Want a Hat? Vallejo’s A Man and His Hat will leave you Hatisfied

VALLEJO — Tucked in a small space at 505 Georgia St. in downtown Vallejo sits A Man and His Hat, a wonderland of color and style for any hat lover. Hundreds of fine and neatly arranged hats beckon, from imported Italian Borsalinos, which can cost as much as $1,000, to more affordable Stetsons, Dobbses and other high quality brands that will fulfill any customer’s needs and desires.

Clifford Dawson, the store owner, wasn’t always in the fashion business, but was always a sharp dresser. He spent 27 years in the military and 10 years in the state Department of Corrections, but even then he made sure his shoes were always shined and his uniform was always together. 

It was this love of clothes, which he picked up from his dapper younger brother, that drove him to start his business 26 years ago. For the first 10 years he sold hats from his home in Fairfield. Then he opened A Man and His Hat in Vallejo. “I decided to sell hats because I was spending a lot of money on clothing,”  Dawson said. “And of course, when you get into the industry, you don’t have to pay so much.”

But selling hats is not just a job for Dawson, it’s a passion. “I had a desire to help people step outside their own self and look a different way,” he said. “A lot of men are shy when it comes to dress and especially when it comes to colors. And they shouldn't be.”

Dawson is definitely not afraid of colors. You’ll see him around Vallejo always looking smart in vivid colors, with matching hat, shoes, watch, jewelry and stylish glasses. “I don’t put on your average clothes,” he said. “I try to look presentable and, I’d say, flashy sometimes. It has to call your attention.”

His personal wardrobe boasts over 500 hats, plus countless watches, shoes, and suits, many of which he donates regularly to the homeless or to his church when he hasn’t worn them for a while. 

His storefront shows photos of his mother, brothers and other relatives wearing stylish hats. Inside, the walls are lined with images of loyal customers and the occasional celebrity. He’s sold hats to the likes of former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and was thanked for his work by comedian Steve Harvey. “I get a lot of famous people here,” Dawson said, “but they don't really like to let everybody know that they were here.”

From the beginning, Dawson chose to sell only fine hats. Although they are more expensive than the average headwear you’ll find in street fairs or low end stores, he finds that clients will save up to afford a great hat because it makes them feel special. He also runs two big sales events every year.

Dawson considers his sense of style a gift that allows him to help his clients find their own flair. Men come to the store and ask him what to wear for an occasion, how to tie a tie, or how to combine their outfit and he enjoys guiding them. Women are also loyal customers, making around 30% of his clientele.

Hat styles haven’t changed much over the years, but people wear them differently today, according to Dawson. “Some guys wear them way on the back of their head. Some guys like these big old brims. Some people wear the brim bent down in the front or all the way around. They do different things to get a different look, because that's what it's all about: your look.”

Hats are not as ubiquitous as they were in the past — Dawson’s grandfather, for example, never left his house without a hat — but celebrities can reverse the trend. Last year, Beyoncé’s country music album “Cowboy Carter” set off a frenzy for cowboy hats. Dawson refused to carry them in his store, even though he was getting calls every day from clients who wanted to buy them. 

“I own cowboy hats. I like to dress like a cowboy sometimes, but that's just not my thing, so I missed the boat,” he said. “I'm sorry, Beyoncé, I didn't get cowboy hats, but I'm still doing all right,” he added with a twinkle in his eye.

When Dawson decided to open his store in Vallejo 16 years ago, people advised him against it. “I was born and raised right here, and I love this city,” he said. “At first people were telling me, ‘No, don't do it.’ And I said, ‘I can do it.’ And I did it, and I haven't been disappointed.”

That said, Dawson pointed out that Vallejo is not taking advantage of its potential. “I wish the city would do more for our businesses, for our downtown area,” he said. “Take a chance, invest some money, and develop our waterfront.”

He is doing his part to elevate the city with high quality wares and has become a recognizable fixture in Vallejo. “I don't have to do this. I'm retired,” he said, “but it’s my passion and I love the fact that going around town, people don't even know my name, but they call me ‘the Hat Man.’”