Although I dislike hats, I dislike the sun even more. At least once during the past two summers, it has burned my lips. Aside from being painful, this also looks dreadful. It will never happen again. Never.
So yesterday I made a long overdue summer investment. I went to Cabaret Vintage and bought one of their straw Biltmore Hats. The experience was, as always, pleasant.
This is quite a good shop. The sales staff are as friendly and competent as any you’ll find in Toronto . . . Scratch that. It sounds like an insult. The sales staff are much more friendly and competent than any you’ll find in Toronto. The selection is good and before I went bespoke my best suits were bought there.
My feeling on hats is that there’s something nerdish about them. I don’t have a hat face. They usually make me look like I’m hard at work inventing the A-Bomb. I hope this effect isn’t too pronounced with the new one –I chose a shorter brim to avoid it– but, even if I look like Oppenheimer, the hat remains practical.
Sigh.
Practically is ugly’s only excuse. And it’s not a very good one.
13 comments
shalome says:
July 15, 2008 at 3:11 am (UTC -5 )
ha!!!! when i saw that first pic i thought all you need is some freckles and a white puffy shirt with a big white bow and you would be 7 again!
schoenespapier says:
July 15, 2008 at 4:13 pm (UTC -5 )
Hi, I’m a new reader, I thought they look good on you.
Ryan Oakley says:
July 16, 2008 at 1:06 am (UTC -5 )
Why thank you. I like you already.
And Shalome — A shave might help too.
shalome says:
July 16, 2008 at 4:08 am (UTC -5 )
oh go to hell and die smirkie!
shalome says:
July 17, 2008 at 4:38 am (UTC -5 )
sorry. i mean yes,that is correct.
JP says:
July 18, 2008 at 12:16 pm (UTC -5 )
I say it has a certain William Burroughs cruising-for-underage-Arab-action flair to it.
Ricky says:
July 20, 2008 at 12:15 pm (UTC -5 )
May I ask what style of Biltmore that is? I like it. Thanks!
Ryan Oakley says:
July 21, 2008 at 2:05 pm (UTC -5 )
JP – I suppose that’s better than William Burroughs playing with his guns in the bunker flair.
Ricky — It’s a paribuntal. I decided not to lay the brim out. Here’s their 2008 summer selection.
http://www.biltmorehats.com/cataloguesummer2008.htm
But when it comes to hats, try them on. A certain style may seem like a really good idea only to look really bizarre.
When I was a young man, I wanted a bowler. Then I tried one on. That solved that.
And I’d say, if you don’t have a hat for the fall, it’s getting near time to think about that one instead.
shevan says:
July 22, 2008 at 10:27 pm (UTC -5 )
These are very disturbing pictures ryan. In the second photo your right arm looks as though you had had it removed and now, have my some means regenerated it lizard style; only in this photo it seems to be the thin, heroin-type regeneration favored by Kate Moss et al… ah Ryan you are truly my reptilian fashion idol!
Ryan Oakley says:
July 23, 2008 at 1:09 am (UTC -5 )
Hey Shevan — how come Kaewonder was in cute boys and you weren’t?
http://cuteboysmakemenervous.blogspot.com/2008/05/kaelahcasa-del-papaya-toronto.html
shalome says:
July 23, 2008 at 4:41 am (UTC -5 )
This hat is the second coming of Jesus. In years to come scholars will debate its existence. Books will be written, prophecies made,and you Ryan Oakley will be living in a box wearing a grocery bag mumbling something about owls or robots.
that is a sweet hat btw.
shevan says:
July 29, 2008 at 12:01 am (UTC -5 )
*sigh* my kingdom for a mention in cute boys
Ryan Oakley says:
July 29, 2008 at 1:00 pm (UTC -5 )
I’ve seen your “kingdom.” You’d be lucky to get a mention here.