Hello nooley,
Thank you for your response. I simply cannot compare the hat and the temple of the Holy Spirit, the creation in the image of God, the "new creation", or the body of the Lord. Faith and strength of conviction don't allow that comparison (Romans 14:23 "But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats, because he does not ACT FROM FAITH; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin"). Except for fashion, the hat really has no practical purpose, so, it's significance as a "sign of dignity" probably was more socially relevant in Paul's time. My understanding is that, if you do something that you don't understand to be a definite mandate (command) from The Lord (and it is not done as an act of conscience), then, you are sinning.