If a US President wore hats again, what would he wear and how would it effect hat sales?

Abraham · Jan 18, 2016

If a (male) US President wore hats again, what would he wear and how would it effect hat sales?

What would he wear for day-to-day to go with a business suit?

What would he wear while traveling while wearing a business suit?

What would he wear during he leisure time?

Would he have to take measures to ensure his hat makers were not revealed so as not to give undo promotion?

Alexander Sommerset · Jan 18, 2016

Back when Teddy Roosevelt was President he objected to Knox hats using a photo of him holding his top hat so that you could clearly see the Knox logo. The company used the photo a bit but after Roosevelt said Presidents don't act as pitch men, they re-did the advertisement featuring a drawing of the photo instead of the actual photo. That aside, I don't think that a president wearing a hat would have much impact unless that president was really, really beloved. That is why so many assume (wrongly) that JFK killed off wearing hats because he was beloved and didn't wear a hat. (In truth he worse plenty of hats and hat wearing was already going away before he became president). But for sure no president who decided to be a hat wearer would become a pitch man for the hat company.

89quattro · Jan 18, 2016

the Donald doesn't do hats.....

tommyK · Jan 18, 2016

Sure he does, just not fedoras

trump_hat_1437681534952_21954910_ver1.0_640_480.jpg

rogerstg · Jan 18, 2016

Judging from what happened to the firearm industry, the president should announce plans to restrict them. The hats will fly off the shelves.

89quattro · Jan 18, 2016

tommyK said:
Sure he does, just not fedoras

Exactly. Somehow I just can't consider a ball cap to be a real hat.
Regardless of the type, I'm sure his hair will take a beating when the hat is removed. May not be pretty.

Short Balding Guy · Jan 18, 2016

Let the President wear hats! Let the President do as he wishes! It would not affect my decisions in what to wear on my head, attire or choices in what to eat. Focus is my point. The only thing I ask our our President is to govern for all the people. Mostly they do that. The rest is only a diversion that I really o not have time for.

On stylish direction - our current President acquired a couple of Port.Water Dogs since taking residence in the White House. I now walk my neighborhood with "Dogs like the President." Seriousely, I have a dog older that the presidents tenure.

While I do not have dog security, a chef for dog meals, professional dog groomers, Secret Service to walk my dogs I do like the idea. Hmmm.....

Eric -

hatophile · Jan 18, 2016

Short Balding Guy said:
On stylish direction - our current President acquired a couple of Port.Water Dogs since taking residence in the White House. I now walk my neighborhood with "Dogs like the President." Seriousely, I have a dog older that the presidents tenure. While I do not have dog security, a chef for dog meals, professional dog groomers, Secret Service to walk my dogs I do like the idea. Hmmm.....

Eric -

And as you know, Eric, dogs don't need or care for all that stuff anyway. They just want someone to love them and pet them.

Bushman · Jan 18, 2016

I think that in all likelihood, if any president were to wear a hat in this day and age, it would probably be something like a flat cap, or a western type hat. President Bush was famous for wearing a western hat, and President Obama has been photographed wearing a western hat. In all honesty, like the idea of "rugged individualism" itself, anything associated with the Wild West has always been attributed as something uniquely American. Overseas, the cowboy is kind of the stereotypical American archetype. I've also noticed that, for the most part, flat caps and similar didn't drop in popularity nearly as much as brimmed hats did. I still see flatcaps and newsboy caps regularly wherever I go. Heck, I knew a few kids in high school who wore them.

As for the popularity, I could see it depending on the political party. Whenever one political party in this country does something, that thing is usually avoided by the opposite political party.

Rick Blaine · Jan 18, 2016

Style seems to seep upward, for the most part.
Gone are the days when HRH The Prince of Wales wore (x, y or z) and then everyone had to have one.

Abraham · Jan 18, 2016

I have also wondered what the impact would be if the hat-wearing president made it clear that he wore hats for sun protection and warmth?

LuvMyMan · Jan 18, 2016

Abraham said:
He's not going to be president either...

Please everyone, lets not take this topic into the "politics" part of conversation, as we know the rules do not allow such. Thanks so much.

LuvMyMan · Jan 18, 2016

Short Balding Guy said:
Let the President wear hats! Let the President do as he wishes! It would not affect my decisions in what to wear on my head, attire or choices in what to eat. Focus is my point. The only thing I ask our our President is to govern for all the people. Mostly they do that. The rest is only a diversion that I really o not have time for.

On stylish direction - our current President acquired a couple of Port.Water Dogs since taking residence in the White House. I now walk my neighborhood with "Dogs like the President." Seriousely, I have a dog older that the presidents tenure. While I do not have dog security, a chef for dog meals, professional dog groomers, Secret Service to walk my dogs I do like the idea. Hmmm.....

