Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

As a kid growing up in the 1940’s and early 1950’s all the men I knew wore hats. Usually, at least my father had a Sunday hat and then an every day hat he wore to work. I never thought to take a survey, but believe most, if not all the other men in our neighborhood did the same.

Then, almost over night it stopped. It was no longer cool for men to wear a hat. It wasn’t clear what caused this change to occur. Suddenly it was not acceptable for men to wear a hat, either to work or for dress. Why and how did this change happen? What triggered the change?

I believe the primary fault lay with the e******n of John F. Kennedy. Upon his Inauguration Parade, he chose to walk the entire parade route without a hat and in below zero weather. What was his thinking? It was supposed that he did not want to muss up his pretty hair, or to cover it up.

Another supposition was that all the veterans of World War II had been required to always be with a cover of some type while out of doors, either a service cap, or helmet. Since they had been under orders to always have a hat on of some type during the war, this was an expression of freedom in not choosing to wear a hat. So, it is possible there were a combination of several factors, but hats were now relegated to the closet and have not yet made an appearance for these sixty-five years, or so.

About the only thing I have noticed are the wide spread use of ‘gimmie’ caps which are worn both with the bill forward and either askew or even backwards. I suppose that is o.k. but is not appropriate for men in suits.

Personally, I like hats and choose to wear some type of covering all the time when out of doors if at all possible. Now that World War II is behind us these sixty-five years and most of the veterans are in their graves or about to be, it is time to reconsider wearing of appropriate head gear. I wonder what will ‘jump start’ this movement or fad? It could be some celebrity, politician, or even maybe a rising star. I doubt that President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamila Harris will be leaders in the ‘hat’ parade, but who knows? If they were, I would have to be appreciative of their action! Just Sayin….RJS

DC Loc: Washington state

I don't see many men wearing suits anymore, and most I see working out doors wear hard hats, I do see a young people wearing bill hats back words or stocking hats only seen a few with hoodies wearing hats. what would get the "fashionable hats" back in style? I guess when some government official decides their is a great health risk from the sun, rain or bird droppings on your head and then mandates the wearing of hats but even then most likely it will be those sky type masks that covers the head, nose and mouth or maybe a burka style head covering will be a more cultural sensitive type head covering that will be mandated but then again you living in Texas most likely will be exempt from the mandate

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, the question of men wearing suits is a different one. I usually wore a suit and that or a conservative sports coat and slacks was the standard in downtown Houston. Also, I must confess I did not wear a dress hat, either straw in summer or felt in winter. When I put on cowboy boots, I will also put on a Stetson, they just belong together!

But back in the time when hats were standard, whether men wore suits and hats wasn't the question. Men in khaki and white shirts wore a dress hat. We wern't in town, but as far out in the country as anyone could get! I know that this wasn't the standard but as far as I remember hats on men were standard then, and then it quit! Just Sayin...RJS

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Just a thought, Bob. There are still a few men that wear hats in Kansas; myself included. The church I’ve attended and led Praise and Worship for 11+ years is a Cowboy Church, and as such, many of us regularly wear cowboy hats, both to church and on a daily basis. I have also worn a “driver’s hat” when I drove a limousine part time, a while back.
These two styles of hats are still worn frequently, but, like you say, most others are seldom seen.

This is me with three of my daughter’s kids about 3 years ago.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Maybe it's just my area of the country, or my perception, but I see men wearing hats consistently. Granted, the fedora-type seen in the '20's until the '60's, are few and far between, and "ball caps" are the most prevalent, but I am guessing that easily a third of the men I see in public in SW Oregon, wear some kind of hat.
As for "sport coats/slacks and suits"..... rarely see any, personally can't recall wearing a tie more than 2-4 times a year since moving west 37 years ago. And then, usually only for a wedding or funeral (though I recently went to a funeral where guests were encouraged to wear "Hawaiian shirts" in acknowledging the departed's penchant for them....most colorful funeral I've ever been to.....RIP, Johnny B.

Another thought on the subject is $$$. A good felt hat, or even a quality straw, is often more expensive than that sport coat, nearly as much as a well tailored suit, these days. Always get a chuckle out of seeing a guy in a $600 Stetson and $800 Luchese's on his feet..... wearing a suit that most likely came from J.C. Penney.... kinda like wearing ragged coveralls to go for a pleasure drive in a Lamborghini.

DC Loc: Washington state

made me chuckle there a bit FixorFish but you are hitting close to home I always wear my ragged coveralls when I drive my Lamborghini. You want to drive a car like that in comfort not all tucked into some fancy outfit or something..... Oh just to come clean I really don't have a Lamborghini but I do drive my outback in my ragged coveralls so figure that is close enough.

