Written By
Gary Harrison
Gary Harrison can be regularly found dining at The Wolseley, and drinking at Dukes Bar where he has been known to exceed the two martini limit.
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Are You Capable Of Being “The Hat Guy?”
Never wear a hat indoors but much more importantly, always remember the insightful words of P.J. O’Rourke who said that “a hat should be taken off when you greet a lady and left off for the rest of your life. Nothing looks more stupid than a hat.”
Full-brimmed hats are a bit like bowties. You have to get over the possibility of looking stupid in order to start wearing one. Go beyond that initial trepidation however and eventually, if you do it enough, it can become natural and commonplace. Until then you can take some comfort in the fact that there are many very clever people in the world who despite their intelligence are awfully dressed.
It used to be that I’d only wear a hat on holiday abroad. There seemed to be something reckless and fun about it—like suddenly signing up to do a bungee jump. After a few times however the thrill and sense of adventure wears off and you’re asking them to make the cord a bit longer.
I picked up this Christys’ hat from a charity shop for £3 about a year ago (complete with former owner’s monogram). It has a story already and I like that. I don’t know who KCL is but I suspect he’s probably deceased, perhaps his wife killed him after he continued to wear the hat in her presence. Judging by her face when I wear it, there’s a good chance my wife is already mentally plotting the end of me, or the end of the hat. Either way it keeps things exciting.