GENERAL HAT ETIQUETTE FOR MEN | BACK-TO-BASICS SKILLS

During the winter months, I wear fedoras when traveling. The rules I follow are like yours but in an indoor public space (airport, large store, hotel lobby) I keep my hat on. When moving to a more personal space such as restaurant seating, office appt, etc. the hat is removed. A quick story (pre 9/11), flying with my wife and seated just back of first-class. My bag and hat carefully stowed, a guy comes onboard late, with no space in the first few rows of overhead stowage, he opens our overhead and starts jamming in his bag and coat. I mentioned to please be careful as there is a hat up there, the only answer was a grunt something about first-class and goes back up to the first row. Once in the air I went to get something and opening the bin my hat was crushed in the back. After the curtain was drawn, I took his bag and coat and went to the back of the plane and placed the stuff up in the last overhead bin. My wife was thoroughly embarrassed, but I thought it a good punishment to make every passenger get off the plane before he could get his bag. Upon landing I told my wife to follow me to get off the plane as quickly as possible and mentioned to a flight attendant what I had done so the crew and offender didn't think his stuff was stolen. To my delight, the flight attendant also thought it was a good lesson and had a good laugh.

I was taught that one’s hat should stay on in queues, lobbies and big spaces- so Post Office, airport, supermarket etc, though comes off when you are speaking to someone. Otherwise agree 100%

Here in the Netherlands, whenever I ride my bike, I wear a Harris Tweed flat cap. It gives me great joy, when a car yields for me (For example, on a roundabout) to tip my cap as a thank you to the driver. I firmly believe it can benefit safety. Because said driver will feel appreciated, which may give him an incentive to be the best driver he can be.

Good day Ash. Back in the seventies when I was in my twenties I took to wearing hats. Unfortunately, due to the lack of hatstands and the general disregard for hat wearers, I gave up the practice. Now that I'm retired I have reacquainted myself with the hat. The problem of a safe place for the hat still remains, but , like yourself, I've learned to adapt. I've always loved hats and wouldn't leave home without one. I own a wool felt trilby/fedora like the one you're sporting, an Equadorian panama for Summer and my straw boater, worn at a jaunty angle of course, when I want to cut a dash on Saturdays. Thank you for emphasising the importance of removing or doffing the hat. These are crucial practices of etiquette, regardless of what the baseball wearing public think.

I wear all my hats according to my attire, weather and occasion. A vast array. Lately my bowler came in often as it is to mild for a winter month. Even in my car my head is covered any hat except large brim fedora as it touches the seat behind.

The officers salute didn't go unnoticed sir 07:15 In the navy lower ranks would salute with their hands palm down as to not offend higher ranks by showing them dirty hands. However officers would show palm forward as acknowledgment that manual labour was below their station.

I am one of those that does remove his hat (even the baseball cap) when entering a building and I do get a smile from folks if you tip your hat to them so I totally agree with you on this one Ash.

Ash I have been wearing fedoras since the late 1970s. My wife loves it when I wear it but she also gets aggravated because I always get compliments for other ladies 😂. If I'm going to a restaurant I usually wear a flat cap because it is easier to stow away while eating. If I do wear my fedoras I do as you suggested. If walking down a street and a funeral procession passes by I stop turn to the street and remove my hat till they pass. I really hope hats make a comeback I am very tired of seeing baseball caps everywhere and men never remove them while dining. Thanks for the advice. Cheers Ron

Last year I bought a black fedora to keep my head warm while wearing my Sunday suit in the winter. I was standing at the curb in front of my church (Western US). A man driving by went around the block to stop and tell me he thought the hat looked great. I've had several compliments on it. We also got one for my son who plays in his high school jazz band. He loves his and wears it to church and in all his performances. He also made a hatstand in woodshop. Now, thanks to you, I'm in the market for a wool overcoat! Love your channel; thanks for the tips!

Damn man, that is one sharp and dapper outfit you have on! Such a great shade of purple/plum and cut. Most men look like Prince or The Joker if not done well.

For almost 15 years, I've been wearing a Trilby on occasion, which has been complimented de temps en temps; in the last year, I've also acquired a Boater and a Bowler and the former proved to be a remarkable conversation-starter, as well as a most suitable summer hat. I've also had an Ushanka for the last few winters, which is astonishingly warm and rather fun.

Wonderful. Hat wearing and etiquette are both excellent examples of the charm and politeness that the world sorely needs in our current days.

At my 50 year high school reunion, there were about six or seven of us with hats and several with caps. A friend of mine and I carried a table over close to the front door for hats and put our hats on it. We were the only two to do that, everyone else kept their hats on their heads. It is interesting to see how many people follow suit when you take off your hat. In the same venue as the 50 year reunion, a grand nephew of mine and his bride had a wedding reception recently. There wasn't a spare table to carry over to the front door so I set mine down on a chair. I noticed that three or four other men followed suit and took their hats off while they ate, but most left them on. I liked my niece's reception better. It was outdoors at a friend of mine's ranch. I left the hat on the whole time. I went to an afternoon dinner a couple of weeks ago at a residential center for the elderly. There was nowhere to place my hat so I set it between perpendicular to the ground between my ankles. That said, if I'm at an old style lunch counter like we still have in my county, there is nothing to do but keep it on my head.

Man, that is a gorgeous overcoat!

Oddly enough I emailed you earlier tonight and mentioned tipping my hat. The rule I was taught regarding removing hats was wear it in a public space, remove it in a private space, but a private space can also include a private gathering within an otherwise public building.

Another excellent show! One "trick" that I use when wearing a flat cap (upon entering a building, etc.) is to fold it back on itself and then place it in an inside pocket of my sports jacket. Very convenient.

I spent time in the military (Canadian) and so learned hat etiquette early. That was a long time ago, but I have been on a bit of a hat journey in the past year or so. For many years I wore baseball caps when I needed shade from the sun. However, when my wife and I were going on a trip to Greece and Italy last summer I didn’t want to look like a typical tourist. I have a white cotton Trilby that I was given at some function a few years ago and decided that it would suit the location and occasion, and would be easy to pack in my luggage. I really liked how it looked and when we got home I bought a higher quality lightweight straw Trilby to wear in the sun. Since then, and since discovering your and others’ YouTube channels, I have bought a number of flat caps to wear in various situations, and I have grown very fond of them. I have not had a ball cap on my head for a long time and maybe never will again.

Fantastic video Ash! Few are the things more disappointing than seeing a fine clothed and suited man wearing a baseball cap.

Thank you once again. Ivan

Sometimes I forget that I'm wearing a hat. One time I came inside my wife's Auntie's home and her Auntie said with a strong voice to me " where's your manners !" My wife knocked the hat off my head. LOL