A Man’s Hat Is Influential, Inspires, and Creates an Impression

It is not just an accessory; that hat is likely his signature. Many men are recognized almost immediately by their hat. So, not just any hat will do, you need a man’s hat that will work for you and your style. It’s more than just a fit or a fashion statement.

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

Before I get too far into this, I just want to give you a little “me” background. In my senior year of high school, I fell in love with Elton John’s music. I played the Yellow Brick Road album so many times, I knew most of the songs by heart.

Then, after graduating high school, I joined the Army in August of ’74. By late December, I was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ. My roommate Dennis James “DJ” Romahlo, really wanted to be a DJ. He introduced me to so many Motown tunes, like the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Commodores, Billy Paul, and many others.

A Dashiki from the author’s collection

When I got my own room, I bought a stereo. I started playing Elton John, and invariably, many of those Motown sounds. But I started emulating Elton John. I had 43 hats and matching shoes. Hell, I even had a Dashiki and straw hat to match. I started collecting hats.

I wore my Dashiki, hat, and platform shoes to Elton John’s concert at The Spectrum in Philadelphia for his July 6th show, which of course, was awesome. Mind you, I’m not gay or homophobic, but I did get a couple of offers that night. Why can’t a man dress well without people thinking he’s gay?

I enjoyed songs like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Rocket Man, Bennie & the Jets, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (LSD), but when he started singing Philadelphia Freedom, he brought down the house. In case you were born too late, or just didn’t know, Billie Jean King coached the Philadelphia Freedom professional tennis team. John and King were very good friends. Elton had asked Bernie Taupin to write a song with the title, Philadelphia Freedom. Still, Taupin refused, saying he couldn’t write a song just about tennis.

Earlier in ’75, Elton had said, “In America, I’ve got ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ going up the charts… I wish the bloody thing would piss off. I can see why people get sick and tired of me. In America, I get sick and tired of hearing myself on AM radio. It’s embarrassing.”

Yet still, the song was immensely popular, particularly in Philadelphia, during our nation’s Bicentennial.

Billy Preston & Elton John

Though this doesn’t pertain to hats, I feel compelled to mention a story about Billy Preston, who had been known as the fifth Beatle, especially among the group members. Billy made a $1,000,00 bet with Elton John saying, he could write a song about nothing and make it a top ten hit. Well, John readily took that bet, and Nothing from Nothing became a huge hit. Of course, Preston made a million in addition to the proceeds of his hit song.

Many of you probably don’t know, Preston toured with Little Richard when he was only 16. He met George Harrison after a concert, and they became fast friends. George wanted to add him to the Beatles, but Paul put the kibosh on that real quick, saying, “It is difficult enough reaching an agreement with four!” So, the “Fab Four” remained John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

However, Billy played keyboard and many other instruments with the band while on the road.

From POPBABBLE by ABHORSEN13

From the Kangol® customer page.

Yeah, that was the ’70s. Remember when the Kangol® was kool? Nobody Wears A Kangol Hat Like Samuel L Jackson, the L is for Leroy, btw. Well, except maybe LL Cool J. Well hell, LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James) could pull off any hat. He’s almost as recognizable for those hats as he is NCIS: Los Angeles.

A Little Hat History Going Forward

During the ’80s and ’90s, many men didn’t wear hats. Whatever the reason, I really don’t know if it was because we got bored, or it just got a little overdone. Maybe we perceived that we had moved on from hats. You did not see that many men wearing a hat for a while.

Well, of course, the baseball cap was an exception. But during the new millennium, we started to wear hats once again. The snapbacks were all the rage for a while, soft felts, straw hats, and flat hats, too. Everywhere you looked, men’s hats were once again fashionable. I mean, what better accessory for men than a hat to boost our already sharp look?

The man who asks another to try his hat on will get a look of amazement, alarm, and dismay — like, “WTF, are you crazy?” And don’t even play that childish game where you grab a man’s hat.

Even the flirtatious female could initially receive that look. Yes, he might relent, but he won’t be happy about it. Though he may smile if she tilts it just right and shows her own smile. Yet, he will worry she will spoil the hat’s mystique or maybe crumple it. Or, maybe, he thinks she will look better in it than he does. Of course, he will never tell her about these concerns. Some won’t even allow their mother to don their brim. It’s a point of pride.

A Man’s Hat

Ne-Yo arrives at the Latin Billboard Awards in Coral Gables, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz).

Some wear a soft felt hat as if they live in it. Others can sport a classic Godfather hat, stuck with a signature feather as naturally as Neyo.

Your signature hat can make you feel comfortable and confident. Nowadays, even a sweatsuit with the right hat looks — stunning, striking, sizzling… you choose the adjective. Whichever adjective you select, it always boils down to a sharp look.

Yet sometimes, it’s all about the right combination of attire. I mean, sure, a baseball cap or a Kongol will be alright with casual clothing, but some hats are only meant to top a suit or long, leather jacket.

Consider the look that fits just as well at church as it does at the club. You will definitely turn heads in any setting, as every head turns to discover who is behind the quiet confidence.

Picking the right look for you could be the challenging part. Whatever the occasion or event, the right hat will help you turn more than a few heads.

There are many more men’s hats to choose from that will top off that look that she will love, besides the Godfather Style Fedora or Kangol.

Saturday Club Casual or Sunday Swag

The Godfather Fedora hat may just be “an offer you can’t refuse” if you can wear it as well as Cedric “The Entertainer” or Will I Am. Fedoras are not just for dressing up anymore. It will wear just as well with a pair of jeans and a sweater or vest. Whether it’s Saturday night club casual or Sunday swag, you know if you can wear that fedora or straw hat like Andre or Big Boi, you won’t look like an Outkast. Hats are back men, so get over it…or get under it!

I like to have a hat that matches every outfit I have. Sometimes, I find a hat I love, and then I look for an outfit to match. It is just a matter of preference. I prefer to have a hat that fits me rather than just a hat that fits.

Photo by Kemp Mrv on Unsplash

Think about it, how many of us could wear a tri-corner hat like Johnny Depp? I don’t know about you, but I’m not even going to try. Maybe on Halloween. Although, Pharrell could probably pull it off.

CREDIT: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

That’s why it is up to us to develop our style and find our signature hat. A man’s hat must be one that matches our style and personality. What’s under your hat?

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure statement for additional information.

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About Me

Stephen Dalton is a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. He is a freelance journalist currently living in the Philippines.

You can see his portfolio here. Email thewriteresults@yahoo.com

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