Need Help with outfit for this evening...

I am meeting a close friend for dinner this evening. Our birthdays are only two days apart so we started a tradition that we go out for dinner together to celebrate. I would like to wear one of my new hats - preferably the newest one. It is intended to have the flower at the back but looks much better backwards with the flower detail centered at the front.

What do you think? Should I go for trendy or conservative? Neutral black/grey or a color like purple or blue? Dress? Formula ?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

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14 years ago

Urgent

10 replies

Latest reply was from celia

Angie

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Fashion Stylist

First of all, happy birthday! I hope that you had a wonderful day and that you felt celebrated and treated

I love the hat and it's not at all conservative. However, if you're having dinner, I don't think that keeping a hat on indoors is appropriate. Taking it off when you get inside is a good idea. Opinions on this will differ, but that's my 2 cents.

I don't mean to spoil your hat wearing fun, though. I feel bad about doing that

14 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

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Veteran

Very interesting. I searched for hat etiquette and every site I found indicated that women are exempt from the rules that apply to men. The advice was quite universal that if the hat was part of the ensemble (not for warmth) then it was appropriate to keep the hat on indoors (one went so far as to say it was inappropriate to remove the hat). The exception listed in one or two of the articles was in one's own home where it was deemed to be unnecessary.

Most of the authors indicated that this was not applicable to caps which should always be removed by both genders when indoors.

I plan to do a bit more research on this later when I have a bit more time.

Does everyone here who wears hats remove them indoors? How do you deal with the hair issue if you do?

14 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Happy Birthday!

I've worn a hat in a few eateries in our city ... my hair is short enough that if it poofs funny I just laugh and call it style. Although I think people are starting to catch on to me!

Depending on where you're going, I guess you could call ahead and ask?

14 years ago

Anonymous

Happy Birthday!
For what it's worth..decades ago when my mother and grandmother wore hats I think it was ok, maybe even expected, that they leave them on inside. That may be where your information is coming from. But times have changed and they now seem more part of outerwear than an indoor outfit. If shopping or something where one leaves their coat on, a hat seems ok too. But if the coat comes off, probably the hat should too. It looks odd otherwise. I knew a woman who wore her hat inside alot last year and everyone thought she was losing her hair or something and needed to cover the damage.

14 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

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Veteran

Okay I am really curious (and admittedly confused) now.

Angie, is your hat etiquette based on your upbringing or more current? I suspect there may be regional differences but if I recall correctly, you grew up in Hong Kong which is greatly influenced by the British. The standard for women to retain their hats indoors is from the British.

I do see that a hat that is functional and has a purpose relating to the elements needing to be removed but if the hat is part of the outfit, wouldn't it be like asking a lady to remove her shoes when entering a restaurant?

I am not sure I will be wearing my hats much if they are only for the commute and can't be worn at my destination. bummer

14 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

Women keep their hats on in church all the time:-)

14 years ago

Anonymous

I keep my knit cute cap indoors ( as in caffes or bars ) even if I take off the jacket. In restaurants and homes I remove it though . I discriminate based on the "here to stay feel". Also I wouldn't remove fun hat at the Opera. Or in a fab casino in Monte Carlo ( not that I've been to Monte Carlo, but I've been to the opera and I've kept if I felt it was fashion hat not something just to keep my ears warm)

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wrote about this almost a year ago, Dianthus. I hope this post makes things clearer, at least from my point of view. Context is all important:

http://youlookfab.com/2010/12/15/hat-etiquette/

It's a subjective opinion though. If you read the comments on that post - opinions differ.

I have the same thoughts as Joy. I think that hats should be removed when occasions are more intimate - like having a fancy meal with a friend, or when you visit someone's house. Shoes are on your feet, while a hat is on your head. You don't speak to someone's feet, but you do speak to their face. I wonder if that makes sense?

Again, I want to reiterate that this a subjective opinion.

14 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

interesting question...im sorry i don't have any advice or experience with hat wearing.

14 years ago

celia

Veteran

Happy birthday!

14 years ago

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