Superman Paul Robeson Sports a Homburg and his
Son is wore an Apple Jack Cap
Gentleman Sports a Bowler Hat in the 1930s
Brother is Sharp from Head-to-Toe
Best Dressed Couple
Harlem Residents during World War II
As you can see not only did our parents and grandparents wore hats but the kids were also "decked out" in them.
Well Dressed Little Boy
Author Richard Wright Sports a Fedora in the '40s
Young Martin Luther King in the '50s
Dapper Young Man with a Fedora
Dizz Sporting his Trademark Beret
Newsboy Cap
Brother with Wide Brim Fedora with his Lady in the '70s
Trouble Man Marvin Gaye Sports a Kufi
Billy Dee Williams Sports Fedora in Lady Sings the Blues
Fedora Wearing Brothers
Double-Date in the '70s
Hip Hop Brothers Sport Kangol Berets
Miles Davis Sports a Fedora from the Album Cover Decoy
Sean John Sports a Homburg
Super Model Renauld White in
Homburg and Beret
Terrance Howard in Straw Fedora with
Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose
Mario Van Peeples in the Panama Straw Hat
It's been stated by many in the fashion industry that the decline in wearing hats was partly attributed to the election of John F. Kennedy as the president in 1960. He was seen in public lots of time without a hat including his inauguration. However, if you saw pictures of the presidents that preceded him, Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman, they typically wore nice hats to complement their suits. There may have been some truth to that but there were other factors as well. For one thing, more folks became car owners in the '60s and going forward, which provided protection from the elements. Naturally, people were out more in the elements before becoming car owners. Another possibility is that the decline of men wearing hats corresponds, excluding Sundays, to the decline of women wearing hats. I can recall that my mother and aunts wore hats and scarves back in the day and I don't mean on Sundays; that was a given. Finally, some men go to hair stylists and don't want to chance messing up their hair.
What are your thoughts? As for me, I believe a man adds the "it factor" when they top off their attire with a nice hat or cap. Think of it as "icing on the cake".
By the way, since spring is upon us now is a good time to negotiate the purchase of a winter hat/cap.
Photo Credits
Men of Color, Fashion, History and Fundamentals by Lloyd Boston
Paul Robeson page157, Gentleman in the Bowler Hat 226
Best Dressed Couple 86, Harlem Residents 6, Well Dressed
Little Boy 43, Young Martin Luther King 21, Dapper Young Man 154
Dizzy Gillespie 29, Brother with the Wide Brim Fedora 14
Marvin Gaye 53, Fedora Wearing Brothers 23,
Hip Hop Brothers 155, Sean John 172, Renauld White 232,
Black America: A Photographic Journey Past to Present by Marcia Smith
Brother Sharp Head-to-Toe 191, Richard Wright 396
Movie: Lady Sings the Blues, Billy Dee Williams
Miles Davis Album Cover: Decoy
Walter McBride/Retna LTD:
Photo of Terrance Howard at Sardi's Restaraunt in New York City on May 8, 2008
Lee Roth/Roth Stock/PR Photos
Marion Van Peeples @ Lakawana Blues Feature Debut (HBO films) on February 3, 2005
