Hello pork pie hat

The temperature zoomed from the mid 70's to low 90's F (or from 16 to 34 C) on the weekend. My sons are thrilled at the reappearance of lovelies in summer dresses.

While they were admiring floaty little frocks, I noticed the prevalence of summery straw hats on men. The utilitarian baseball cap has been replaced, at least on those who pay some attention to style, by the sharp yet relaxed pork pie.

I love its retro reference (the original appeared in a Bowery Boys movie in the 1930's) and casual scale. Shown above, a Brixton Drifter stingy brim. The pork pie, worn with a tee or short sleeved sports shirt, lends a quirky, polished air, unlike a ball cap, which always looks like a giveaway.

Local fellas also like the straw fedora, with it's pinched, higher crown and rakish brim.

Girls borrow fedoras to accessorise a sun dress or jeans.
(Photo from Scott Schuman's The Sartorialist blog.)

Shops have stocked stacks of men's straw, priced from $50 to $175.

What a change from 15 years ago, when my husband traveled to JJ Hat Center and Kelly Christy in NYC for a good summer hats! He wore a burnt-orange straw Christy Belmont fedora (shown below in natural) to Sunday brunch- cool!



If you love hats, Christy's site will delight. Lots of chic straw for women, and you can call Kelly, a marvelous milliner, to order by mail.