Inauguration Attire: Bring Back The Top Hat! (Slideshow)

Once upon a time, when men were elected to the highest office in the land, they marked their first day in that office, otherwise known as the Inauguration, by wearing the most formal accessory in the land: the top hat.

Through photographic research we determined that the last inaugural top hat was worn by Kennedy in 1961 (the only hat at the 1965 ceremony was worn by Lady Bird)... and we think it is high time this elegant tradition came back. Do you agree?

(Photos from AP and Getty)

• • • • • • John F. Kennedy and President Dwight Eisenhower--in top hats!-- leave the White House for Kennedy's swearing-in ceremony in 1961.

Comments

[johnnygoodwud]

09:38 AM on 01/11/2009

how on earth can you bend over,,,,,,,,,,,won't it fall off? want to see 'O' in tails check out the jefferson dinner on youtube, where he gets up and does about 10 minutes of stand up comedy. a classic.

[mamacat]

06:01 AM on 01/11/2009

When I picture the Kennedy Inauguration, I picture him in the stove top hat. He looked good in it. I never thought about when they stopped being worn.

I don't care what they wear, though, I just want them to fix the world economy, start world peace, get everyone back to work, and keep bin Laden from doing his nonsense. Is that too much to ask?

Oh, and fix our educational and health care systems in your spare time.

[prog]

02:14 PM on 01/12/2009

Kennedy didn't wear hats much... he had a really large head and hat size. I think his top hat is vaguely ridiculous because of this, compare it to Eisenhower's. I recall that he didn't wear the top hat for long during the inauguration.

In fact, haberdasheries were a bit frantic because hat wearing went so out of vogue with President Kennedy. You rarely see him in any kind of hat.

[rbryanh]

03:47 PM on 01/10/2009

Aren't we already sufficiently reminded of the Great Depression, without Obama impersonating Daddy Warbucks?

[rbryanh]

03:36 PM on 01/10/2009

The penguin suit is certainly well suited to concealing the traditional Presidential figure, which more often than not resembles a balding pear cunningly fashioned of bread dough. President Elect Obama, however, offers a rare opportunity in that he presents as a man rather than some strutting capon of a weeble.

Forget the silly stove pipe - bring back the Presidential codpiece!

[macbabe]

07:01 PM on 01/09/2009

Top Hat and Tails... Classy!!

[VivaZapata]

10:29 AM on 01/09/2009

How about spats? Perhaps long, white wigs too.

[MichiganAccomplished]

03:40 PM on 01/17/2009

Powdered wigs and snuff.

[toppergem]

05:52 AM on 01/09/2009

It was fun reading many of the comments made here today. It only goes to show that the American public still can find things to laugh and joke about in this terrible economic times. I have always felt you can handle most things if you can find some humor somewhere.

[rbryanh]

03:40 PM on 01/10/2009

Too true... I find the fact that illness prevents me from working at the job which provides the health insurance which pays for the medication which might enable me to go on working absolutely hysterical.

I've specified that my tombstone is to read, "I couldn't afford to be sick."

[GreyFedora]

03:16 PM on 01/08/2009

I get so tired of seeing men wearing baseball caps, particularly when they are wearing dress slacks, or even a suit. As the old ad said: The Stetson is part of the man. (Stetson is not synonymous with "cowboy hat" they make a nice fedora too)

Maybe a topper is a little ostentatious, but most guys would look good in a Fedora, or a Homburg for dressier occasions.

Plus, a lot of hats are STILL made in America: Stetson, Bailey, Beaver, Woolrich are a few brands I can think of. What better way to show your patriotism.

[BlackDemfromNH]

10:34 AM on 01/08/2009

I can sum up the top hat in one word: silly. It's a silly looking hat; always was, always will be. Thank God they stopped wearing those after Kennedy. That would look exceptionally silly in the 21st century.

[plan9]

10:30 AM on 01/08/2009

Man stockings and powdered wigs!

[prog]

02:15 PM on 01/12/2009

Let's see Obama make a leg.

[rejoiceinit]

10:22 AM on 01/08/2009

A nice touch to this story would have been a doctored pic with Obama IN a top hat. IDK--I would need the visual before I can commit to being pro-top hat. :-) !

[Meteor]

10:19 AM on 01/08/2009

Both Eisenhower and Kennedy disliked top hats, felt silly and looked silly. Fashions are really not rigtht or wrong, except, perhaps, for those in the fashion industry. but they do fade. Obama can forget the top hat and leave the baseball cap, turned backwards, at home. Hope for good weather or he may have to use a Chicago snow cap with ear flaps down. Washington winters can play mean tricks.

[Tages72]

05:17 AM on 01/08/2009

I miss hats. My grandfather kept one until his death in 1979 but never wore it by then. I do think Obama would have looked great in a top hat and white scarf as he's got that Fred Astaire physique going for him, but nowadays it would simply look silly.

Wish walking sticks would come back, though. Canes are always cool, just ask Hugh Laurie's fans in House.

[eastjame]

04:50 AM on 01/08/2009

nah top hat would look dumb. time has passed

[PORTAGE]

12:48 AM on 01/08/2009

cars killed hats..back when you rode streetcars and walked blocks to get home you needed cover.
hats get in the way in almost every "modern"activity..