HATS TODAY

Once upon a time hats were worn by virtually everyone.  A person was in fact considered undressed if he or she went out in public without a hat.  Furthermore, not just any hat would do, but rather the proper hat for both the times and the season was required.  Hats being de rigueur in society lasted millennia with the mode for men over the past few centuries passing from cocked hats to top hats to bowlers and skimmers, and finally to fedoras.  Then, about a hundred years ago, small niches of society (wealthy women, ivy league athletic fraternities, horseless carriage enthusiasts), claiming the banner of non-conformity began going hatless.  This sartorial heresy movement limped along for a number of decades having some limited effect on the hat wearing status quo.  Then in the early 1960s, the tipping point occurred.  Growing rebellion against authority and conformity and those hoping for a new day and order found an icon in a hatless American president.   In very short order, hats were not cool, showing hair was cool. 

Fortunately for those of us who make our living selling hats, the story does not end here.  Ironically, the issue that crippled our business some decades ago – that hat wearing was conformist and contrary to individual expression – is what will save it today.  As author and economist Virginia Postrel writes in “The Design of Your Life” (THE BEST AMERICAN SCIENCE AND NATURE WRITING, 2004), “Ours is a pluralistic age in which different styles can coexist, as long as they please the individuals who choose them.” What is salient for those of us selling hats today is inherent in Postrel’s next comment, “All this choice required technological and business innovations, but the shift expresses deeper cultural changes too.  The extension of liberal individualism – the primacy of self-definition over hierarchy and inherited, group-determined status – has altered our aesthetic universe.  Try as they may, official tastemakers no longer determine the ‘right way’ to look.”  Those of us surviving in this industry understand this message loud and clear.  We cannot keep bread on the table or send our kids to college on the strength of gray fedoras alone.  Hats will sell – one style at a time to one individual at a time.  We were caught off guard in 1960, but that lesson should give us an advantage in this new day and age.  One’s hat is now a personal form of expression – a very specific means by which the individual differentiates himself or herself from the pack.  Today, we hat sellers not only can survive, we are well positioned to lead. 

Fred Belinsky

The Village Hat Shop

http://VillageHatShop.com

http://Berets.com

Comments

[Sunny]

CHECK OUT THE SOUTH'S LARGEST HAT STORE!!!.....

WWW.MEYERTHEHATTER.COM

[Mr.Danny Deng]

Dear Sir & Madam,

We're pleased to know you are in the line of headwear by Internet, and sincerely hope to establish long-term trade relations with your esteemed company.

As it is well known, China is the largest manufacturing country. We, Shenzhen Shinetower headwear manufactory Co., Ltd in China as the direct manufacturer and exporter specialized in all kinds of caps and hats. We have our own factory . In addition, we have our own embroidery plant, imprint workshop and washed workshop. These assure the perfectly quality.

Maybe you have cap suppliers already.
But why not inquiry one more suppliers? Perhaps you will find a better price & partner.
Pls. kindly keep us in your headwear supplier database for further inquiry.

If you are convenient, please visit our website: www.21cncap.com. Please let us know any items you are interested in or your own design, and we would like to make samples for you and offer you very competitive quotation. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. we will do my best to meet your demand.

We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks and best regards,
Danny/Jack

Shinetower Headwear Manufactory Co. Ltd.
Add: Building C, Shanyanghu Industrial District,Pingshan Town,Shenzhen City,China
Tel: 86-755-84642347 Fax: 86-755-84642342
E-mail: sales5@21cncap.com
Website: http://21cncap.en.alibaba.com/
Website: http://www.21cncap.com

[KaRi from ThePrimeSpot.com]

What a creative way to educate your customers!

VILLAGE HATS in Long Beach is The Prime Spot to buy a hat, then check out the scenery at Shoreline Village. Strutting fashionably I might add!

Let us know when you start podcasting.

[Barry Cantrell]

Because my sister joking around all but destroyed my purple straw Bailey derby, I stumbled onto your site looking for a replacment. Just funtastic! I am not an affichenodo(sp?)of hats butI know enough.I learn most of my hat ediquett when I was in the Navy.The Navy and the other millitary branches;maybe even in the USAF club,hats are refered to as 'covers'.So,when you step inside,you remove your cover.In the mess deck your cover is removed,placed under your belt(realy small places may have hooks for your cover just prior to entering,You must NEVER place your cover on the table!!! The Pentagon has a area of the outside parking/entry declared covered; as if it where the inside of a building. This is so the officer can get through without a thousand enlisted saluting them. Did you know saluting is hat etequett? A midevil soilder when greeting a fellow soilder of higher rank, raised his visor showing his face. That gester became the modern day salute. Back to my anidote ...I moved to this rual community about 10 years ago. I was the only non-lawyer who wore a top coat,the only one who also included a fedora.I had moved back from Germany,there my landlord called it a pharrer(priest/minister)hat.That was good because I was a missionary working with US troops.Now back stateside I move from average size city to this rual comunity to do sochial work.The local attire is bluejeans,printed tee shirt printed ball cap,tennis shoes or cowboy hat and boots.This is the county seat so most all the lawyers wear suite and tie.That's how they know if you'er "one of them" or "one of us". I compromised and usally wear jeans dress shirt/or tee with a jacket. I have a collection of ball caps,I have worn most of them once,the NAVY ones more.Enough digression. I have 2 felt fedoras,and one straw derby.To get them cleaned I have to pay $26 for the local laundry to send them off to a cleaner. They won't clean the straw hat. I spent an hour on the phone calling Kalamzoo and Grand Rapids to find a Hat store.What I did find was a fine men's store that sells hats. They gave me the same story about cleaning my hats,same price too!I wonder if the place they send to is the same the laundry sends hats to? Any sugestions? Ecuse the spelling and grammar,both tools were somehow locked out.
That's my =

[lance]

I like blog idea, just thought I'd let you know that I read it.

[christian louboutin]

It's so lucky for me to find your blog! So shocking and great! Just one suggestion: It will be better and easier to follow if your blog can offer rrs subscription service.