"THE HAT"

[Lieutenant Colonel Amos S]

As anyone who knows me, either well or not so well, can tell you ; I enjoy wearing headgear. At odd and often inappropriate times.

Like my Nazi hat on ANZAC Day. But that is a completely different story and I assure you I meant no disrespect. Apart from any disregard to wiggas, fascists and stupid people, which is an umbrella that covers the above mentioned.

ANYWHO. Today I decided to wear my bowler hat on my trip to the corner store to pick up some cigarettes. This lead me to discover a few things.
For one it seems that 'The Hat' has some sort of unearthly power over 'normies' (aka sheeple or regular people) that causes confusion and inexplicable distress, driving them to an unintelligible, confused mass, fearful and huddling in their caves, brought back to their Neanderthal beginnings of that thing that they simply, cannot, understand but seems to be leering and demanding cigarettes from them as foam drips from it's rabid mouth!

'The Hat' stops traffic, causing drivers to slow to an almost standstill as they stare wide eyed in confusion, and often scream things from passing car windows such as 'Oi Mate! Go back to Broadway!' and "Are you Mary Poppins' son?'.
I entered the store and asked the clerk 'Do you sell Camel's?' to which he replied after a moment of thought 'camels?', 'Camels.' I replied with the univeral sigh of smoking. 'Oh! he said, I assumed you meant the animal...you know...big camels.' gesturing either at an invisible dromedary or the height of his IQ.

I ended up settling for Marlboro red. Which I bought down the road, I didn't want to be served by a man that dabbled in dromedary erotica.

My conclusion is simply this, 'The Hat' is either an alien device used to confuse people not attuned to its wavelengths, or host to some sort of unearthly, arcane magic used to confuse and astound people.

I think I'll be wearing it more often.

i think it is the symbology universaly of the bowler hat. i mean look at a clock work orange or any movie about jack the ripper the top hat as well symbolizes something almost sinister within the human mind.

[Gazongola]

I own lots of hats, but not a bowler yet.

[Lieutenant Colonel Amos S]

i want a mercury hardened bowler so i can be the mad hatter lol jk 

[Angus McCarthy]

It's hard being a lover of fine headwear (and coats, and antiques...) working to pay off several loans.

I favor a grey flat cap I happened upon at a church rummage sale. Two dollars for a Stetson - and one that fits my gargantuan skull at that? How could I pass it up, I ask you.

I own several other hats of course, but only of costume quality.

The pride of my collection - as it stands - is a genuine Knights Templar dress uniform hat in near perfect condition. Alas, I have yet to capture an image of the thing but it is quite similar to the one worn by the gentleman shown here:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Found at a flea market in Indiana for the pittance of only Five Dollars. Sadly, it is far too small for my head, but it is a lovely thing to behold.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

(I should stop typing while I'm able. I fear the rum is beginning to take hold of my vocabulary... )

[Duke Valkir]

Can i turn this thread around to suit my own ends?

Thanks! 

This is a humble question for all of you gentlemen and ladies of sensible taste and fasion;

I'm searching for a new "steampunk/period correct" hat to suilt my need to go with tan/olive casual adventure wear. 

My Christies Bowler does not go with everything that i wear.  Typically my style is more casual adventuresome, but often i dress in tidy black and white, thusly my trusty Bowler.

I need hat that will do well in the country welding, soldering, and exploring as well wear to the shop for supplies, But in brown tones.

Do any of you kind folks have any polite input on the style or color that would work well for me?

[Matt_Splicer]

The pride of my collection - as it stands - is a genuine Knights Templar dress uniform hat in near perfect condition. Alas, I have yet to capture an image of the thing but it is quite similar to the one worn by the gentleman shown here:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Ah yes, the classic Bicorn. Very dashing, but requires a gentlemen of some gravitas to pull it off.

I'm searching for a new "steampunk/period correct" hat to suilt my need to go with tan/olive casual adventure wear. I need hat that will do well in the country welding, soldering, and exploring as well wear to the shop for supplies, But in brown tones.

Definitely a Fedora, as I'm sure many people will concur- can anyone provide a suitable picture/supplier link?

[Mrs. Sullivan]

Can i turn this thread around to suit my own ends?

Thanks! 

This is a humble question for all of you gentlemen and ladies of sensible taste and fasion;

I'm searching for a new "steampunk/period correct" hat to suilt my need to go with tan/olive casual adventure wear. 

My Christies Bowler does not go with everything that i wear.  Typically my style is more casual adventuresome, but often i dress in tidy black and white, thusly my trusty Bowler.

I need hat that will do well in the country welding, soldering, and exploring as well wear to the shop for supplies, But in brown tones.

Do any of you kind folks have any polite input on the style or color that would work well for me?

I wouldn't worry too much about being "period correct" - after all this is Steampunk, not historical re-enactment!

That being said, Mr. Sullivan has an excellent leather hat that he has worn daily for almost two years.  It is of black leather and looks somewhat like a very flat cowboy hat (but it is most definitely not a cowboy hat!).  It is made in Australia by a company called Barmah.  He wears it at work, in the rain, while welding, camping out, and to all social functions - it has in fact become his "signature" look.  I have posted pictures of Mr. S. and his hat in the "dressing up" thread and elsewhere on this forum.  I believe these hats also come in brown.  They are moderately expensive (around $75), but of excllent quality and well worth the price.
http://www.barmahhats.com.au/index.asp

[Duke Valkir]

Thanks for the input and the link Mrs. Sullivan. 

[Ms. Madeline S. Brightley]

I'm afraid that this, dear friends, is a staggeringly widespread phenomenon. My aviator cap certainly gets perplexed responses - walking down a street with a friend, we tend to get people stopping to stare or stopping to do a double take. Most improper, I assure you!

Perplexingly, however, it has spread to areas in which The Hat are not included! For instance, I am often asked if I am involved in theatre, or given a wide berth, even when dressed properly in a walking skirt, blouse and waistcoat. In fact, I have had children pulled from my path by their parents! Not that I am complaining, mind, as I find children to be something of a nuisance, but it is still something of an affront. ...when it's not amusing me endlessly, that is.

[Prof. Albrecht Von Taggërt]

I get often good reactions when i wear either my trilby or my porkpie hats, usually a "Nice hat!" and a smile. Wmen do tend to also smile at me more, but i am unsure if it is the hat or them being nervous...lol