Slim Portly
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,283
- Location
- Las Vegas
Indeed, dear lady, but I beg you to consider the possibility that many finer points of etiquette are meaningless without an understanding and appreciation of the rules by at least two of the parties involved.Mrs. Merl said:I think that dismissing the ettiquette that went along with the hat during the period when it was worn seems somewhat odd as well. It seems that the ettiquette served a purpose and that it should be observed in conjunction with the choice to wear a hat.
Let us say, for instance, that there was an obscure rule that required a gentleman to wear a yellow pocket square on the first Tuesday of the month, but never on any other day. Then let us skip forward fifty years to a point that pocket squares are as obsolete as the dodo bird. 95% of the population would be so young that they would barely recognize the object for what it was with no context at all of when it should or should not be worn, and therefore most observations would simply be to compliment an attractive accoutrement, and 4.999% of the population would be old enough to know what the thing is and be simply thrilled to see one worn at all, regardless of the fact that today is the third Wednesday. That would leave 0.001% to fall into the category of those still above ground and yet concerned with rules that once applied, and undoubtedly those few would be active members of the First Tuesday Pocket Square Lounge.
A gross over-simplification? Perhaps, but only in a doubtlessly clumsy effort to illustrate a point. Be it a costume piece or a well-loved accessory, think me a poseur or an ill-informed lout, the fact remains that I enjoy wearing my fedora and I have yet to receive so much as a sideways glance mixed in with the many positive and supportive comments (see also me previous post regarding my intention to alter my hat wearing habits vis a vis being indoors). I promise that should I ever be fortunate enough to accompany you anywhere I will strive to regard every rule ever written on the subject as if carved by the very finger of God into the living rock of Mount Sinai.