With the onset of winter it can sometimes be necessary to cover your ears to stay warm. As I was recently reminded by a reader, that's hard to do with a homburg or fedora. Which makes it time to reach into the back of your closet for your ambassador hat (like the one in the photo) with the pull-down ear flaps.
The best ambassadors that I know of are made in Canada of water-resistant beaver fur ($300), though they also come in mink ($300) and curly lambs wool ($200). You'll find them at hatters, including Brooklyn's Bencraft Hatters. Avoid the version sold at London's James Lock, which, like too many of Lock's current products, is a vastly over-priced imitation.
Living as I do in Northern California my ambassador has had about a decade of rest since its last trip to Switzerland (I try not to travel to cold weather cities between January and March). But I still have a vivid memory of sweat pouring off my head after I spent a few minutes inside a shop without removing my hat. They're very warm, and that's usually a good thing.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Cover Your Ears
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
It seems to be much colder here in NYC than it was last year. It may be time for one of these hats. Usually I go for the $5 hat on the street corner.
The Russians (Will you are missing out terribly Moscow in January was beautiful!) wear a fur hat. For ear protection they wear their coat collar up and opt for coats with large fur or wool collars. I saw soldiers standing guard this way at -30C and they looked fine.
Oh no, John. That just won't do. I'll be bringing my homburg with me to New York in a few weeks - I'll show you how it's properly done. Maybe even my top hat for the big dinner, too...
Scott,
It is true indeed that you will have me with the homburg - and also the top hat. In fact I am looking forward to seeing you in these dapper accoutrements.
But when I show up at the Union League wearing my new pocket square - I will have floored the entire Sherlockian world forevermore.
Post a Comment