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#1 2007-03-14 11:51:15
- Yale Cameron
- Member
- Posts: 60
kentucky derby hats
I am throwing a Kentucky Derby Party this year. I live in Orange County so my friends are pretty clueless abotu the sarorial nature of the derby and the south in general so I plan to go all out in my dress. I will wear blue seersucker trousers, a navy sport coat with a white shirt and a pink linen/silk tie. My one question is about a choice of hat. Do you guys think it is better to go with a straw boater or perhaps something like a panama?
#2 2007-03-14 11:58:40
- Lord Copper
- Member
- Posts: 107
Re: kentucky derby hats
If you're going for full-on costume, go with the boater, which would be appropriate for the theme party. Under NO circumstances, however, should you wear your boater in any other environment -- even to Churchill Downs -- without a serious dollop of irony.
Last edited by Lord Copper (2007-03-14 11:59:14)
#3 2007-03-14 12:00:09
- Yale Cameron
- Member
- Posts: 60
Re: kentucky derby hats
anytime I would ever put a boater on my head I would be doing so for the single-minded purpose of irony and humor. I forgot one thing, what kind of shoes do people feel work best with seersucker?
#4 2007-03-14 12:02:04
- Film Noir Buff
- Dandy Nightmare
- From: Devil's Island
- Posts: 9345
Re: kentucky derby hats
I hate boaters...
On the other hand, I love Panamas 
Mint Juleps and Pyms for everyone!
#5 2007-03-14 12:04:25
- Lord Copper
- Member
- Posts: 107
Re: kentucky derby hats
White bucks -- esp. the white oxfords that Brooks has had the last couple of years. If it's a muddy or grimey environment, go (in decreasing order of desireability): co-respondents, brown derbies or brown oxfords, loafers.
#7 2007-03-14 12:08:48
- Patrick Bateman
- Member
- Posts: 1006
Re: kentucky derby hats
Last edited by Patrick Bateman (2007-03-14 12:16:32)
女性の鑑定家
#8 2007-03-14 12:12:46
- Patrick Bateman
- Member
- Posts: 1006
Re: kentucky derby hats
Far more important than your hat is your choice of bourbon for the mint juleps.
女性の鑑定家
#10 2007-03-14 12:23:35
- Yale Cameron
- Member
- Posts: 60
Re: kentucky derby hats
Im thinking basil hayden's, booker's, or knob creek (which i prefer to maker's mark). Perhaps Basil Hayden's for me and maker's mark for the guests!
#12 2007-03-15 03:19:37
- Terry Lean
- Member
- Posts: 2440
Re: kentucky derby hats
I vote for a Panama and Bucks.
Maybe even Saddle Bucks.
Maybe even pull the Panama's brim down too.
To artificially age your Panama and give it that golden toasted look that is so desirable keep it on the shelf by the rear window of your car for a while. Keep turning it so it gets toasted on all sides. The hot sun magnified through the window reacts with the straw to give it a natural suntan. Very nice & stops it looking too new.
t.
"One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing"
#13 2007-03-15 03:55:33
- Terry Lean
- Member
- Posts: 2440
Re: kentucky derby hats
Yes or no -
The boater is now 'costume'?
I say yes, from Eights Week to Henley Regatta.
http://archive.comlab.ox.ac.uk/other/rowing/oxford/eights.html
http://www.hrr.co.uk/
t.
"One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing"
#15 2007-03-15 11:09:10
- Terry Lean
- Member
- Posts: 2440
Re: kentucky derby hats
"One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing"
#16 2007-03-15 14:58:24
- captainpreppy
- Member
- Posts: 1536
Re: kentucky derby hats
Sort of retro 1920s Trad, perhaps. Maybe even earlier.
#17 2007-03-15 16:03:37
- Horace
- Member
- Posts: 6433
Re: kentucky derby hats
I think it's very difficult to pull off a boater with any seriousness. Maybe, just maybe, it could work for a lawn party in certain parts of the US, but I don't know. I do remember seeing some wedding photos of a friend of a friend of a friend in the 80's who got married on Cape Cod and many some were wearing boaters. Most were wearing white or cream trousers and blue blazers. But it is a costume look, isn't it?
""This is probably the last Deb season...because of the stock market, the economy, Everything..." - W. Stillman.
#18 2007-03-15 16:13:09
- Will
- Member
- From: San Francisco
- Posts: 239
Re: kentucky derby hats
An ivory straw fedora with a black band is equally classic and less obviously distanced from the riverbank.
Will's thoughts on classic men's clothing
http://www.asuitablewardrobe.net/
#19 2007-03-16 02:28:08
- Terry Lean
- Member
- Posts: 2440
Re: kentucky derby hats
"One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing"
#20 2007-03-16 02:34:42
- Horace
- Member
- Posts: 6433
Re: kentucky derby hats
""This is probably the last Deb season...because of the stock market, the economy, Everything..." - W. Stillman.