Giant Pith Helmet Thread of Doom

[Panache]

GENTS why so many pics of the piths on this thread- BUT so few pics of them actually being worn by their owners??

cC,

Here is mine in action at the Sacramento Highland Games a month or so ago with my lovely wife.

I really like this ensemble for hot weather outside. I have aquired a more period simple brown sporran but still need a web belt which would be more appropriate than the brown leather one I have.

I still have yet to try soaking my helmet in water before wearing though. Perhaps if it gets really hot this summer...

Cheers

Jamie

 

[PADDY]

Note from Edinburgh ...

Panache. Great outfit . Kilt looking good. Though I am a trews man...don't have the kilt legs..! Lovely Pith..thanks for sharing .

 

[chanteuseCarey]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap Thank you Panache! You two are lovely and handsome as ever, Panache. You wear the kilt style so very well Sir! I really like your lady's look, would you please ask her for me where she found her dress? I would like to find a good outdoors-ish safari-ish blouse/skirt combo or dress to wear with my pith!

cC,

Here is mine in action at the Sacramento Highland Games a month or so ago with my lovely wife.

I really like this ensemble for hot weather outside. I have aquired a more period simple brown sporran but still need a web belt which would be more appropriate than the brown leather one I have.

I still have yet to try soaking my helmet in water before wearing though. Perhaps if it gets really hot this summer...

Cheers

Jamie

 

[Panache]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap Thank you Panache! You two are lovely and handsome as ever, Panache. You wear the kilt style so very well Sir! I really like your lady's look, would you please ask her for me where she found her dress? I would like to find a good outdoors-ish safari-ish blouse/skirt combo or dress to wear with my pith!

cC,

Actually I believe my I bought that for her at Target of all places a year or so ago. They sometimes have some retro inspired fashions and I pointed that dress one out to her.

I keep fighting the itch to get a British foreign service style pith helmet (more military looking) for my ensemble. How many pith helmets does one need after all?

They are stylish and actually quite practical for summer I hope you enjoy yours.

It has been told to me that in truely unbearable hot weather that that the pith helmet is soaked in water and the wearer soaked in gin and both help allieviate the discomfort of the heat.





Cheers

Jamie

 

[1961MJS]

GENTS why so many pics of the piths on this thread- BUT so few pics of them actually being worn by their owners??

Hi

I own a khaki pith helmet, a bought it to wear at the county fair at our shooting booth. I put it on and it feels like I'm a toad stool. I'm an engineer, my parents were both teachers at my grade school AND high school, a was an A student etc, but the 10 minutes I spent wearing a pith helmet was the most nerdy / weird I ever felt. Even worse, my Dad wore one throughout WW2 in the South Pacific.

I wear my British WW2 slouch hat everywhere with pride, and don't feel bad.

[huh]

Later

 

[PADDY]

Pith helmet arrived.

It was *billed* as a 1930's *RARE* Royal Safari Indian Pith Helmet. As SOON as I opened the box, it was obvious to me that it was neither 1930's, nor a true pith helmet. Disappointed - 'yes!' Philosophical about it...'yes.' It's more hassle to return it to the US than keep it and 'try' to improve it..[huh] So I'll make a leather 'floating' sweatband and a silk liner. The scunched up paper on the inside of the helmet, will just have to stay, but sadly I cannot soak it.

From the outside view, it looks good. Turn it over and you see the sweat-band is plastic, there is a bowl shaped plastic piece as a liner and rather than 'pith' filling the helmet, it is scrunched up paper!! Either I've been *had,* or...as I am trying to positively look at it, the seller didn't know what it was, looked up something similar on Ebay and called it after that one.

Anyway, on a positive note, here's a few pics from a few days ago (as I'm away with work).

 

[PADDY]

The down-side...

 

[Mike K.]

It looks great from the outside Paddy. Sorry it wasn't as advertised. Too bad the seller didn't post a photo of the inside liner. I'll keep an eye open for a real one for you.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

Sorry to hear about the problems with this, of not necessarily being the "real deal" as was expected, but it truly does look great on you regardless Sir! Terrific photos, thank you for sharing them with all of us on FL. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Anyway, on a positive note, here's a few pics from a few days ago (as I'm away with work).

 

[1961MJS]

It was *billed* as a 1930's *RARE* Royal Safari Indian Pith Helmet. ...

Hi, where did you find the bush jacket? It looks heavier than WPG and Cabela's, and the belt is better.

Thanks

 

[PADDY]

Thanks Mike.

Yes, the search continues for an original Pith.[huh]

As far as I know you cannot get this Safari Jacket any longer, but it is indeed very well made (with classic action back) and the belt buckle is leather (as are the buttons). Hard to find a good one.

 

[BellyTank]

Yes, it didn't look so old from the photos, the plastic is a bit of a giveaway
and the "old", British ones were a bit bigger.

I would not recommend soaking any "Pith helmet", modern, or antique,
it will be destroyed.

Keep on hunting-
the pith is out there...


B
T

 

[PADDY]

Thanks BT/

Yes the search continues. Pity you hadn't seen this previously as I could have benefited from your experience and observations .

 

[BellyTank]

Sorry...

That Bush Shirt is TOPS, though.


B
T

 

[Dinerman]

 

[Panache]

PADDY,

I have to say that from the outside it looks great.

While not antique the Village Hat Shop offers several styles at reasonable prices

http://hat.villagehatshop.com/search?w=pith+helmets&asug=

I have been very pleased with mine from them and am still thinking about getting a military style British Khaki one to add to my collection.

Cheers

Jamie

 

[Puzzicato]

My wife might look at me like I've grown a third eye in the middle of my forehead, but after looking through this thread, I must get myself a pith helmet!

Yup, when my husband announced today that he wanted a pith helmet, that was pretty much how I looked at him!

 

[BinkieBaumont]

Yup, when my husband announced today that he wanted a pith helmet, that was pretty much how I looked at him!

"You are so right a "Bombay Bowler" looks perfectly ridiculous in the Northern Hemisphere, Sorry Chaps!, unless you are wearing it secretly in your walled garden, however, one does hear that you are experiencing a rather frightfully, Torrid Summer "

[YOUTUBE]cS4vUaNQKHk&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Highlander]

Colonel, that is one cool photo. What a piece of history! Thanks for sharing.

Here is a photo of my dad, somewhere in the Pacific, Spring 1945.

 

[Highlander]

Panache, great photo, I may steal the style for wearing my kilt in such a manner.

cC,

Here is mine in action at the Sacramento Highland Games a month or so ago with my lovely wife.

I really like this ensemble for hot weather outside. I have aquired a more period simple brown sporran but still need a web belt which would be more appropriate than the brown leather one I have.

I still have yet to try soaking my helmet in water before wearing though. Perhaps if it gets really hot this summer...

Cheers

Jamie