No good hair is ever revealed from removing one’s hat. We’re talking classic hat head, sweaty helmet head, visor crush, the ol’ cowboy comb over, bowler hat bangs, tragically tangled turbo turbaned tresses, and the seriously dreaded sombrero smash. I’m always afraid that if I wear any kind of hat through airport security I might set off the alarm and they will make me remove my cap, revealing an unkept embarrassment before a business crowd of onlookers in 7am suits. But yes, I do risk it.
Why is removing your hat to expose your head considered respectful behavior? I did a little research. “Apparently the original purpose of wearing a hat was to keep your head warm, or to protect your head from the sun, and also to keep dust out of your eyes. In the earlier days of civilization, men removed their hats when they went inside to prevent any dust that was collected on them from getting on furniture and the floor of a house.” So says yourtango.com.
Additional digging revealed that medieval knights removed their helmets when entering buildings as a sign of friendly intent– they showed their faces. And for some reason this became a chivalrous practice to show a lady respect. Women, however, were allowed to keep their hats ON if the hats were viewed as fashion hats or pure accessories and not dust collectors or helmets.
I love hats. Sometimes for the same reason that school teachers hate them– they tend to hide part of your face. They also literally cover a myriad of hair anomalies that have been happening to me with increased frequency of late. Hats can spice up an otherwise bland outfit or shield your face from the sun. Hats can help you avoid eye contact with humanity on a Sunday when you have errands to run but don’t feel like making the grocery store a social activity with everyone on aisle five.
Once I put a hat on, I like it to stay there. The expression of taking your hat off to someone means to give them praise or respect. But honestly, I’d be much happier if their hat stayed on their head and therefore my hat and hair remained untouched. As in… hands off my hat and back the f up!
Certain hats can send a message. A teenager at the diner getting takeout at 2pm wearing a backward baseball cap means, “Hey I didn’t shower yet but I’m starving so please don’t talk to me even if you know my parents.” I have a black leather driving cap and I think it makes me look biker chic. When I wear it a lot of folks throw chin at me in respect. I also rock a sherpa baseball cap that seems to delight people surprised that hats can actually be made from that fabric. Apparently! For me a hat can be a total mood.
Some folks aren’t hat people at all. My son never wears a hat. Ever. He’ll rock a hoodie like no one’s business but a hat is out of the question. My Dad used to love cowboy hats but now he favors caps with restaurant logos or clubs. On any given day he goes almost everywhere in a hat. My Mom on the other hand goes absolutely nowhere in a head covering of any kind. I of course wear many hats.
jenslittleblackbook.com 