In 1985, I began working for Dominos Pizza. I stayed with them for close to thirteen
years before jumping ship and going to work for Papa John’s. I did a few stints during that time as an
assistant manager and as the marketing person for our local area, but for the
most part I was simply a delivery driver.
I loved the job, which was why I kept doing it for so many years. I loved the flexibility the schedule allowed
to spend time with the boys as they were growing up. What I didn’t like about either job was the
uniform. Those I hated.
First, it was the shirts.
I’m not a big pullover type of guy.
I prefer button down shirts, especially long sleeve. Furthermore, they have to have a breast
pocket for my notebook and pen. The last
few years before I quit to hide out on my back porch and write, I was able to
buy my own shirts to fit my comfort level as long as I put the logo on it. It was well worth the cost.
The other part of the uniform I hated was the hat. They were baseball caps and for eight to ten
hours a day I was stuck with one on top of my head. They were hot and sweaty and I honestly blame
them for rubbing the hair off of the top of my head. I never saw a need to comb my hair back then
as I was always in the hat. My hair
repaid me by falling out.
For the last several years, I took the hat off whenever I
wasn’t around people, meaning customers.
As soon as I slid into my car, I tossed it onto the dash. While preparing for the day, the hat hung on
a hook next to me, ready to be slid into place the minute the door dinged. It was off more than it was on and I
preferred it that way.
It was because I fought so hard against wearing those
uniform hats that the girls looked at me a little strange when I purchased my
first fedora a few years ago. It was gray
and black and I donned the hat almost every time we walked out the door. And then I bought my next one, a red plaid to
celebrate Christmas. I also bought some
solid black ones, a green one for St. Patrick’s Day, purple for Mardi Gras, and
a few straw hats for summer. As much as
I had hated hats before, I was now almost always seen wearing one. The 8 year-old even put one on last year to
match me as she did her homework because “Robbie always wears a hat when he
writes. It seems to help.”
And she’s right. Most
days, I can be found on my back porch or any of my many mobile office sites,
fedora in place, cigar in one hand, black Precise V5 in the other, and a hot
cup of coffee on idle as the words flow.
The hat has become part of my daily attire once again, not because I’m
forced to wear it in order for some company to get their logo on my body in one
more place, but because I want to. That
makes all the difference in my world.
Men wore hats up until the 1950s, but since have suffered a
fashion decline. The past couple of
years, however, there has been a resurgence of men donning hats once
again. And why not? Hats are not only stylish, but
versatile. They hide that bad hair day
or, as in the case of Frank Sinatra and myself, hide the receding
hairline. They keep your head warm as
well as offer some eye protection against the sun. Furthermore, they not only add a unique touch
to your outfit, but also add an air of sophistication. They give you confidence and style. How you wear your hat can say quite a bit
about your mood at the time. The tilted
hat over the eyes conveys a sense of mysteriousness and can appear intimidating
while a 1 inch tilt straight up shows that you are all business. Push the hat back and people will see you as
open and approachable.
However, what many don’t seem to understand is that when you
don a hat, you are also accepting the etiquette that accompanies that
particular accessory. It seems to have escaped
the decency of good manners in the upbringing of boys along with opening car
doors for ladies and the proper use of cell phones. Since I don’t want you to remain ignorant, I
will share a few rules that go along with donning a hat. That’s right, you don a hat. You do not simply “put it on.” You also don’t “take it off.” You doff it.
If you’re going to learn the etiquette you might as well learn the
lingo. See? Style is oozing out of you
already and your confidence is building.

Next, and this has sadly been tossed out the window with a
younger generation and a lack of parental teaching, whenever you enter someone’s
home, a restaurant, or an elevator, doff your hat. Furthermore, never wear your hat during a
meal. It’s called manners and while many
do not feel it is necessary in modern society, I assure you, it’ll get you a
step above everyone else. While most
will tell you that those things don’t matter, people do take notice and you
will be seen as a gentleman, a step above modern man.
Finally, regardless of what you are wearing, when the National
Anthem plays, you doff your hat and place it over your heart. That’s more than just good manners, that’s
respect.
Hats are returning and, to me, that is a good thing. However, make sure you know how to wear one
properly before just slipping it on the top of your head. For instance, don’t wear your fedora with a
pullover. Trust me.
So, go out and try a few on.
Find what fits you, not just in size, but in personality. I bet you walk a little different.
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AH, I knew there was something I didn't know that I liked about you and this is it! You are a hat man! I am a hat woman and my beloved is a hat man himself. (If you look at the twitter pic of the winemaker's dinner, you'll see my hubby in his gray fedora).
ReplyDeleteAnd how right you are about the "how you wear it" defines whether you are a gentleman, a thug, a casual wearer who hasn't a clue, or a long time wearer. Hubby is a long time wearer. Same for me.
Mr. Sunshine the Hat man. Love it. And well said.
Thank you, Sherry :) And sadly it is one of the lost arts of good manners that has fallen to the wayside. And one I wish would return.
DeleteIt is funny how I fought it for years and now don one every time I walk out the door. Of course, now they are hats of my choosing, which makes the difference.
Thanks for sharing!