For a long time, hats performed two important functions – protecting the head from the elements and making the wearer look good. While these two functions remained paramount, the hat also indicated your social class and occupation. For example, bankers made bowler hats a part of their uniforms, while tradesmen and laborers wore flat cloth caps. While people in America wore hats until the mid-1900s to symbolize their social status and occupation and express their personal style, the end of World War II changed the way people viewed headgear, and the custom of wearing hats declined significantly. However, in recent times, hats have once again bounced back, and men and women of discernment are wearing hats more frequently. While a well-dressed gentleman will have several hats in his closet to suit different attire, occasions, and weather, he will also need to choose them wisely because they speak volumes about him and, while being functional, also reveal his character. Find out what some popular hat styles say about you:
Fedora
The fedora hat has always enjoyed great popularity in America, especially because it was closely identified with matinee stars like Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart. The fedora has a distinctive crease running the length of the crown and is available in many shapes and styles. Classic fedora hats are typically made of felt, but nowadays, you can get fedoras for casual use in various other materials. Given its history and association with the women’s rights movement in its early days, it is not surprising that men and women possessing a strong character and personality tend to wear fedoras more. Today, many decades after it hit the limelight, the fedora hat exudes timelessness and a classic appeal that enhances just about any formal outfit you care to wear.
Beret
Nobody less than Noah is credited with inventing the beret, among the most popular hat styles in the western world. According to legend, Noah discovered that the wool he used to waterproof his ark had transformed into a tough felt fabric after the animals trampled on it. Recognizing the utility of the new fabric, Noah crafted it into a weatherproof hat that went on to find many fans the world over. The beret is an integral part of the uniform of soldiers operating in cold climates as it allows them to keep warm while maintaining a low profile. In civilian life, the beret finds favor among the intellectuals, poets, and the fashionable. Wearing a beret shows the world that you are a tough guy with a resilient and artistic personality. The beret, worn at a rakish angle, symbolizes timeless style and confidence to take on whatever the world can throw at you. According to Fashion Magazine, a beret creates unity in a group of individuals.
Cowboy hat
Among the most well-known hats worldwide, the cowboy hat is characterized by a high crown with a single crease running down its center, a pinched front, dents on either side, or a rolling and wide brim. While the North American cowboys and ranchers favored the cowboy hat to protect themselves from the blazing sun, the wind, and the dust, it acquired its legendary status due to its use by actors in western movies. Cowboy hats made of straw, felt, wool, and leather tells a story of your open-mindedness, and the spirit of adventure that runs through you, observes a leading merchant of wholesale cowboy hats. You are kind and large-hearted with a warm and sensitive nature. You are a good team player and a great storyteller. You want to be liked by everyone but are not afraid to strike out on your own with something you strongly believe in.
Baseball cap
If there’s anything that epitomizes the American spirit and love for sports, it is the baseball cap. Much loved for its casual style, the baseball cap, originally worn by athletes on the sports ground, now finds a prominent place in urban fashion. Whether you wear it unadorned or with embellishments, the baseball cap makes it clear that the person wearing it loves being active and energetic. The brand label on the cap is also a great opportunity to show your support for your favorite team. The bill may be flat, slightly curved, or curved, depending on the coverage you want from the sun or the stadium lights at night.
Newsboy cap
A newsboy cap, popularized by the paperboys delivering newspapers at the beginning of the 20th century is unique because of its characteristic sliced-pie looks and round body shape. While the paperboys no longer wear it on their rounds, the cap lives on the heads of horse racing fans. Most contemporary newsboy caps are a combination of a classic newsboy cap and a flat cap with a plump and round shape and button adorning the center. What was once a cap favored by the commoners, is now a fashion accessory for the sophisticated and trendy, who want a bold signature to their fashion expression.
Beanie
While the beanie started as a fashion accessory for youngsters and hipsters, it is now a staple of those favoring a more conventional style. However, the way you wear a beanie tells a lot about you and your attitude. If you are a hipster, you will possibly team it with a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, but if you are going to your workplace, you can as easily don a beanie with your office outfit for a semi-formal and hassle-free look. The way you place your beanie on your head can tell the world whether you have a practical nature or a romantic and philosophical bent of mind.
Conclusion
While a particular hat style tells the world a lot about who you are, and what your personality is, the way you wear your hat and follow its etiquette can tell a lot more about your character and upbringing. You should always remove your hat regardless of its type, when entering a building unless it is a public place like a lobby, elevator, corridor, etc. You should also invariably take off your hat while the National Anthem is being played, while the American flag is being passed, and during funeral processions, photo sessions, and outdoor weddings.
