My ex deverlite wears a bowler all the time (as seen in his user icon). Upon meeting him for the first time, lots of people would say, "Hey, you're that guy who always wears the hat," and comment either on how weird or how cool they thought that was. He even named his new blog after it. Point is, wearing a hat regularly is definitely a way of standing out these days, rather than a social convention.
As for my preferences, I must add the caveat that my hair is so big and poofy that often hat-wearing is rather difficult! I own one hat which I bought at a music festival a couple years back, described as an "outback hat" - basically a widebrimmed, floppy canvas thing that has been beaten to death and is still ready for more. I view the kinds of hats I am capable of knitting as rolled brim hats, under that list of options, and so I checked that box, but I wouldn't buy one myself - I like making 'em.
zigeunerweisen is famous (at least somewhat) for her "Whitney hats," which are these really nifty knit tuques. I love mine (I've had it for over five years!), and I agree, with the exception of the Korean War US Navy watch cap my grandpa passed down to me, I'd rather have a hand-made one than one purchased from a store. The only drawback is that both are seasonal, not an everyday kind of hat. Well, unless I want to be Larry from Newhart.
I can sympathize with the hat vs. hair woes - I really hate hat-head, and my hair is so fine it's pretty much a forgone conclusion I'll get it. As such, I'm not really a hat person, though I'd really like to be.
I've known a few guys who wore hats, and they were always That Guy Who Wears the Hat. I think it was a bit of an affectation (particularly the one bloke who wore not just a fedora, but a bright red fedora). I think it's very difficult to be a hat-wearer without it becoming gimmicky or costumey, which is not to say that some can't pull it off. Just not many.
You're right...detlefSeptember 1 2006, 02:23:52 UTC
It's definitely become an affectation these days. Being of the opinion that, sartorially-speaking, one should limit the affectations to one or two items, I'm already at my limit.
Do you think ladies might be able to pull off hattedness more easily than guys?
Re: You're right...girlnoneSeptember 1 2006, 12:47:22 UTC
Depends on the lady and the hat. I think women are allowed more occasions to wear hats (and not just the races or church), but still not every day, you know? Otherwise you run the risk of being That Chick Who Wears the Hat.
Re: You're right...detlefSeptember 1 2006, 14:17:04 UTC
Hmmm. Being "That Chick Who Wears the Hat" kinda sounds similar to being "That (Twentysomething) Guy Who Collects Baseball Cards and Lives in His Grandmother's Basement" in my mind. Which is strange, because being That Guy Who Wears the Hat can be cool, just like being "That (Twentysomething) Chick Who Collects Baseball Cards*" can be cool.
* she shouldn't live in her grandmother's basement, though, unless the grandmother collects baseball cards, too
As you well know, I am all for the hats returning to mainstream. But it'll never happen, for the same reason that everything is made of polyester now *grumble*.
Way I figure it, I'm not adverse (averse?) to attention anyway. I might as well add a hat once in a while, and give people something to think about.
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As for my preferences, I must add the caveat that my hair is so big and poofy that often hat-wearing is rather difficult! I own one hat which I bought at a music festival a couple years back, described as an "outback hat" - basically a widebrimmed, floppy canvas thing that has been beaten to death and is still ready for more. I view the kinds of hats I am capable of knitting as rolled brim hats, under that list of options, and so I checked that box, but I wouldn't buy one myself - I like making 'em.
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I can sympathize with the hat vs. hair woes - I really hate hat-head, and my hair is so fine it's pretty much a forgone conclusion I'll get it. As such, I'm not really a hat person, though I'd really like to be.
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Do you think ladies might be able to pull off hattedness more easily than guys?
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* she shouldn't live in her grandmother's basement, though, unless the grandmother collects baseball cards, too
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Way I figure it, I'm not adverse (averse?) to attention anyway. I might as well add a hat once in a while, and give people something to think about.
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And hat boxes. Gotta have those.
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