Top Hat and Hat wearing Etiquette

Hat Wearing Etiquette

• Doffing your hat; Comes from to "do off" and is the removal of the hat by raise and removing in acknowledgement of or deference to another person.
• Tipping your hat; Can remove the hat partially from head, not considered a full removal.
• Touching your hat; Similar to tipping used as sign of acknowledgement, but more casual and can be used more discretely as a quick salute.

Below are some traditional etiquette points for doffing, or tipping one's hat and of when and where hats should not be worn.

• A gentleman should remove his hat for the national anthem, and the passing of the flag and funeral processions (unless they are in the military or clergy and on duty). Ladies likewise should remove any non-formal hat/headwear.
• A gentleman should remove his hat on entering a church (unless they are in the military or clergy and on duty), where as a lady may keep her hat on provided it is a formal one.
• A gentleman should remove his hat when they have reaching their destination building as outside headwear is not worn indoors (exception being public areas such foyers, lifts, train stations, or antechambers).
• A gentleman when should take off his coat as entering the entrance hall, but keep his hat in his hands until reaching the drawing room. Historically he should wait until being offered to put it down by the host/hostess. The reason being that the visitor is privileged to pay their respects, and should the time not be acceptable then he should be ready to leave immediately. Hence the phrase: Having one's hat to hand.
• A gentleman in the previous years c19th century would always doff his hat to another gentleman of higher social status, or older age. This practice has declined ans now the preserve for either meeting a personal acquaintance, of when members of the Royal family pass by (such as when The King/Queen arrives at Royal Ascot in their carriage).
• A gentleman if passing a lady of his known acquaintance should doff or tip his hat to her in passing or greeting her. If she stops to speak with him, he should remove his hat whilst standing together (except if in the Royal Enclosure in Ascot, where the Top Hat must remain on) then replace his hat when walks on.
• A gentleman when taking off and holding a hat, should be done in a way that shows only the outside and not the inside lining, as may not be presentable (showing an unsightly sweatband and betting slips!).