Men with - and without - hats
It all started with a hat in the History Center's collection.
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Today’s post started with this hat in the History Center’s collection.
The hat dates to the 1950s-1960s. It was purchased from the Andover haberdashery Elander & Swanton. The dapper man in the photo below is Carl E. Elander - half of Elander & Swanton.
The hat led me down a small rabbit hole: why did men stop wearing hats?
I found a lot of fun answers on the Gentleman’s Gazette website. Click here to read about the history of men’s hats. In the article, the author wrestles with the age-old questions:
Did President John F. Kennedy start the trend by going hatless at his 1961 inauguration?
Where are we with men and hats today?
What did the automobile have to do with the trend toward hatlessness?
After learning about men and hats, I found these photographs in the collection of more men in hats.
And, of course, the rabbit hole took a left turn with 1980s band Men Without Hats. The story goes that the group chose their name because the band mates, embracing a principle of “style before comfort,” refused to wear hats during the cold Montreal winters. Who would want to cover up that hair?
Trivia question! What song is Men Without Hats’ best known song? Click here for the answer.
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Thanks for reading!
~Elaine
That chorus has been rolling in and out of my head since Elaine told me this post was coming. As someone who wears hats and has a full collection of scally caps, I too wonder why hats are out of style.
There is more to the Gilliard photo than meets the eye. I think it was staged by the photographer who aligned the carriage with the horse parked in front of Punchard. The dog is also aligned perfectly between but is looking up. Either at a squirrel in the tree or a carefully hidden owner behind the carriage. Fun stuff, My hats off to you!