The Who-What-When-Where of the Hat...When to Wear it and When to Not...

Hats aren't the essential article of clothing they once were but are still worn by both sexes for fashion and for function. Knowing when to remove a hat is as important as wearing the right hat for the occasion. If you were a medieval knight who failed to remove his helmet or lift his visor and identify himself the consequences could be fatal. Throughout history hats identified social standing and removing a hat was a gesture of respect. In the "old days," men took off their hats in Christian churches, when they entered someone's home, when greeting a boss, and always in the presence of a lady. Ladies were entirely exempt from "hat rules," wearing them whenever and where ever they wished. While some of these customs are now historical footnotes, even in today's casual culture men and women still remove their hats as a sign of respect. Here's when it’s fine to wear your hat and when it’s not:

Men – Hats can be left on…

• Outdoors• At athletic events (indoors or out)• On public transportation• In public buildings such as post offices, airports,  and hotel or office lobbies• On elevators

Men – Take hats off, including baseball caps …

• In someone's home• At mealtimes, at the table• While being introduced, indoors or out (unless it's frigid!)• In a house of worship, unless a hat or head covering is required• Indoors at work, especially in an office (unless required for the job)

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Hats Off!

• In public buildings such as a school, library, courthouse, or town hall• In restaurants and coffee shops• At a movie or any indoor performance• When the national anthem is played• When the flag of the United States passes by, as in a parade

A gentleman should take off his hat and hold it in his hand when a lady enters an elevator in any building which can be classified as a dwelling. He may put his hat back on in the corridor. A public corridor is a thoroughfare of sorts, much like the street, but elevators in smaller buildings such as hotels or apartment homes tend to have the character of a room in a house.

For men, hats are tipped, (or doffed) slightly lifting the hat off your forehead, when meeting a lady (remove your hat if you stop to talk), or to "say" to anyone, male or female-- thank you, excuse me, hello, goodbye, you're welcome or how do you do. Tipping of the hat is a conventional gesture of politeness. This hat tipping custom has the same origin as military saluting, which came from the raising of medieval Knights face visors to show friendliness.

Women – Fashion hats (not baseball-style caps) can be left on…

• In someone's home• At luncheons, weddings, garden parties• At religious services• At a movie or any indoor performance• When the national anthem is played• When the flag of the United States passes by, as in a parade

Women — Take your fashion hat off…

• Anytime it blocks someone's view, such as at a wedding or in a theater • Indoors at work.

Women — Remove baseball-style (unisex) caps…

• In someone's home• At mealtimes, at the table• While being introduced• In a house of worship, unless a hat or head covering is required• Indoors at work, unless required for the job• In public buildings such as a school, library, courthouse, or town hall• In restaurants and coffee shops• At a movie or any indoor performance• When the national anthem is played• When the flag of the United States passes by, as in a parade

(Cancer patients are exempt from hat rules (as is apparently, Ron Howard). They may keep their hats or caps on at all times if they wish.)

Removed hats are held in hand in such a way that only the outside and never the lining is visible.

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In places of worship head coverings are required for both men and women in Muslim mosques, and Sikh temples.

Men are expected to cover their heads in Jewish synagogues, and married women wear hats or scarves representing a display of increased modesty towards those other than the woman's husband.

The small, round head covering or skullcap worn by men is called a "kippah" which means, "dome" or "cupola". The Yiddish word for the cap is "yarmulke".

The wearing of the yarmulke is a reminder of humility before God, a mark of respect in a Jewish congregation, and a sign of recognition of something greater above oneself, which is why many male Jews wear a head covering whenever they are awake, with the exceptions of bathing and swimming.

It is considered acceptable for women to wear hats in Christian churches, but is sometimes considered disrespectful for men to wear them. A man should remove and hold his hat whenever he is in a Christian church.

For men's hats, any ornaments or decoration on the left side of the hat. The opposite is true of women's hats, hat pins and other ornaments should be placed on the right.

The following by the way, is not a hat... Crowns are different.

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