Fad hatters in the office
Could hats inside the office be a growing fashion fad? As a corporate image consultant, I’ve been getting some e-mails from managers and HR professionals on women wearing hats in the office. I’ve also been asked to address it in the last two in-house business dress seminars I did. Here’s one of the emails with my tips and advice for men and women.
Q: Hats inside the office etiquette?
Joanne, I am wondering if you can help me with some advice in a question I have about work attire etiquette. We have a couple of women that have been wearing hats to work. Not just to work but in work. Perhaps I can describe them as a cloche style with small brims.
We are an office of predominantly men but I have never seen men wear hats in the office. What’s your tips and ruling on women. This is something we never thought of having to put in our dress code.
Thanks – Held Captive in Capilano
A: Business attire and etiquette issue
This is a business dress issue but it is also a business etiquette issue. It seems every time you get a dress code where you think you’ve covered every possibility something new always pops up. Well, I guess that’s what keeps our business dress seminars so popular.
Tip of the hat for men and women
Hats inside tends to be more acceptable in social situations where the hat is part of a woman’s ensemble. Social etiquette has allowed women to wear hats inside. (Click here to see some photos of myself and some friends wearing our hats to a charity tea)
Hats off to you
Hat etiquette dictates men don’t wear hats inside in business situations and socially. Since business etiquette is a level playing field (or should be), women need to be treated equally with men. Since men do not wear their hats inside, women should not either.
My advice is that hats are a distraction and detract from a professional image inside an office. Hats off inside!
Posted by Joanne Blake – the corporate image consultant, personal brand expert and sometimes hat wearer
Other articles:
- Why Men Shouldn’t Wear Hats In Restaurants
- The Ultimate Business Dress for Success Guide
- Executive Image Power eBook PDF
If you need some personal help with your brand, see our Individual Executive Presence coaching
Thanks for your comment, Joshua. Good manners and caring for ourselves as well as others trumps etiquette “rules” especially when it comes to thinning hair or hair loss. These days especially we must be considerate of ourselves and others.
As someone who is saving up for a hair transplant I question if they will have problems with me wearing a hat during the healing part and able to wear a hat before the transplant since thinning hair is depressing – there needs to be an understanding for humans who have a hard time dealing with hair loss. Wearing a hat in this situation should be understood so the worker can feel more relaxed.
Thanks for your comment. You make a good point. Rules are made to be broken especially when it comes to thinning hair or hair loss.
What about cases where women suffer from hair loss?
I have had many female coworkers over the years who have worn either scarves or various hats to work due to hair loss from chemo or other medical related hair loss. I don’t mean thinning hair, I mean bald.
No woman anywhere would feel comfortable walking into a public space
bald, especially when it is not her usual look and is not by choice.
I also don’t think someone should have to explain this to others.
Amazing article. Couldn’t be write much better!
Kind regards,
Thomassen Duke
Need a laugh? For a hat that’s really a distraction check out beard hats that were submitted by a reader and fellow speaker Lorn Stanners.
http://beardowear.ca/ or http://www.beardhead.com/
Good for Canadian winters.