"Men en masse took off their hats over the past 40 or so years, donning the style statement less and less. But recently, it's hats that have been doing the taking off. This spring and summer, brimmed straw hats have been spotted on the heads of hipsters in New York, as well as on dapper business types, adding a retro twist to a dressed-up -- or toned-down -- look. For fall, felt fedoras are expected to a big trend."

"After decades in dormancy, brimmed hats are back on the streets.

The so-called stingy-brim hat, with a brim 1½ inches wide, is considered more modern than those carrying standard 2½-inch widths, and straw versions have been big sellers this summer. "Our stingy brims are extremely strong right now," says Don Rongione, chief executive of Bollman Hat, whose brands include Bailey and Kangol."

"The return of the hat brings with it some old etiquette. "Always take your hat off when sitting down to dinner at a restaurant or at church," says Tom Julian, a trend expert and author of "Nordstrom Guide to Men's Style." A straw hat or trilby works best with casual or contemporary looks. As for cocking the hat to the side, "you have to be a cool celebrity to be able to pull it off," Mr. Julian says."