Film Noir Buff Style Forum / Panama Hats

Gilgamesh2003 · 2012-09-30 20:48:56

Allright people - what do you think of them? Any opinions on the different styles?

I see them pretty frequently where I live (a small, pseudo-liberal but actually conservative city in the midwest). Older men tend to wear larger-brimmed ones in the natural cream color, younger men go for short-brimmed trilby styles, often in unusual colors.

It seems to me that Panama hats (but not felt fedoras) are part of the general sartorial resurgence that we're seeing in America, and that in a few years they may become ubiquitous. But of course hats are tricky, and one doesn't want to wear one that gives the impression that one lives in one mother's basement.

Your thoughts?

fxh · 2012-10-01 01:59:06

fxh · 2012-10-01 02:28:24

Last edited by fxh (2012-10-01 03:35:41)

fxh · 2012-10-01 02:31:54

http://www.yatesmenswear.com.au/shop/hats/10

http://www.cityhatters.com.au/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=1

http://www.australiangear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=9tnudm2giv2uang627tuvm3s93

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=11893

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=6192

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=6520

http://www.bates-hats.co.uk/

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=9273

g- · 2012-10-01 06:00:49

Gilgamesh,

I really like them - well at least since I started seriously losing my hair.

Anyway, I bought one this year from http://panamahatsdirect.com/

I really like the hat and it was very reasonably priced. Get a hat jack as well.

xenon1 · 2012-10-01 07:58:50

I haven't gone outside without a hat for 3 years now (or without suncreen for that matter, is it me or is the sun really getting stronger?) Maybe its because I shave my head now.

I have a good collection of straw panama's and felt fedora's, Pork pies, trilby etc. Sizing is important so you don't look like a fool. Smaller brims look better for the young but this kind of defeats the main purpose of a hat. The sweet spot for me is a 1.5" brim with a suit, but for yard work nothing beats a 3" brimmed tilley or maybe a 12" sombrero.

And for god sake folks take your hat off indoors!

Chévere · 2012-10-01 08:33:44

FXH-
Since the hat issue is consuming so much energy, what about sunscreen until you find the hat that suits?
There are many types of sunscreens, some are cream based, others last longer.

Gilgamesh2003 · 2012-10-01 09:33:03

g- · 2012-10-01 12:44:14

Last edited by g- (2012-10-01 12:44:55)

Kingston1an · 2012-10-01 14:14:54

OK for watching cricket and will not draw as much attention as some other hats.

Yanks will need an MCC repp tie to carry the look off.

captainpreppy · 2012-10-01 16:04:55

I wear a broad-brimmed "Gambler" style Panama hat every morning when it's hot and sunny and I'm out walking my dog.

A curious fact is that Panama hats were quite popular with Texas Rangers in the Old West days when they went around fighting bad guys and Indians.

In general, I think Panama hats are the best choice in warm-weather headgear.

g- · 2012-10-01 19:32:47

^^ I agree with both comments above (love the repp tie and panama). People have made fun of my Panama hat, but they also pause in between and ask me where I got it. You have to own the hat. If you are at all self-conscous it looks like a cos play accessory.

Ed13 · 2012-10-02 01:17:37

I have a number of panamas as well as a couple of milan weaves. I prefer the panamas with the wider brims. The sun has made me into a hat wearer and I prefer the extra protection.

I also wear 8 panel linen flat caps if I am getting in and out of the car a lot. They offer similar protection as a stingy brim fedora and I can shove them in a pocket when I take them off.

meister · 2012-10-02 08:37:08

Last edited by meister (2012-10-02 08:40:42)

Gilgamesh2003 · 2012-10-02 11:08:57

xenon1 · 2012-10-02 11:11:01

xenon1 · 2012-10-02 11:16:29

Rio Plata and Fedora are fine in the city. The optimo is perfect for africa if the is an H&H .375 slung to your shoulder.

Kingston1an · 2012-10-02 13:37:20

I have one of the fold up jobs but I think the other shapes are better now. I am never sure if you wear it with the brim snapped down or not.

g- · 2012-10-02 14:45:39

Last edited by g- (2012-10-02 14:52:56)

fxh · 2012-10-02 18:24:06

The Optimo style is the real thing - that ridge down centre - usually not as pronounced imo - is to allow rolling/folding into pocket. And its best with a two coloured band like old Phil has. Dark green and red band looks best imo.

I think meister is right - as the hipster and straw stingy brim hats get accepted and people try to wear them seriously - as is starting to happen here - then good grey felt hats with suits will follow.

I'm going to do a scientific study of hats here this summer - with pics if I can.

(That along my soon upcoming scientific study of wedding gear in my local suburbs. Which will consist of on 3 saturday afternoons of 2 hours - driving around a half dozen churches nearby and sticky beaking plus to cover the non church ones - the popular parks for outdoor weddings. One park is so popular that people have to book with the local council to have wedding photos taken on Saturday in spring after one big fight between drunk wedding parties.)

g- · 2012-10-02 18:37:12

Ed13 · 2012-10-02 20:20:46

I have 1 optimo and 4 fedora style panama hats. I get more comments on the optimo I think because it is a little more unusual. Get a hat that suits your face and wear it with confidence as stated earlier, no different than any other article of clothing.

i also wear felt fedoras and wool 8 panel flat caps in the other seasons. Even in Canada the sun can still do damage from fall to spring. Also, a fedora is the best hat I have worn for protection from rain or snow. Not everyone wearing a fedora is trying to be Indiana Jones or a 1930's gangster.

Gilgamesh2003 · 2012-10-08 17:56:48

http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/why-the-fedora-grosses-out-gee.html

Unreadable tech/nerd blog BoingBoing takes on the hat issue.

fxh · 2013-01-06 15:51:30

A quick reference to other hat threads

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=6126&p=2

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=740&p=5

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=6520

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=11941

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=11830

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=11893

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=12052

meister · 2013-01-06 21:44:59

Wearing more Milans this year than Panamas FWIW. Milan is the straw de mode now IMO. Either way forget stingys unless you are bald.

#1 2012-09-30 20:48:56

Panama Hats

#2 2012-10-01 01:59:06

Re: Panama Hats

#3 2012-10-01 02:28:24

Re: Panama Hats

#4 2012-10-01 02:31:54

Re: Panama Hats

#5 2012-10-01 06:00:49

Re: Panama Hats

#6 2012-10-01 07:58:50

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#7 2012-10-01 08:33:44

Re: Panama Hats

#8 2012-10-01 09:33:03

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#9 2012-10-01 12:44:14

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#10 2012-10-01 14:14:54

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#11 2012-10-01 16:04:55

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#12 2012-10-01 19:32:47

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#13 2012-10-02 01:17:37

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#14 2012-10-02 08:37:08

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#15 2012-10-02 11:08:57

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#16 2012-10-02 11:11:01

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#17 2012-10-02 11:16:29

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#18 2012-10-02 13:37:20

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#19 2012-10-02 14:45:39

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#20 2012-10-02 18:24:06

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#21 2012-10-02 18:37:12

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#22 2012-10-02 20:20:46

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#23 2012-10-08 17:56:48

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#24 2013-01-06 15:51:30

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#25 2013-01-06 21:44:59

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