Bowler Hats



Ich_Dien said:

Bowlers are not a bloody staple item in the modern age - please stop posting.

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Put him on block. He's the only person on my list, which I think is a shame, as he seems to be a good guy and probably a decent fellow to have a beer with. He's to An Acute Style and Tira as Alex Jones is to reasonable doubt, also unfortunate.

This side of the forum needs more people like AAS, Tira, and Labelking. It's a shame that 38R can't see the difference between what they do and he does. I actually don't mind that he dressed what in a way that many on here, on either side of the forum, would consider poorly. What one wears has no bearing on the validity of their argument. But he takes the case to an extreme and makes it poorly.

More should be done to force us to question the assumptions we make about what we wear. Ironically, Flyingmonkey is probably one of the members best suited to do this intellectually. (On that note, FM, that loose flowing gray look you posted in SW&D was awesome).

Whenever I read one of 38R's posts, I felt the need to respond because there is both a grain of the truth in them and because there was a heathy and productive middle ground to be explored. In the end, it wasn't worth it--he's as willing to explore some middle ground as Foo or Manton is. Which is to say, not at all.

To the OP:

Depending on your age, I think it could work. The older you are, the more internally consistent it is. I also think it works on Claymore well enough; he'd certainly stand out as an eccentric, but he wouldn't look bad doing it. His outfits are heavy/layered and he appears to have a fairly large chest, providing good balance to the hat.

Claghorn said:

Put him on block. He's the only person on my list, which I think is a shame, as he seems to be a good guy and probably a decent fellow to have a beer with. He's to An Acute Style and Tira as Alex Jones is to reasonable doubt, also unfortunate.

This side of the forum needs more people like AAS, Tira, and Labelking. It's a shame that 38R can't see the difference between what they do and he does. I actually don't mind that he dressed in a way that many on here, on either side of the forum, would consider poorly. What one wears has no bearing on the validity of their argument. But he takes the case to an extreme and makes it poorly.

More should be done to force us to question the assumptions we make about what we wear. Ironically, Flyingmonkey is probably one of the members best suited to do this intellectually. (On that note, FM, that loose flowing gray look you posted in SW&D was awesome).

Whenever I read one of 38R's posts, I felt the need to respond because there is both a grain of the truth in them and because there was a heathy and productive middle ground to be explored. In the end, it wasn't worth it--he's as willing to explore some middle ground as Foo or Manton is. Which is to say, not at all.

To the OP:

Depending on your age, I think it could work. The older you are, the more internally consistent it is. I also think it works on Claymore well enough; he'd certainly stand out as an eccentric, but he wouldn't look bad doing it. His outfits are heavy/layered and he appears to have a fairly large chest, providing good balance to the hat.

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personal differences aside, Great post. i don't want to taint this one with debate. we are different. and i would like to share a beer with you some day, Flying monkey too.

i have large shoulders for my size, also providing balance. happy to debate the middle ground in real life when we can communicate better than with plain text. btw, i have thought to block you, but also see some truth in your posts. so i didn't block you.

For those interested in discussion of hats on this side of the forum, this thread is invaluable:

http://www.styleforum.net/t/344069/mens-hats-a-discussion-thread-questions-opinions-suggestions

What "fun" this thread turned into. Wearing my black bowler today so I figured I'd venture back into the fray. Didn't anyone care that I had to have it re-blocked???

Can we ALL agree that a bowler may be a "classic" hat and a "staple" in the pantheon of head wear but due to the fact that VERY few people wear them regularly it might just happen to cause you to stick out a bit? Does that work for everyone? Maybe? (Can't we all just get along?) We can all wear what we want to wear however we want to wear it, but it doesn't hurt to let someone - new to the idea of wearing a bowler- know the kind of reactions he might receive from wearing one.

The general rule of thumb for whether or not you can wear an unusual article of clothing is: if you have to ask, you probably can't. That said, if you want to give something (a hat for instance...) a try, go to a store try one on and see what you think. If you like it, go for it.

JLibourel said:

"Costume? Eccentric?" Hell, yes. Even without the bowler, you look as if you are trying awfully hard, but the lid puts it way over the top!

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I know, the doily put it over the top didn't it.

So here is a question I was just thinking about: Is what I wear any more "costume" than unbuckled monk straps, wrist beads, or wallet chains (or even the ascots you yourself sport just because fewer people dress like me?



Mr. Claymore said:

So here is a question I was just thinking about: Is what I wear any more "costume" than unbuckled monk straps, wrist beads, or wallet chains (or even the ascots you yourself sport just because fewer people dress like me?

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Yes. Not that I think those Pitti guys are any better, mind you.

This thread needs to be erased from my memory.

Shane Macgowan looks really cool in anachronistic hats like bowlers. There should really be a thread on Shane Macgowan's style.



Mr. Claymore said:

So here is a question I was just thinking about: Is what I wear any more "costume" than unbuckled monk straps, wrist beads, or wallet chains (or even the ascots you yourself sport just because fewer people dress like me?

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Taking this item by item, I didn't know men wore their monks unbuckled. Sounds like a good way to trip and break your neck. Sounds more strange and sloppy than costume-y, at least to me, but then I've never particularly been a fan of monks.

Wrist beads? Hey man, peace and love! Has any man worn those relics of the flower-power era since about 1972? Definitely retro-hippie costume these days.

Wallet chains? More low class than costume. Would be a useful accessory if you wanted to costume yourself as an outlaw biker. However, appearing in public so attired might be ill-advised unless you are, in fact, an outlaw biker.

While we're at it, I would also put watch chains, such as you were sporting, in the realm of retro-costume. I know HRH Prince Charles rocks 'em at least occasionally. This still doesn't alter my opinion.

My ascots? Yeah, they are at least skating on the edge of costume, I'll admit.

Looking at your photos, if you had replaced your jaunty yellow tie and tan shoes with something more somber, I think you would look like a very well dressed gentleman...circa 1914!

I often sport a bowler on my gulliver when sipping moloko at the Korova Milk Bar with my droogies: Pete, Georgie and Dim; to better sharpen ourselves up for a bit of the old ultra violence.

Other than that, why the **** would I wear a goddamn bowler?

This thread.

lefty

Fact: any classic men's hat will make you stand out; a bowler more than a trilby.
Not a fact: wearing clothes that make you stand out but were historically common is "costume".

I find it ineffably sad to read about the fellow who owns a bowler but is essentially afraid to wear it.

And that explains the 60-70% of SF posters who so strongly discourage / berate anyone interested in obsolescent clothing.
They are afraid. Afraid that soon, very soon, people will laugh at their 300 USD high-rise Italian trousers and 2,000 USD tobacco linen jacket and 200 USD special-order tie from Drake's and shout "costume!"

How is this ******* thread still alive?

lefty

I may look "anachronistic" but tend to look good in my "bespoke" Northwest Hats Bowler/Coke/Derby (I believe that I have covered the nomenclature for the style/type). I may be viewed as "costumed" or not dressed as the other people around me. (most of the locals dress as undereducated, classless slobs anyway).

Let them eat cake!