A-Z of British Etiquette
Hats are not as popular as they once were, and more’s the pity. For men the phrase ’Get a hat, get ahead’ still rings true in certain career fields. For women, hats are a must for formal day occasions.
For ladies
It’s not really etiquette for ladies to hang on to their hats. You often see women walking down the road clutching their millinery in a gale, and that’s a big no-no. It should be securely fastened hatpins are your friend here, gals.
Avoid fascinators! There is nothing fascinating about fascinators any more, and many would argue never was. A proper hat will always trump a bird’s-nest lookalike in the sartorial stakes.
Hats are not worn after 6pm. After that, it’s tiara time (if the dress code is White Tie/Full Evening Dress).
Straw hats are only to be worn after Easter. Before that (or after September) then it’s fabric hats only, please.
When attending a wedding or funeral, make sure your brim is not too wide so the people in the rows behind can see what’s going on ahead.
For men
The fedora or homburg remains the smarter choices for city-wear. All men’s hats should be at a slightly jaunty angle.
Men always, always remove hats indoors. Even if it’s a baseball cap (heaven forefend!) then the moment the gentleman walks into a building, it is removed. The only exception would be in shops, where it can be left on unless one gets in the lift.
Tipping the hat as a way of greeting may have all but vanished but is still correct. Removing hats as a funeral procession passes is also a must and is not to be thought outdated. The same goes for when in the presence of royalty hats orf!
Just like your shoes tell a lot about your personality and standards, there is no point wearing a hat if it looks past it. Brush the hat in the same direction once a month (depending on wear) to keep it looking smart.
The post H is for Hats appeared first on Beyond Bespoke.