Eric -

We here do as you do, and that is make your own trends within our own decisions!

I do however think some of the more "business man" look that the Borso line has, would work for any President, along with what our Stetson upper end line of hats has out now as well.

Edward · Jan 18, 2016

Bushman said:
I think that in all likelihood, if any president were to wear a hat in this day and age, it would probably be something like a flat cap, or a western type hat. President Bush was famous for wearing a western hat, and President Obama has been photographed wearing a western hat. In all honesty, like the idea of "rugged individualism" itself, anything associated with the Wild West has always been attributed as something uniquely American. Overseas, the cowboy is kind of the stereotypical American archetype. I've also noticed that, for the most part, flat caps and similar didn't drop in popularity nearly as much as brimmed hats did. I still see flatcaps and newsboy caps regularly wherever I go. Heck, I knew a few kids in high school who wore them.

As for the popularity, I could see it depending on the political party. Whenever one political party in this country does something, that thing is usually avoided by the opposite political party.

Indeed. Given the prevailing tribalism of contemporary politics, I suspect there might be many of registered party Y people who would queue up to pour scorn and derision on the hat sported by President X.

The royals' fasgion choices are pretty much irrelevant in the UK today. Dodgy Eddie was probably the last fashion icon they had. Wedding dresses aside, anyhow.

LuvMyMan said:
Please everyone, lets not take this topic into the "politics" part of conversation, as we know the rules do not allow such. Thanks so much.

Indeed. Political posts will be shut down hard and fast.

William G. · Jan 18, 2016

Politics aside, I'm honestly not sure how much influence the president has on modern fashion trends these days. It would be cool to see a president embrace fedoras as a fashion staple—or anyone in the public eye, really—but I just don't see it trickling down to mainstream fashion without a youth movement first.

jlee562 · Jan 19, 2016

Pres. Obama was gifted a lid from Paul's Hat Works here in the city

HudsonHawk · Jan 19, 2016

Edward said:
Indeed. Given the prevailing tribalism of contemporary politics, I suspect there might be many of registered party Y people who would queue up to pour scorn and derision on the hat sported by President X.

It's not just hats, but fashion in general. People want the President to dress well, but not too well. He should be seen as a representative of the "common man", and any sign of what would be considered elitism would be frowned upon these days. For example, the aforementioned President Kennedy wore formal morning dress, complete with a top hat, at his inauguration. Ronald Reagan also dressed formally at his inauguration, his first appearance in public as President. But could you imagine what would happen if the current or next President were to dress that "fancy"? He'd be pilloried. People want their President to be either a symbol of America's wealth and power, or a utilitarian, humble servant, depending on their mood and which side of the political aisle they sit, relative to the boss.

Edward · Jan 19, 2016

HudsonHawk said:
It's not just hats, but fashion in general. People want the President to dress well, but not too well. He should be seen as a representative of the "common man", and any sign of what would be considered elitism would be frowned upon these days. For example, the aforementioned President Kennedy wore formal morning dress, complete with a top hat, at his inauguration. Ronald Reagan also dressed formally at his inauguration, his first appearance in public as President. But could you imagine what would happen if the current or next President were to dress that "fancy"? He'd be pilloried. People want their President to be either a symbol of America's wealth and power, or a utilitarian, humble servant, depending on their mood and which side of the political aisle they sit, relative to the boss.

Similar considerations here viz our leaders. Mind you, in all honesty I don't think it's often as thought out as that - mostly it's "I don't like this guy, so I'm going to hate whatever he wears".

emigran · Jan 19, 2016

Here's one for your perusal... picture a President Bernie Sanders in a stingy-brim Porkpie...
or a President Chris Christie in a Homburg...!!!

The variations this year are endless...

HudsonHawk · Jan 19, 2016

Edward said:
Similar considerations here viz our leaders. Mind you, in all honesty I don't think it's often as thought out as that - mostly it's "I don't like this guy, so I'm going to hate whatever he wears".

It's interesting how dress is used by the President (perhaps your PM, I'm not sure) to convey whatever vibe he think the people want at the time. Most of the time, in the Oval Office, when speechifying, what have you, it's a typical conservative dark business suit and either red or blue tie. If he's touring a disaster area, it's something closer to jeans and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up to convey the notion that he's "getting his hands dirty". President Bush used his experience flying military aircraft for his famous tailhook landing on an aircraft carrier and speech in full flight suit. Rarely is the President's dress not a coordinated "campaign" effort.

If a US President wore hats again, what would he wear and how would it effect hat sales?

One of the Regulars

One of the Regulars

One of the Regulars

One Too Many

A-List Customer

One of the Regulars

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

My Mail is Forwarded Here

One of the Regulars

I’ll Lock Up.

I’ll Lock Up.

One of the Regulars

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

Practically Family

I'll Lock Up

Similar threads

Log in

Forum statistics