Hello gentlemen,
I wanted to ask a "seasonal" question about the famous hat that I find very chic and inseparable from the world of masculine elegance: what should you "ideally" wear a panama with? What are the pitfalls to avoid? What colors of shirts or jackets go best with this legendary hat? I have a little more 35 years old and very keen to acquire a model from Borsalino; curiously when I turn to the Internet to glean advice on the best way to combine this hat with an outfit: nothing (let's be honest I found some advice on women's fashion blogs!). I think it's time to take a serious look at this...right?
With all my sympathy and encouragement for maintaining this blog.
Philip.
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Hello Philippe,
To respond to you and thank you for the elements you sent me during our email exchanges, here is a mini-file on Panama.
General information about hats
It’s true that no one ever talks to you about hats. And this omission is entirely voluntary: in fact it is clumsy to wear the hat when you are not in your thirties (which is not your case), so quickly you are seen as someone who is doing too much ...
Okay, do you want explanations? The proof in pictures:
A hat on a young guy: it immediately looks poseur
And when you also steal Dad's (too big) suit: it's worse.
Even on Orlando Bloom it's limited...
So you wouldn't imagine this panama on any other head!
In short, don't wear a hat if it doesn't reflect who you are . I remember a good guy in business school, who had the bad taste of walking around day and night with a hat (fedora style I think)... Well everyone nicknamed him "hat", and that's it. It’s true that at first glance he seemed like a “poseur” (even though he’s a nice guy). So before wearing a hat... ask yourself what image it conveys.
There is still an exception: Panama.
Indeed, this hat is informal enough to be worn at any age... And in many contexts. In addition, it achieves the feat of being both relaxed (because entirely made of straw) BUT dressed (its refined shape and its white color).
For your culture, Panama is also quite a story... It became famous because it was carried by the workers who came... from Ecuador, to build the famous canal. It is therefore a traditionally Panamanian hat!
Franklin T. Roosevelt and his Panama
The Panama hat is the ultimate summer headgear: it is REALLY practical, because it is very light, airy with its straw intertwining, and relaxed. I tested this hat for 1 month between Singapore and Bangkok, and believe me: it's much nicer than a horrible cap.
How to wear a Panama hat?
This hat has been making a strong comeback in... women's fashion for two seasons. It’s simple: we see them everywhere!
Ralph Lauren Women Collection, SS2011
However, it conforms very well to current standards of men's fashion and can be combined with most items in your wardrobe. Here are some look ideas. We'll start with retro (thank you Philippe), and we'll move towards more contemporary things. Let's go :
With a relaxed shirt (or even a sailor top, see photo at the top of the article). Summer materials like linen, Oxford cotton (a particular weave, quite thick), or hemp are very suitable for exercise.
Robert Mitchum, in Rough Nerves
Or even more adventurous for the holidays
For those back in the office, note that the panama hat
goes with professional clothing
(even if you don't smoke cigarillos)
And logically, the preppy wardrobe is ready to accommodate a Panama hat.
A more modern Panama hat on the right, coated in black.
The whole thing is quite surprising but goes down very well.
(advertising for Borsalino)
Some additional loose ideas:
- Stay in straw tones and pastels
- Look for contrast with formal pieces (panama + blazer), or more noble materials (panama + beautiful Oxford cotton)
- Avoid wearing a hat in a look with already many pieces, as it visually overloads
- Warning: choose a hat based on the size of your head (not everything suits everyone)
Where to buy a Panama hat?
Finally, know that to obtain a Panama , I noticed that there are 2 schools. The low cost one, ideal for those like me who always lose their accessories on cafe chairs or forget them at friends' houses.
The second: for those who are ready to pay the price (200 euros and more). There are not 36 solutions, you will have to go through a hatter or a roofer. Philippe told me that he found his at a Borsalino dealer. The hat comes from a stock made exclusively for Hermes and refused by this saddler who found these hats not white enough for him!
Philippe therefore bought his headgear which had been "prepared" for Hermes (the strip of fabric, usually black or brown, which goes around the headdress is here in a very fine skin sewn in a characteristic way of the House of Hermes) at 280 euros instead of just over 700 euros in Hermes stores. Other craftsmen, like Pauline Brosset, make them tailor-made.
