I recently posted a piece on Panama Hats and today read an article about the modern approach to wearing hats. It was posted by the BBC and there is a link at the bottom of this piece.

For me, wearing hats became a style necessity in the Eighties. I never liked umbrellas and working in the City, London’s financial district, meant that every joe schmoe had one of those garish golf umbrellas. It looked very precious, grown men so afraid of a little rain that they needed to carry around their own marquee. For me a hat was stylish and left my hands unencumbered. There were minor complications, in that most offices had nowhere to hang a hat, but as I say, that was minor.

My first fedora was a classic Borsalino and I looked very elegant in it and that made me a hat devotee. I quickly noted that there was a community of hat-wearers in the City. At that time there were several hatters in the City, all gone now, alas. But other men were interested in hats and we would swap notes.

I still wear a hat (a fedora) in autumn/winter, but only if I am reasonably formally dressed, a suit or a jacket and tailored trousers. I am tempted by the jeans, skinny jacket and stingy-brim fedora look but as a classic dresser I do not do jeans well, so that is probably out. The full-on casual Indiana Jones leather jacket does not work, in my opinion, so for me it is a classic look. In summer I have a Panama, bought in the City some years ago and now in need of replacement. The Panama is easier to wear, chinos, open-neck shirt, summer or sports jacket

I like the fact that hats are now not generally worn. It means that men of style have another weapon in their armoury, another way to distinguish themsleves from the herd. Whenver I see a man with a hat I automatically think of him as being a bit quicker, a bit sharper, a bit more aware. Also, I can tell you that nothing will please a lady so much as tipping your hat to her. Also if you are a shorter man, a hat gives one a little bit of a height improvement.

The BBc article is here and has some interesting observations, including some from the MD of Bates, Jermyn Street’s magnificent hatter. I hope you enjoy it