September 15 is the end of what once was straw hat season in the United States. As I wrote a couple of days ago in another context, since civilization spread beyond London and New York most of these traditions have been replaced by the requirements of local weather; nonetheless tailored clothing has a darker palette for the new season and a felt hat just seems to complement things a bit better.
Hats shield the head from sunburn and light rain of course, but in my opinion they also look better than sunglasses with a suit, perhaps because the suit and the hat are contemporaries while sunglasses are relative latecomers. Horn and tortoiseshell frames can be OK but the combination of dark lenses and shiny metal frames seems out of place with tailored clothing somehow. But I digress.
Conveniently for warm weather hat wearers, beaver felt is offered in a lightweight version and so this week I will be taking out my pork pie. Goodbye Panama hat.
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5 comments:
Regardless of the shortening days, at this end of the state it is still too hot for even the lightest of felt. Another month, perhaps, before the felt gets taken out, brushed and worn.
Sunglasses make a lot of people wearing a suit look pretentious, but actually they are very necessary in bright sunlight, from a non-sartorial standpoint. A hat doesn't prevent reflection of UVA into the eyes which is very damaging and a factor in sight deterioration over time.
This year I've not even worn the straw hat. I acquired two linen trilbies, which have served me well. I must say, your Panama is a particularly fine-looking hat.
Admiral Leahy, pictured here at the NY World's Fair, preferred a panama much like yours. His hat and linen suit seem perfect for his appontment as governor of Puerto Rico.
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1796607&imageID=1680853&parent_id=1784985&word=&snum=&s=¬word=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&total=20&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=14&print=small
Where did you get that shirt? It's a great color of blue in the stripe?
Interesting comment about bringing out your pork pie hat. I just ordered one today. Its a brown one. I love fedoras, but I felt it was time to add a pork pie to my collection. I really enjoy your website sir. I work in the Napa Valley. I'm a local guy just like you!
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