For those who wonder if you really need so many hats, the answer is as easy as the occasion.
“I have a hat problem”
If I had a nickel for every client that has said this to me, I could probably buy at least three ice cream cones. A 'hat problem' is usually defined as someone who has a large hat collection. I'm talking at least ten styles- probably more. A lot more. The truth is, there’s a lot of us out there with hat addictions and the addiction is fed by using our hat collection as apart of our everyday lives.
For those of you that don’t yet have this ‘problem’ but feel yourselves slowly falling into the Hat Life, I wanted to walk you through how I view my personal hat wardrobe.It’s not a problem, it’s a solution to every occasion.
The‘I’m Driving Around Town’Hat: Fontainebleau
As a New Yorker for almost a decade, I didn’t own a car for a loooong time. That all changed when I moved down to The South. I love fedoras but the brim hits the back of the headrest, so a flat cap it is.
The ‘I need a coffee and my hair looks drunk’ hat: Styling & Smiling
Remember, hats are a bad hair day’s best friend. Also, this hat is casual, fun, and also helps keep the sun out of my under caffeinated eyes. NO EYE CONTACT BEFORE COFFEE!
The ‘I’m Making a Grand Entrance’ hat: Billy Because sometimes you need to announce your presence with authority. Three inches of stiff flat brim and a big ole’ crown to boot. I walk into the room with this and let my confidence spread its’ wings. Stop and stare- I don’t mind.
The ‘It’s Gently Raining or Snowing’ hat: Dean the Butcher
I’ve owned this hat so long it’s almost ready for the first grade. I use Rain-Dri water and stain repellant on my Dean, and you should too.
The “It’s aTorrential Rainstorm and I Have to be Outside” hat: Ranch Life
Just like a rain jacket, you should own one. This hat wins the award for ‘Hat Built like a Sherman Tank’.
The “It’s July in New Orleans and I need my own shade” hat: Wellfleet
True story: I was not a wide brim straw guy until I found myself in this exact situation and I realized that in some heat, you just need to make your own shade. For that I’m wearing the Wellfleet. And also a handkerchief so I can wipe the sweat away.
The ‘My Partner Hates it but I don’t care’ Hat: the Cock hat (animal Farm)
Because we all have our special idiosyncrasies, and they love us for it, right? RIGHT???
The ‘Taking the garbage out’ hat: Benjamin Paul
Also known as the taking the dog for a walk hat. Simple, trusty and not too precious. I wear this everyday for a year or so and then I just buy a fresh one when it's time. This is the way.
The “I’m going flying” hat: Marco PI’m not a packable fedora guy, when I travel(remember when we used to do that??) I’m a bring-three-flat-caps because they take up very little space and straddle everything from casual to business-casual guy.
The “Safe Bet’ hat: Night Hawk
The go-to fedora when I don’t want to think too hard about which hat I’m gonna wear. It goes with just about everything, and is nice enough to be noticed but not too loud to make much of a fuss. A true workhorse hat.
My non-Goorin hat: White Sox New Era fitted // If I’m not wearing a Goorin, it’s because I’m repping the South Side(and because Goorin doesn’t make MLB hats yet). Go Sox!
