Men's hat update!! I was in New York a few days ago and as I was walking between enjoyable appointments I saw no less than THREE sidewalk vendors selling hats for men! Not ball caps. REAL hats! Modest quality but very cheap prices. $10 or less per hat.
For those of us who consider the wares displayed by big-city sidewalk vendors to be important indicators of cultural shifts, the immense significance of this development cannot be ignored. Gone are the rank Rolex watches. Along with bogus Burberry, ersatz Ed Hardy, faux Fendi and pseudo Prada!! Dressy hats for men are now officially endorsed and they...are...BACK.
My experience has been that once a trend hits the sidewalks of New York, other major and regional cities are not far behind. Unless you live where I live. In which case I expect the hat wave to crest on the sartorial shores in about two years. But I am ready and more than willing when it gets here. Until then it will be up to the rest of you to carry the flag. For yourself. Or for your Epic man.
Grab your coat, and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep.
Just direct your feet,
To the sunny side of the street.
--Dorothy Fields, "The Sunny Side of the Street"
A Gentleman’s London, Episode Twenty: Floris
14 hours ago
13 comments:
HA! Timely post. I had to grab the fedora this morning, as we had some out of the ordinary thunderstorms here in Southern California. I shall do my best to carry on the good fight.
The choice is not if to wear a hat today but which one.
Turling, a fine notion!
David, what a great line! To rephrase [imagine Churchill]..."Gentlemen, the choice before us could not be more stark, nor our duty more clear. The issue is not whether to wear a hat, bur rather which hat to wear..."
Thanks to you both for your visits and comments!
ML
Recently at the Denver airport I noticed that oddly colorful little pork pie hats have become quite the rage with today's youth. Not a look that I am eager to imitate but if it makes the hat more acceptable, so be it.
Longwing, thanks for the comment! And, I agree. The hat movement welcomes all devotees.
I wonder what sort of reception I would get in a busy airport wearing my [I think] fantastic Brooks Brothers straw boater? A TSA body search probably. Perhaps correctly too because, a) it is really an outdoorsy hat and b) Mom taught me to not wear a hat indoors, so I would look vaguely suspicious. I know my wife won't go out with me if I say I'm going to wear it. Sigh.
ML
Respectfully ...
I know you just complimented my wife over at my blog, but you need to teach your wife that a straw boater is perfectly acceptable in the right scenarios, and they are NOT limited to the Henley Regatta or the Head of the Charles.
Ben, I doubt it. She didn't even like it at EASTER. In the SOUTH. I fear she has taken up residence with the Anti-Boater League.
ML
Good news for us girls - love a man in a hat, xv.
Vicki, that is good news! Men used to understand that...maybe again.
Thanks for your visit and comment!!
ML
Yes, hats are 'in' with the youth of today. So much so that they refuse to part with their hats inside of doors and when dining at table.
Tessa, agreed. Absolutely. See my note above. Thanks for the visit and comment!
ML
I was in NYC this weekend and noticed a lot of well-dressed men in little porkpie hats.
P-D, FANTASTIC! As long as they take them off indoors....
ML
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