A big question that comes up in the hat shop is, “Where is it acceptable to wear my hat?”

Is it inside? Is it outside? It doesn't matter. It is okay to wear hats at a train station, without offending the manner's police, as you can tell from this 1949 photo we found in the Library of Congress archieves taken by a photographer named Stanley Kubrick. (Sorry, we have no idea if it THAT Stanley Kubrick.)

This is a great question, and we are glad to see that some people still care about manners and respect. All too often proper behavior is lost in these modern times.

It is almost always acceptable to wear a hat outdoors. Whether you’re keeping the sun off or the warmth in, everyone should wear a hat outside. Gentlemen are required to remove their hats during the playing of the national anthem, but it is perfectly respectful for ladies to continue wearing their hats. Especially polite men also will remove their hats when speaking with a woman outdoors. It also is respectful to tip your hat to a lady when meeting or passing on the street.

A common mistake made by some manners police is making the assumption that it is never acceptable to wear a hat indoors. It is actually quite alright to wear a hat in a large corridor, hallway, lobby, train station or other large indoor public places. You should doff your hat when you enter a private residence, office, shop or more confined areas, especially if a lady is present. Elevators are tricky that way. It is okay to wear a hat in an elevator, unless a lady is riding along with you.

And we don’t care who you are, it is never acceptable to wear a hat to the dinner table.