Dear Diane,
I work from home and often visit a nearby coffee shop for a midday pick-me-up and a change of scenery. I’ll usually throw on a baseball cap before running out the door. Should I remove my hat once I enter a business establishment? I’d love a refresher on the dos and don’ts and am hoping there’s some leeway.
Sincerely,
Taylor S.
Dear Taylor,
While many types of hats have fallen out of style with the times, baseball caps remain widely popular. Worn by both genders, these hats are both utilitarian and fashionable accessories, not to mention symbols of team pride. Take a stroll and you’ll find people sporting baseball nearly everywhere you look. But whether you’re a baseball fan or merely enjoy the hat style, there is an etiquette about when to remove your baseball cap – and it may not be what you expect.
You likely learned that men must remove their hat as a gesture of respect when they are introduced to someone, attending a social or business function or sitting at a dining table. But did you know there are circumstances in which women must remove their caps as well?
Generally, a woman can keep her hat on as part of her fashion statement. She may leave her hat on during worship services and social events. However, a baseball cap is considered athletic wear and as a gesture of respect, should be removed during solemn ceremonies. Because a baseball cap is a unisex item, the same rules for baseball caps apply to both genders. Everyone should remove their cap during the National Anthem, no exceptions.
Baseball caps should be removed by both men and women:
- During the National Anthem
- In a formal restaurant
- At work – unless it’s job specific or part of a uniform
- When the United States flag passes, such as a military ceremony or parade
- When observing a funeral procession
The circumstances in which a woman may leave her hat on (as part of her dress attire) on include:
- Weddings and religious ceremonies, unless otherwise specified
- At a luncheon
- A theater, play or ballet performance
- As a guest or host at a social event
- Public spaces such as streets, elevators and corridors
Circumstances in which a woman’s hat should be removed:
- Anytime it blocks the view of another person
- During work hours at the office
- At a movie theatre
- If it is for protection from rain
- When visiting a business
- If it is warmth-specific, and you have moved indoors
A few other general tips on hats:
- When you take off your hat, hold it in such a way that the lining is not exposed. The inside of the hat should be facing your person.
- While women can wear hats to a wedding, for outdoor ceremonies men are expected to remove theirs. However, there is an exception: men may wear hats or other religious head coverings that are part of their religious beliefs, such as yarmulkes worn men of the Jewish faith.
- Avoid correcting anyone’s hat etiquette. You may not understand the significance of their actions. For example, never ask a Muslim woman to remove her hijab as it is a show of modesty within their religion and culture. Respecting faith and personal boundaries is more important than respecting social norms.
- Sick individuals are exempt from these rules. A burn victim or cancer patient likely wears their head covering for their own comfort and you are not in a position to criticize them.
- For men, any ornamentation on a hat goes on the left side. Conversely, for women ornamentation should be worn on the right side of the hat.
Sincerely,
Diane
You may also like Kentucky Derby Etiquette: Wear Your Hat in Style.
