Hats are amazing accessories which come in such a wide variety of styles that there is sure one for every guy who wants to wear one. In the first part of the guide to hats, we talked about fedoras, Panama hats, boaters and more.
In this part, we will be looking at other types, such as the amazing bowler hat and the elegant Homburg hat.
The bowler hat
Bowler hats are also known by the names “derby”, “billycock” and bombín and are felt hats with a rounded crown. They were originally made for the British politician and soldier Edward Coke in 1849. The hat became popular during the Victorian era among the men of the working class, but later it was also fashionable among the men of the middle and upper classes. In the end, it also became the part of the work dress of the officers of the Queen’s Guard. It was also popular among American working men and Bolivian Quechua women.
Bowler hats are very aesthetic in our opinion and there’s no wonder that they were popularized by Charlie Chaplin or used in artwork, such as in René Magritte’s “The Son of Man”. Later on, in the 1950s and 60s, they were the style staple adapted by the men who worked in offices in the financial district of the city of London.
Note that bowler hats should be avoided by men with very full faces, as they will replicate their features making them look somewhat unserious due to the tautological effect.
The Homburg hat
Homburg hats are very similar to fedoras. The difference lies in the fact that the Homburg’s brim does not have pinches and it is turned up all around. Homburg hats are also more formal than fedoras, which is why they are not so popular and widespread today. And that, in a way, is a good thing. Some things need to be kept special.
Homburg hats can be worn with formal or semi-formal suits and outfits, but keep in mind that you should never wear such a hat with a tuxedo or any other highly formal piece. If you are going for a Poirot look, this is the hat for you!
The fisherman cap
The world-famous Greek fisherman cap is the hat that is most associated with seamanship and other marine settings. They are less formal than bowler hats and quite tricky to pull off. We recommend that you wear them if you find yourself in a rather creative setting or if you want to show off your quirky personality. Even though they look really amazing, fisherman caps can be quite hard to wear. The reason for this is because they are already so strongly associated with the sea and with ships, that you risk making it look like a costume.
In order to pull it off right, you can go for a fisherman cap that is not white and make sure you don’t wear it with a nautical outfit. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wearing a costumy hat, but then, you must be sure that nothing else in your outfit is costumy. John Lennon used to wear fisherman hats and he managed to make them work very well for him.
The campaign hat
A campaign hat, also called Montana Peak, Smokey Bear, Scouts hat or ranger hat is a straw or felt hat that has a very high crown and is pinched at the four corners.
It dates back to the 1840s and today it is associated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, scouts and the New Zealand Army. It would be interesting to see with what the people outside the US, Canada and New Zealand associate it if they saw someone wear it on the street.
If you want to wear a campaign hat, make sure you try it on before you buy it, as they tend to have a different measurement system than other hats.
The cowboy hat
Last, but not least, we want to also talk about the cowboy hat. Cowboy hats are not only the symbol of the American man, but they are also the symbol of all things American and America’s International influence.
If you want to wear a cowboy hat, make sure you wear it with the front in the front. Wearing it backwards is a big faux-pas and should never be done.
These hats were originally made from straw for the summer and from felt in the winter, but now this idea is not very much respected.
Cowboy hats come in all shapes and sizes and even in lots of fabrics, materials and colors. It’s up to you to find the right cowboy hat for you. Such a hat is of course very casual and should be worn with other casual clothes.
There are a lot of etiquette rules when it comes to hats. The main one is to take it off when you enter a room and especially while eating. However, there are many people who claim that some hats, such as cowboy hats can be worn even if you are eating or sitting at a bar.
It is polite, not matter what hat you are wearing, to take it off when you are greeting somebody and to make sure that your hat is clean. Hats get just as dirty as clothes and need to be maintained to look good. Etiquette rules vary from place to place and from from group to group.
Whichever type of hat you choose to wear, we encourage you to wear with attitude and to always stand right, as posture is the best way to make something look great!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. Which type of hat do you prefer? Do you follow any etiquette rules when it comes to hats? Share your thoughts in the comments below and follow us via e-mail or on our social media to keep up to date with new articles and other things we do!
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