a.k.a. V.J.

Happy National Felt Hat Day to those who celebrate.

For those of you non-weirdos who don’t know arcane details about headwear, Felt Hat Day is traditionally observed on September 15 as the day to switch over from wearing straw hats to wearing felt hats. It goes back to the era when brimmed hats were pretty much de rigueur for the male dress code.

Unlike fussy, arbitrary fashion rules like “don’t wear white after Labor Day,” or the (very odd, IMO) British guideline of not wearing brown shoes in the city, Felt Hat Day is actually rooted in common sense. Felt hats are simply not comfortable to wear in warm weather. The nicer felts are made from fur, and the less-expensive versions are woolen — neither of which is a comfortable choice for the dog days of summer. Straw hats, on the other hand, won’t keep your head warm when the air gets chilly and most of them will fall apart in the rain, rendering them pretty much useless outside of summer in climates such as the one I live in. Based on the prevailing weather patterns of the northeastern U.S., September 15 is actually a really good rule-of-thumb for the seasonal switchover.

There was a time when it was considered a faux pas — or even an affront –to wear a hat of the wrong material for the season out in polite society. Now, of course, nobody gives a damn. Standards of personal appearance slipping as they have, even the most fastidious of the fashion police seem to be content these days if you’re just not wearing pajamas in public. Nobody outside of the small, niche world of hat enthusiasts care or even know about Felt Hat Day/Straw Hat Day. But as for me, I will honor Felt Hat Day in my heart and try to keep it all the year…until May.