Off the Cuff - Carson Kressley [38]
For the record, matching your gloves and your coat does not mean you need to match your hat, scarf, and shoes, unless you’re also carrying a handbag or you want to look like Lana Turner. In that case, it’s fine, and don’t forget to wear a mink stole. Otherwise, don’t be so worried. It doesn’t have to match. Coordinated, yes. Matching, no.
And we certainly hope you aren’t using those clips that attach your gloves to your coat. If you need those, you’re worse off than you thought.
Hats
Let’s face it. The reason most men wear hats is not to look suave, and not to look sophisticated, but because they’re having a BHD, the inevitable bad hair day. But look on the bright side. It’s better than the no hair day. Still, hats shouldn’t be worn just as a cover-up. Hats add so much style and flair, and they keep your noggin warm. I will warn you to proceed with caution: Hats can make you look absolutely fabulous or like a complete jackass. You can never go wrong with the basics, but I don’t want you getting mixed up with designer fashion hats. The next thing you know you’ll be subscribing to Playgirl.
Here’s my list of some good hats…and some to avoid.
GOOD HATS
1. Ballcaps. A ballcap can provide a cute sporty look in the right situation—say, it’s the weekend or you’re going to the movies. But please—puh-leeze—take it off when indoors. Just be careful that they’re not overly logoed or gigantic, with a huge rise. The closer your baseball cap is to a beanie, the better off you probably are. (See foam truckers under “Bad Hats.”)
2. Newsboy caps. I love the newsboy cap that’s become really popular lately. It’s quite fetching on most men and can add a lot of panache. It looks great with a woven shirt and a sport coat. Just please don’t wear these with a tweed suit or you’ll look like Mickey Rooney in National Velvet.
3. Knit caps. You should definitely have a nice warm knit cap for the winter, specifically a skullcap in black, brown, or gray wool. That means it’s not a ski hat with a pom pom on the end. Those are best for the ski mountain or for Ice
Castles theme night in the privacy of your own home. If you’re actually skiing, you’re excused, because half the fun of skiing is getting dressed up in the outfit. I also love a hot toddy in the lodge après ski. Or a hot David or Billy for that matter.
4. Fedoras. I fully endorse them and would love to see them come back, but I don’t think women will start wearing gloves again either. They look especially great with a suit, but just make sure they’re not huge. Okay, here’s an advanced maneuver: There are seasonal rules for hats, too. Natural straw (aka the Panama) is for spring and summer, and beaver (yes, beaver) is for for fall and winter.
5. Cowboy hats. The cowboy hat is a personal favorite of mine, hearkening back to my days as a trick rider on the gay rodeo circuit. Ah, but that was a lifetime and many broken nails ago. It’s an American icon, like the cowboy boot. Just be careful it doesn’t look like a party favor you’d get at an overproduced Western-themed bar mitzvah. It should be authentic. It should be well worn and weathered, and made of natural straw and not recycled things like tires or soda cans.
BAD HATS
1. Foam truckers. Avoid the foam trucker unless you’re Ashton Kutcher, and he’s so darn cute that I’ll let him get away with it. The reason that the rise of a foam trucker is so big is so that they can put a billboard on your head, complete with a logo, phone number, map, e-mail address, and store hours. If there’s room to print every store location nationwide, your hat is too damn big. In other words? Trucker hats: best left for truckers.
2. Kangol and hipster hats. Those funky, updated berets favored by Samuel L. Jackson and the late John F. Kennedy Jr.—are really way trendy and probably don’t look good on too many people. Definitely not for amateurs, and best left to Alicia Keys.
3. Novelty fleece ski hats that make you look like you have dreadlocks or make you look