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
July 15, 2008 at 3:11 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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
July 15, 2008 at 4:13 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hi, I’m a new reader, I thought they look good on you.
Ryan Oakley
July 16, 2008 at 1:06 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Why thank you. I like you already.
And Shalome — A shave might help too.
shalome
July 16, 2008 at 4:08 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
oh go to hell and die smirkie!
shalome
July 17, 2008 at 4:38 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
sorry. i mean yes,that is correct.
JP
July 18, 2008 at 12:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I say it has a certain William Burroughs cruising-for-underage-Arab-action flair to it.
Ricky
July 20, 2008 at 12:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
May I ask what style of Biltmore that is? I like it. Thanks!
Ryan Oakley
July 21, 2008 at 2:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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
July 22, 2008 at 10:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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
July 23, 2008 at 1:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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
July 23, 2008 at 4:41 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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
July 29, 2008 at 12:01 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
*sigh* my kingdom for a mention in cute boys
Ryan Oakley
July 29, 2008 at 1:00 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve seen your “kingdom.” You’d be lucky to get a mention here.