Meanwhile, hats do seem to be back at the moment, for men, in the U.S. It’s not at all uncommon to see young men wearing porkpie hats or fedoras these days. Not sure if it’s the influence of “Mad Men”, or what, but it definitely seems to be a retro look.
Hatters gonna hat.
Men’s hats have been back since long before Mad Men. It started at least as far back as the Swing Revival in the early 1990s.
Which is on right now. Passing through Waterloo station in London this morning (from where trains head out to Ascot), it was a veritable forest of fascinators. There’s something very British about getting all dolled up for the races and then travelling there packed in on a commuter train. 
New Zealanders also love their hats; I (an American) visited there to attend a friend’s wedding, and I literally had to go to a hat shop and acquire one (not that I needed much persuading!) in order to be properly dressed for the event.
As Ascenray says, Ireland.
Since I’ve been, as it were, forcibly introduced into the fascinating world of fascinators, I’ve noticed that some wedding parties in Canada have started to feature them, too.
It’s spreading? :eek:
Lots of pretty ladies in bright colors at Ascot. Guys wearing top hats.
Looks like a lot of fun. I wouldn’t mind dressing up too. It makes a lot of difference when all the people around you are dressed up. It becomes a party.
That may be, but, IME, it’s been in the last two years or so that I’ve really noticed a significant upswing in hat-wearing among men (particularly young men).
I’d put that down you your just not noticing, or having forgotten that you noticed until Mad Men, a form of confirmation bias and selective memory.
You may be correct. That said, here are a couple of articles suggesting that at least the current resurgence in men’s hats is only a few years old:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-20013848-500803.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500169_162-4684038.html
(In reading these articles, I’ve also been reminded of a style of hat that one often sees now: the trilby.)
A trilby is just a fedora with a narrower brim. Indeed, the terms “trilby” and “fedora” have historically been used interchangeably.
And back in 1982, George Michael was rapping about how cool a trilby hat was.
How about a synaogue during high holidays?
Or for women who still cover their heads in shul?
I made my own fascinator last year for one of the services. I wore it again for work and got lots of compliments.
Ladies were banned from wearing Fascinators in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot this year ( as well as loads of body flesh on show, and skirts shorter than a certain length), because, well, they are vulgar (apparently). “Headpieces” had to have a 10cm diameter base.
Gentlemen in the Royal Enclosure must keep their top hats on whilst outside, unless in private boxes, terraces, balconies or gardens.
Wow…I don’t think I’ve ever noticed before just how much she looks like a young Diana Rigg.