Men began wearing hats in earnest as a symbol of style and protection against the elements with the advent of organized sport. As early as 1807, a dress code was established at horse races and polo tournaments for attendees at the royal enclosure at the Royal Ascot in Britain. To this day, a black or grey top hat is part of the requirement, as is a waistcoat, tie and black shoes worn with socks.
The common man’s baseball cap has its roots in the 1860s when the Boston Excelsiors wore a rounded cap with a button on top and a long bill. Today, the hats of Major League Baseball teams can be readily identified by the logo, mascot, or team’s initial on their caps. Baseball caps with their front-facing brims and panelled construction are seen just about everywhere and worn by kids, men and women.
For a long time, men’s hat etiquette was such that wearing a hat indoors was impolite in places of worship, public spaces, and private homes. While the rules have loosened over the years, it is still considered a gentlemanly courtesy to uncover your head in private spaces where people live, work, or pay a fee to enter (such as a private club or theatre). Golfers, on the 18th green at the conclusion of their round, customarily remove their caps before shaking hands with their playing partners. It is also common to tip your hat as a show of respect to another.
Hats by Tracy J 