A confession

For years I have preached that straw boaters were appropriate for men only after they begin to collect full social security benefits. A hat that went out of fashion upon the death of John Dillinger (1934) is not for the young. Verily it's true, gravitas is necessary to keep the hat from wearing you.

Well, rules are meant to be broken, and I have broken mine...sort of.



I spent parts of several days searching for my copy of Mike, the Vanity Fair print shown above. I searched unsuccessfully, but looking at Mike's photo reminded me of my father, in the late '50's, taking me with him when he bought his boater. Passing that same shop last week, I stopped knowing I was leaving with a skimmer of my own.

Now that it's here I have come to several conclusions. First, I am surprised at how dressy it feels, it makes me stand up straighter and take notice. A skimmer needs a coat and tie to keep from becoming a cartoon hat. Next, I like it. It is cool, comfortable and feels good on. Finally, I have been right all along. Like love, it would be wasted on the young. Of course my bride hates it, and so the hat and I are going to age gracefully until our time comes.

Toad

Gatsby will ruin my wardrobe

Maians

As much as I am looking forward to the upcoming The Great Gatsby movie, in my heart of hearts I anticipate a stinker.   Worse than the several hours of my life I'll never get back watching the movie is the damage it will do to my summer clothes closet.

Have you seen the Brooks Brothers Gatsby collection?  White suits, correspondents, and skimmers will all be off limits for the next year or two while the dedicated followers of fashion get their 1930's fix on.

If you are so inclined god bless you, but remember that in the US no man, not yet old enough to collect social security, may wear a boater in public. On younger men the hat wears you, there is no getting around it.

Chickens may select their own headgear.

Which leads to today's dilemma.  I wish to upgrade my summer play shoe wardrobe.  All my life I've spent the summers in Topsiders or Jack Purcells, and frankly I'm tiring of them.  I'm looking for something a bit more....  I found the top photo by Googling tasselled plimsolls, a bit of research later I found several great styles and affordable prices.  However, all the shoes I found were readily available in the UK, and no so much on this side.   So I'm seeking your advice.

Anyone have any recommendations for something similar, a favored purveyor, or more importantly warn me off if I'm heading down a bad path.  Many thanks.

toad