It is quite clear what the op meant.
A certain style, where when getting a haircut done, the area around the peyot are cut/shaved to make it look like they don’t exist/are not there as much as possible, without being able to call it downright assur mideorayta (which yes peyot is mideorayta, the shiur of it is a machaloket haposkim, but peyot in its core is mideorayta), and this is very concerning, something which definitely does not come from Rabbanim.
Going with any kind of hat/streimel etc as GadolHatorah stated is but a minhag based on the clothes that were and are worn within that setting/kehilla.
Peyot and the brit kodesh are the two physical simanim of a jew.