct insult to the integrity of that home. Do you not think their roof is going to prevent sun and rain from getting on your head? I guess that school of thought goes back to the days when a hat was a piece of clothing you needed, not a fashion statement.

Like some of the other guys, I've had experience with the military way of doing things, and a cap worn in a mess will get you asked to leave in a hurry if you insist on wearing it. Simply walking in the door with one on meant buying a round in the old days, and you get immediate frowns and requests to "Remove the lid, please" in today's world. I've never seen anyone flat out refuse to remove it, that might get interesting. Buying 30 drinks helped your memory the next time.

If I come into my own house other than passing through, it comes off, and immediately gets removed as I pass through the doorway when I'm in someone elses home if it's a social visit. If I'm working there it may stay on, it depends on the job.

Eating inside with a hat on is a serious no-no in my books, it's like slapping God in the face after He provided the food for you, a definite lack of respect. Outdoor eating is a little different, though I'd try to find a shady or sheltered spot and doff my cap then too.

I've never had anyone insist on wearing their hat at my table, although I think it would result in my either asking them to leave or physically throwing 'em out the front door.

Like I said, a surprise for me and I suspect a lot of others too.

Sean

 

[Bird]

Sean, I agree with everything you said, except you said you wear a hat 90% of the time and I'm the exact opposite. Doctor tells me I should wear one more for protection from the sun, but they're hot. I have several and I'll wear one when I need to keep my head warm, but that's very infrequently in my part of the country. I'd probably wear one a great deal more if it weren't for the heat.

 

[TBarD]

When I was younger I rarely wore a hat, didn't like them at all. This was here in the southwest - skin cancer capital of the world. Now I have one hanging at every door. It goes on when I go out the door, and back on the hook when I come back in. Now I am so used to it that it doesn't feel right without one. I only wear long sleeves and long pants these days as well, even in hot weather.

Sean - no body is talking about wearing a hat in someone's home. It is just that in a restaurant there is often no practical alternative.

 

[dusty3030]

Tip for a place to put it, I put mine on my knee if there isn't room anywhere else.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Tip for a place to put it, I put mine on my knee if there isn't room anywhere else.

I have done this as well, it sort of ruins the meal. My hat does not stay on my knee very well. I would rather set it on a near by chair or seat, but that is not always possible. There are times when there just is no place for it other than on a head.

 

[kidr]

A lot of guys who wear caps are bald and hate to take it off in public. Come on admit it.:laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

A lot of guys who wear caps are bald and hate to take it off in public. Come on admit it.:laughing:

That's very true...I'm not bald, but I sure don't have the hair I used to have!
With me, wearing a hat became habit when I was in the Navy...just kind of stuck with it.

 

[RobertN]

Nah, in my case, if I take a hat off I have crazy wild hair. If anything, I hate to go in public if my hair has gone wild

But I still take my hat off at the table, dining hall, prayer, anthem...

A lot of guys who wear caps are bald and hate to take it off in public. Come on admit it.:laughing:

 

[CaptJCHill]

My mother,who was born the day the Titanic sunk now 100 years ago told us to never wear your hat at the table or in a restaurant.Dad told us the way to identify a restaurant that served good food at reasonable prices was to look inside and see if the men were wearing hats.If they were,he would not have any qualms about eating there.I have followed both suggestions.
In the airline world on most lines wearing your hat was mandatory at all times when in public view.Not doing so was considered an act of defiance and would get a" letter" in your "file". As a co-pilot I once lost my hat and had to get a letter from the chief pilot to avoid any repremands coming my way if caught in a " hat zone" with no lid.I always wondered why it was such a big deal until I became a Captain.By then the hair was getting gray and thin and cover was much appreciated!

John

 

[Sutol]

I only wear a hat when it is very cold and for that I have an old Russian Army hat.

Rest of the time I dont wear one but would remove it when goin indoors as that is what I was taught as a child.

Dont own a cap or trainers or any jeans, I wear propper trousers even when working, thay wear well and always look smart

 

[Pete Judd]

I only wear a hat when I am on the boat. Then it's an "out back" hat. Or in the winter, a stocking cap. Other wise they get in the way of my ear muffs for the hearing protection when running the tractor, or chain saws.

I was raised that the hat comes off when you come in the door. And as so had no problem with that rule when it the army. At the local eating places, I see a lot of hats on heads, and it does not bother me. It might still be a rule in some Eagle club bars, that if you sit down with a hat on you buy the house a round.

 

[Oaktree]

And I don't even own a suit or sport coat anymore.:laughing: I wear Dickies coveralls almost everywhere. I have a son-in-law who is a funeral director and I told him I bought the black Dickies coveralls for fine dining and funerals.:laughing: I do still have two pair of slacks and a few shirts.:laughing:

Yep, same here. I have a one "good" shirt, a pair of Dockers and a pair of black jeans that are my "dress up" clothes, otherwise it's jeans and T-, sweat- or flannel shirt. Don't go many places where I need to be any dressier than that. Even got married in shorts & tee shirt (wife drew the line at logo'ed shirts though). Don't think I've even owned a tie for the last 30-odd years.

Other than a knit cap when it's really cold out, I don't wear a hat. Never did, never liked them.

When we were kids it was pretty much the rule that you always wore a shirt to the table (inside or out). We never wore shoes in the house though...still don't.

 

[bullbreaker]

There was a day when eateries provided coat and hat racks. Those days are pretty much gone and even if there were a place to hang my hat at the door, it's not likely that I'm going to hang my $600 Stetson out of my reach. I prefer to have it next to me, but that can't always be done.

Well said Brian IMO . Thats about how I feel about mine. Though mine average $200-$300 dollars (less X'S inside)
Btw : Some of you's know its ok to leave hat on at "Cowboy Church".

Boone

DIL took my pic this morning excuse my mug.Yes I know I'am not as pretty(nor do I want 2-B) as some of you's whippersnappers !

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Times and places to remove your hat:

1. In an elevator.
2. In someone's home.
3. In a private office.
4. At the table.
5. When praying.
6. When the national anthem is played, the hat is removed and placed over your heart.

Places a hat is never removed:

1. Anywhere a hard hat is required, like a logging operation, construction site, etc.
2. When playing football.
3. When riding a motorcycle.
4. When overhead welding.
5. When being shot at.

I wear hats a lot, well ventilated straw hats in the summer, a hard hat with muffs and face shield when I am falling or bucking, canvas hat when it's raining, dress hats in town, duck billed caps when duck hunting, etc. I'm hardly ever without a hat.

 

[TripleR]

For me, a hat/cap is strictly utilitarian, so I only wear one when needed.

 

[johnrex62]

I have found the reflective surface my hairline has become is well benefitted by the wearing of a hat in most weather conditions. I prefer to wear an outback style or wide brimmed "Indianna Jones" type fedora. I wear a cap when shooting or working in spaces a wide brim will interfere.

I typically only wear outdoors, but have found myself forgetting and keeping it on when I walk into businesses until I get to a place where I am going to sit down. Then it always finds it's way into my hands or on a seat or desktop someplace. Churches, homes, restaurants and such are usually automatic hats off even without thinking about it. I did not grow up wearing a hat after the age of 5 except when working outdoors, so hat etiquette was not a strong lesson plan in my early years. I can vaguely recall hearing some of these rules, but it was not something I heard a lot.