The Panama. It's as casual or as dressy as the rest of one's attire, always looks good in spring and summer, and protects from the sun, too. My husband wears his with everything from polo-shirt-and-khaki, to seersucker suit, to navy-jacket-and-tie. So much better than a baseball cap, which, I confess, I think looks silly off the playing field.

I think for fair-skinned people, wearing a hat is an excellent idea and it's certainly recommended by dermatologists. Both my father-in-law and grandfather had skin cancer, although not on their scalps.

If I look at my scalp after a week on vacation, it's always red and sunburned on top, despite having a full head of long hair. As a woman, though, I can't get into the idea of wearing a baseball cap. So I guess I better start looking for something else!

Personally I think all hats look goofy. Everything from a Magritte bowler to Jackie-O's pink pill box looks out of place and contrived. (Even though Jackie-O's pill box was a Halston who is an adopted Hoosier. He went to high school in Evansville, IN.)

What I mind more than any hat style is the inappropriate use of a hat. Men should never, ever have a hat upon their heads indoors. Women's hats are a part of their outfit and are not doffed when the nation anthem plays, not even when it's a Jeff Gordon (another Hoosier) #24 ball cap at the Brickyard 400.

So there, I feel like the Hoosier fashion police. Hoosier fashion police? Now THAT is scary! :-D

Hats are a great idea to prevent skin cancer but keep in mind that a ball cap leaves ears and neck exposed and doesn't really do the job. Ball caps might work with jeans and t-shirt or shorts but not with khakis and polo shirts. I agree with Sandykins on the Panama hat.
Also there is a sun screen that is made specifically for hair.
M_Kingdom- I'll never understand why anyone would go out of their way to be so mean. Sometimes I agree with you that people can over worry a fashion point. If you were invited to a party wouldn't you asked the host what the dress might be? This isn't that much different. I live in a large city in California (United States) and what most of us wear to work each day would be far more casual than what a New Yorker in the same job might wear.
Smiroglotta asked a fair question.

Hi smiroglotta,
My father has a big problem with sunburn on his mostly bald head and has had skin cancer more than once. It is a big problem because we live in a very sunny country (South Africa) and he spends a lot of time outdoors. He wears mostly Kangol caps and there are so many styles to choose from, I am sure there is one for everyone.
I did a quick google search and found a site with a few examples.

http://www.shushans.com/kangolfall.html

Blanket Stripe Cap


Classic Pebble Ivy Cap
Style#8161

Those are two of the ones he wears and if you walk down Carnaby Street in London you will find those and many more styles for sale.

Good luck :-)

In addition to learning all about baseball hats and sunscreened heads, this is one of the most humorous posts I've read.

Except for the words from M Kingdom, these posts have been great. Thanks for all the advice!

Hi Patrick,

A baseball cap is not much good for protecting the ears and neck.

A straw hat provides much better protection.

For higher fashion, I suggest a John Deere tractor cap.

Until my husband's hair started thinning to the point that he was getting sunburned on his head, I never really understood why so many men wear caps. I get it now; it isn't a fashion statement.

So Patrick, what is the acceptable hat to be seen with in Paris (although I guess I don't really know what a Tilley hat is)?

Why are you asking me? That was my question? I still say, if you are casually dressed and a man, wear a baseball cap if you want to. If your problem is so severe that you must cover your ears, etc. as well, then wear a giant straw sunbonnet, so far as I care. I just think worrying about making a fashion statement is about the silliest worry to have when traveling. I live in Naples, Florida filled with European tourists, and I can assure you the bulk of them don't spend any sleepless nights worrying about what to wear here. If they did we wouldn't see the wild clashing colors and mix of plaids, stripes, and patterns; the black socks with sandals and shorts; or the short shorts on men.
I put about as much faith in the idea that locals are going to point and stare at "the American tourists" for wearing a baseball hat -- (as if they really cared), as I do that they will point and stare at someone not dressed in black from head to toe, or wearing athletic shoes. In other words, not a bit.

Patrick, I was just asking you because you said you wouldn't be seen walking with your partner in Paris when he was wearing a Tilley hat, and I was curious what that was. I am not the original poster.

Sorry, Nikki, I didn't mean to imply that you were, and I apologize if that "don't ask me" came off a bit abrupt.

Tilley hat: http://www.tilleyuk.com/shop2.asp?pa...Hat_Collection

Hi nikki,

You can see Tilley hats at
http://www.tilley.com/thumbnail.asp?...oryId&id=1

A Tilley hat is a cloth, wide-brim hat that can be rolled up for luggage. Handy if you don't want to wear it on the plane or damage in luggage.

Rich

We picked up a fairly inexpensive faux Panama for my husband in Paris. Until the salesman warned him not to wear it in the rain we didn't know that it was made of braided paper--and the next day we saw a celebrity boarding our plane wearing a hat that looked exactly like the one we bought. It's a pretty classy hat.

I wonder why no one suggest something like this from Gap (or similar):
http://www.gap.com/asp/Product.asp?w...mp;wpid=200441

I think that will go well with a polo-shirt & khakis.
I do not agree with the idea of baseball hat as a means of sun protection. I think a lot of men will have a false sense of safety with wearing a baseball hat and not bother with putting sunscreen on their ears and back of their necks.

Just my opinion.

Liseten, you're on holiday. Nobody really cares what you wear. It is however you and only you feel comfortable.

I wear a baseball cap all the time. By itself, it doesn't give me away as a tourist. I'm sorry but especially in London many locals wear baseball caps.

As soonas you start talking it will become obvious you are not a local.

Just remember to remove your hat when visiting churches.

Hard to believe this post got so much attention. For the record, I'm bringin a baseball cap and a packable Panama style. I'll buy myself another once I'm there if I see one I like. My only hope is I don't run in to m kingdom.

For a funky look, I like a Kangol worn backwards with edgy sunglasses--i.e. a Samuel L. Jackson look. I have seen this on men in Paris, but not in the countryside.

Real Panama hats are expensive but worth it if you need a hat. I think men look dashing in them.