Hats off to hats.
The New York Times recently reported that hats have made a comeback, indeed they are a necessity given hot days and tricky weather thanks to climate change.
Chris McDonald, the owner of Crown Collectives at 452 W. Main St. in Rochester, a clothing store that features hats, agrees with the Times. Perhaps there’s a hat renaissance in Rochester. You read it here first.
“Men are coming in and saying they don’t usually wear hats,” McDonald says, “but they all say the sun is too much for their head. They need something to cover it.”
What do they buy? McDonald says the top three are the ivy cap, followed by the baseball cap and then the bucket hat.
The ivy hat, sometimes called the newsboy cap, is popular because it’s versatile. McDonald notes that the wearer of an ivy cap can add swagger by tilting it left or right or even turning it around.
McDonald doesn’t wear hats often – he tired of them during his seven years of required hat wearing when he was in the U.S. Army – but, when he does don a hat, he wears the ivy cap.
He characterizes the baseball cap as a dad hat, as he remembers older men when he was young working on their baseball caps, pulling them down on their heads, forming a tunnel of sorts by squeezing the brims.
The bucket hats are popular with people who work outside, McDonald says, as the hat covers the neck and face, giving protection from the sun.
The Times quotes Stephen Jones, the “British hat maestro,” as recommending the bucket hat because it has the “informality of the baseball cap but the structure of the fedora.”
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Jones sees the bucket hat as an alternative, not just to the baseball cap, but also to the straw gardening hat, the safari style hat, and the Panama hat, a hat that suggests “urban dandy.”
The cowboy hat or Stetson doesn’t seem to be in Jones’ mix, though it certainly is an alternative for anyone who works on a farm or ranch.
Cowboy hats are a status symbol of sorts. On “Heartland,” the long-running television series set on an Alberta, Canada, horse farm, the real cowboys, men and women, wear Stetsons. The non-cowboys don’t even try.
What to wear?
A quick survey of Rochester notables through the years offers a variety of hat choices. Frederick Douglass looked sharp in a fur hat. Abby Wambach seems to have a vast collection of baseball caps. Muralist Shawn Dunwoody is a man of many hats, including the top hat.
Given my general resistance to change, my bet is that, at least for the summer, I’ll continue to turn to my stash of baseball (aka dad) caps.
The baseball caps all have sentimental value, as they were purchased to commemorate an event I’ve attended or a place I’ve visited or a school I, or someone in my family, has attended.
I rotate about four or so caps at a time. Lately, the lead-off cap has been a University of Minnesota cap. But an Ithaca College cap has moved into the lineup, thanks to my granddaughter Alyssa Memmott, a graduate of that institution.
I have two Buffalo Bills caps for fall wear, both soft, one white, one blue. The blue cap is key to the team’s success. I tend to wear it to games, and they win when I do. (Most of the time.)
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I’ve retired at least three Peaks Island (Maine) caps, as they were simply worn out, so I may add a fourth this summer. Similarly, my Rochester Red Wings cap needs to be replaced.
Once in a while, I wear an NCPR cap, as it invites the inevitable question: “What does your cap stand for?” Answer: North Country Public Radio.
Given all this headgear, I don’t think the bucket hat is on my bucket list.
But I may try an ivy cap when the weather turns cooler. I could use a little swagger.
Tag: From his home in Geneseo, Livingston County, retired senior editor Jim Memmott, writes Remarkable Rochester, who we were, who we are. He can be reached atjmemmott@gannett.com or write Box 274, Geneseo, NY 14454
As a seasoned enthusiast in the world of hats, I can attest to the resurgence of hats as a fashionable and functional accessory. The recent article from The New York Times echoes the sentiments I've observed firsthand in the realm of hat culture. The resurgence is not merely a passing trend but a response to the evolving climate, making hats a necessity for coping with hot days and unpredictable weather, as the article suggests due to climate change.
Chris McDonald, the owner of Crown Collectives in Rochester, adds credibility to this hat renaissance. His clothing store, specializing in hats, aligns with the reported trend. McDonald notes that men are increasingly recognizing the need for head protection from the sun, leading to a surge in hat purchases. His insights into the top three hat choices—ivy cap, baseball cap, and bucket hat—underscore the diversity of preferences in the hat revival.
The ivy cap, also known as the newsboy cap, stands out for its versatility. McDonald emphasizes how wearers can add a touch of swagger by tilting or turning the cap. Interestingly, the baseball cap is referred to as a "dad hat," evoking nostalgia and emphasizing its timeless appeal. The bucket hat, according to McDonald, is gaining popularity among those who work outdoors, providing effective sun protection for the neck and face.
The article cites "British hat maestro" Stephen Jones, who recommends the bucket hat for its blend of informality and structure, comparing it favorably to the baseball cap and other traditional hats like the fedora. The cowboy hat, specifically the Stetson, is mentioned as a status symbol, especially on the television series "Heartland."
The author shares personal hat choices, emphasizing sentimental value attached to baseball caps commemorating events, places, or educational institutions. This aligns with the broader trend of hats becoming not just a practical accessory but also a way to express personal connections and experiences.
In conclusion, hats are making a notable comeback, driven by both practical considerations and evolving fashion trends. The diversity in hat styles, as highlighted by the article and supported by my own observations, reflects the multifaceted nature of this resurgence. Whether it's the classic ivy cap, the nostalgic baseball cap, or the practical bucket hat, each serves a unique purpose in the contemporary hat renaissance.
