Horace Debussy Jones
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 417
- Location
- The Bowery
My father was born in 1920 and also "Golden Era" I suppose, however he never wore a hat of any kind that I recall. Certainly not a dress fedora. Maybe a winter hat with ear flaps for shoveling snow, etc. He was just not into fashion, but very down to earth and practical. He didn't even own an actual suit, just some dress slacks and a sports jacket from Sears with a clip on tie for "special occasions". So I grew up not really knowing much about fashionable clothing or hats, but I had a sort of innate curiosity and appreciation for the clothing of the era from watching guys like James Stewart, James Cagney, etc. dressed to the nines in film rolls. I've always had a great appreciation of fine suits, ties, and other accessories, but I can't for the life of me accept the look of any hat on my noggin. I've owned, and subsequently flipped a few fine vintage hats in my size, but can never get past how I look wearing any of them. Even the western hat I have for cool weather mountain hikes, just looks dorky in the mirror, although I like the look when it's on the shelf in my closet, or when Clint Eastwood is wearing something similar. I think I have some sort of major hat dysfunctional syndrome. Perhaps the result of my upbringing? Maybe I can sue someone for my malady??My dad was a Golden Era man - born in the '20s, childhood in the '30s, etc., and he dressed like it was the '40s/'50s (when he was a young man) until he passed away in the early '90s. That said, he hated hats and, in my time, never wore them and said he only wore them "back in the day" when he "had" to for some event.
It's funny as, other than the hat, on most days, he looked like he just walked off the set of a Classic Hollywood movie except for the hat, which effectively was a good thing as it kept his look slightly less dated as time went by.
Showing the influence of your parents, I've never worn a hat (other than a wool knit one for warmth in winter or a baseball cap occasional). Today, IMO, away from said baseball or weather-type caps, it's the rare man that can pull off a traditional hat with ease and confidence.