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

I almost always wear a "Booney hat"/ a headlight safety-pinned outside of the "sweatband", if planning to be out after dark, or if going to where I KNOW (or suspect) that I might require a bit of illumination.
If it's a right cold day, you'd see me wearing a dark blue HEAVILY insulted "helmet-liner"... That, and artic-suitable "work mittens"... I'm "a Freeze Baby" and DON'T know WHY I'm still this far north.
I generally try to go without a hat, in the Spring, Summer and Fall-Time, to avoid becoming bald! (My Father had blamed HIS Father's "hair-loss" on the constant wearing of hats, and pretty much refused to wear one, opting for ear-muffs instead.) The only times I recall his head being covered, would be if he was bird hunting, he had a good warm cap/ a bill, to block the sun; or if he was on a motorcycle or snowmobile... The "Brain-Bucket".

Ne. fisherman Loc: Central Nebraska Arnold

Here in Central Nebraska where I am located it is predominantly a agricultural area, ranchers and farmers. The ranchers wear the cowboy hat and the farmers wear the baseball type cap.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

That hat looks like the one I wore fir both my daughter's weddings. Black tux with a gold or silver vest and black ostrich style boots. The black hat just topped it off. Bought the hat when I was in Bozeman MT

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, I am glad someone brought up the driving of a Lamborghini, because without your post, I would not have known how to spell it!

True storey! I have a high school and almost at the same time college classmate, who by his own admission was raised and in a family who made their living as tenant farmers and also followed and helped harvest crops each fall. He seldom was in school before sometime in October. He wanted to go to college but unable to afford it.

Our Ag Teacher helped him get a scholarship and a job and a Jr. College. He repaid their help by scoring at the top of his class. The faculty also went to bat and got him a scholarship and job at Texas A. & M. where he also scored at the top of his graduating class to show his appreciation of his benefactor's trust. Then to the U.S. Navy OCS, again top of his class.

In the Navy, another officer said, "you are a smart guy, why don't you go to law school?" And he replied he didn't even know where there was one. Graduated University of Texas Law School with honors, and began practice trial law in Houston and winning cases. He is without a doubt the wealthiest classmate of my class. He has invested his earnings in land in and around Houston and that has also been a winner!

His wife recently asked for a Lambroghini as her personal car, and he bought it for her. he drives a Ford SUV. So, do I think he deserves that distinction? Absolutely! I am just proud to have him as a friend. Poor country boys can GETTER DONE! Just Sayin...RJS

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

Nice brim. I have a bunch of felt fedoras in shades of gray and brown that
I wear from time to time, to match my clothes ( I don't wear black clothes ).
Get mainly positive comments from women, and funny looks from guys. Doesn't matter, it's my
style preference. Also wore suits in the late 60's thru the 80's. Liked 3 piece. Look stupid now with my
Beer gut pushing against the vest, so, no more, now double breasted. Funny, I have maybe 90% of my
hair left at age 72, because of the hats? Mostly brown still too. Also like cowboy style boots underneath the
suit, looks better than you might suspect. And, I'm a Yankee from New England. Oh well, guess I am just
a bit "different". Ya gotta do what feels right.
I was streaming an old film the other night and it was set in the late 30's, baseball stadium scene had nearly every
guy wearing my preferred style of fedora hat, NICE hats. Suits, too. Maybe I'm a time traveler......

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

$1500.00 50x beaver by Baldwin. He was one of my clients in Oregon and made this hat and another that matches it for my son. It’s called a “Gus”. I paid his cost but he sells them for $1500.00 and has made hats for several celebs. Crocodile Dundee for one. Pretty famous hat maker. Most high dollar hats sold at Rand’s are Baldwin customs. He made me a dress hat as well but it’s 100x (100%beaver). My cost on these hats was $575.00 and I figured it was worth having a couple. I bought three over the years. Two for me and one for my son and I’ll have them till I pass on. You don’t buy a hat like these until your head stops growing. I don’t anyway. I only wear the camouf**ge hat when I hunt and the game can’t even see me now.😂

ToMuch Loc: N E NE

RJ, ive been a hat wearer for a loooonnnnnggggg time. Fedoras, stetson, straw, billed, floppy. Most ppl do t recognize me w/out one!

Catfish, whoa daddy!! Those are show pieces!!

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well Too Much! That you really are Too Much and if I could afford them I would be right up there with you! Beautiful hats though I would never wear a Montana Peak or Gus, I have only seen one live individual wearing one and he was a goat rancher from West Texas I suppose that is o.k.! Just Sayin…RjS

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Yeah I spent some time in Texas shoeing horses about 15 years ago. I saw a lot of huge brimmed hats and some really flat topped, flat brimmed hats down there. In cowboy country we don’t wear those kinds of hats but I’m sure there’s a place for them all. A Gus is pretty much the norm in Wyoming and Montana. Don’t know what a Montana Peak hat is.