Hats Off! Hat Etiquette for Everyone (2024)

FAQs

Hats Off! Hat Etiquette for Everyone? ›

For men's hats, any ornaments or decoration belong on the left side of the hat. The opposite is true of women's hats: hat pins and other ornaments should be placed on the right.

For men's hats, any ornaments or decoration belong on the left side of the hat. The opposite is true of women's hats: hat pins and other ornaments should be placed on the right.

Whether it's a fedora, trilby or a baseball hat, men should remove their hats indoors most of the time. Places, where hats are always off-limits, include homes, temples and churches, restaurants, cafes, theatres and office buildings, especially if you're there for business. Ladies' hat etiquette is still a bit loose.

According to the Emily Post Institute, many trace it back to medieval times when knights would remove their helmets to identify themselves, as well as to demonstrate respect.

Erving Goffman emphasized the role of hat-tipping as a means of closing encounters between male and female, and restoring both parties thereby to a state of civil inattention. He also suggested that the hat tip was used for greeting a stranger, whereas the equivalent greeting for an acquaintance was the bow.

Women's Fashion Hats: Traditionally, women wearing fashion hats are not required to take them off when indoors. That said, unless they are small and tight around the head, they too should be removed when at a dining table.

You should wear a fascinator on the RIGHT side of your head

Traditionally, when gentlemen escort ladies, the lady is on his right side. So, if a lady had their fascinator on the left, it could get in the way during conversation, block them from being able to see each other, or worse…

Women should remove baseball-style caps: In someone's home. At mealtimes, at the table. While being introduced.

Throughout history hats identified social standing and removing a hat was a gesture of respect. In the "old days," men took off their hats in Christian churches, when they entered someone's home, when greeting a boss, and always in the presence of a lady.

Cowboy Etiquette Rule #1: Hats off

When being introduced to a lady, remove or tip your hat—but never to a man.

Why is removing your hat respectful? ›

The practice of removing one's hat in church has traditionally been seen as a sign of respect and humility in many cultures, especially in Christian traditions. In the past, men and women were expected to remove their hats when entering a church or other place of worship.

Urban Dictionary: the cowboy hat rule. A rule made to keep people (ladies) from stealing your cowboy hat. If you wear a cowboy'hat, you have to ride the cowboy!

Purposely knocking off someone's cowboy hat is a fighting offense. Women, however, have a little leeway. A man who lets a woman wear his hat indicates that he's interested in seeing more of her — and if she takes it off him, it means that she'd like to take off some of his other attire, too.

Tipping of the hat is a conventional gesture of politeness. This custom has the same origin as a military salute. To tip, barely lift the hat, or respectfully touching of the brim with a nod of the head. Generally, only men tip their hats.

to praise someone and say that you approve of or admire something they have done: I have to tip my hat to her skills as a politician and as a campaigner. He said he tips his hat to the teachers who have helped raise standards. I tip my cap to the whole team. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.

A hat that 'tilts', always tilts to the right. This stems from the days you would be escorted by a man on your left. A fascinator or small co*cktail hat may also be worn tilting left. If your wear your hat straight, make sure your eyebrows remain visible.

Urban Dictionary: the cowboy hat rule. A rule made to keep people (ladies) from stealing your cowboy hat. If you wear a cowboy'hat, you have to ride the cowboy!

Purposely knocking off someone's cowboy hat is a fighting offense. Women, however, have a little leeway. A man who lets a woman wear his hat indicates that he's interested in seeing more of her — and if she takes it off him, it means that she'd like to take off some of his other attire, too.