How do folks react to your hat wearing?

[Tiki Tom]

Was very impressed the other day when I went into the local English language book store and the guy behind the counter took one look at me and said “Nice Borsalino. It’s a shame they went out of business.” Very discerning eye! We struck up a conversation and it turns out that we have similar interests in books too.

 

[GHT]

Was very impressed the other day when I went into the local English language book store and the guy behind the counter took one look at me and said “Nice Borsalino. It’s a shame they went out of business.” Very discerning eye! We struck up a conversation and it turns out that we have similar interests in books too.

This fellow and I never see eye to eye on politics or religion. He can be more than forthright at times but I have had forty years of people management, I know how to deal with it. We share a common interest in cars, he has a '48 Plymouth. My MG is 1950 vintage. We both enjoy music and clothes from the era, but the catalyst that really makes for an enjoyable friendship is a mutual love of Shakespeare.

 

[der_ingenieur]

This fellow and I never see eye to eye on politics or religion. He can be more than forthright at times but I have had forty years of people management, I know how to deal with it. We share a common interest in cars, he has a '48 Plymouth. My MG is 1950 vintage. We both enjoy music and clothes from the era, but the catalyst that really makes for an enjoyable friendship is a mutual love of Shakespeare.
View attachment 204675

So nice to see when we can still disagree on something and still get along. Need more of that!

 

[GHT]

We were out shopping today, make that, I got dragged around the shops today. She spent most of her time in the fabric store, once she's got her nose in the paper pattern catalogue, life ceases to exist. Eventually, seeing me looking thoroughly bored, she said: "Coffee?" "Thought you would never ask," I replied.

It was blissfully quiet in our favourite watering hole, we are at the counter ordering coffees, the young lady, I really must try to remember her name, is smirking away. "Go on, what's amusing you?" I said. She replied: "You’re definitely not someone who I pretend not to see in public." "There you go," said my missus, "you're a wierdo, but a nice one." Then she said to the assistant, just loud enough so that I could hear. "His smile is proof that the best things in life are free." The young lady smiled, wider still. I looked at my missus and said, "I take it from that remark that I'm paying?" "You're paying," she replied. "You two always make my day," the young lady said and then added, "I love your hat & tie."

 

[GHT]

Do you ever feel predictable? Today I had an appointment at the hospital for an x-ray, just an ongoing check to see that my hip replacement is ok. My good lady suggested that she could run me there and I could get a cab back, so that she didn't have to wait around. She's working on a wedding dress and wanted to get back home as soon as possible.

A hospital visit is something of a novelty for me, I'm lucky enough to be blessed with good health. and I haven't had the need for such visits. But today was an exception. Tina, my wife, duly ran me there, and once there, I eventually found the x-ray department. The radiologist, a youngish woman, was very kind. She asked me to undress everything above my waist. When I took my blazer off, she looked at me and smiled, saying: "I just knew that you would be wearing braces," (Brit-speak, braces=suspenders) Intrigued, I asked how she knew. "Because you are wearing a hat," she answered. Then she absolutely floored me. "I bet you have buttons not clip fasteners," she said, and on seeing them, she triumphantly guessed that I would be wearing cuff links and not buttons. She was right, am I really so predictable?

 

[hatsRme]

Do you ever feel predictable? Today I had an appointment at the hospital for an x-ray, just an ongoing check to see that my hip replacement is ok. My good lady suggested that she could run me there and I could get a cab back, so that she didn't have to wait around. She's working on a wedding dress and wanted to get back home as soon as possible.

A hospital visit is something of a novelty for me, I'm lucky enough to be blessed with good health. and I haven't had the need for such visits. But today was an exception. Tina, my wife, duly ran me there, and once there, I eventually found the x-ray department. The radiologist, a youngish woman, was very kind. She asked me to undress everything above my waist. When I took my blazer off, she looked at me and smiled, saying: "I just knew that you would be wearing braces," (Brit-speak, braces=suspenders) Intrigued, I asked how she knew. "Because you are wearing a hat," she answered. Then she absolutely floored me. "I bet you have buttons not clip fasteners," she said, and on seeing them, she triumphantly guessed that I would be wearing cuff links and not buttons. She was right, am I really so predictable?
View attachment 205767

Predictable? Maybe.
Proper? Absolutely!!

 

[GHT]

Predictable? Maybe.
Proper? Absolutely!!

You're a gentleman Sir. Most would have said, "Stripped to the waist? How do you x-ray the pelvis?" But you realised that I was far from naked above waist. Just so that you know, the radiologist allowed me to keep the crown jewels discretely covered.

 

[hatsRme]

You're a gentleman Sir. Most would have said, "Stripped to the waist? How do you x-ray the pelvis?" But you realised that I was far from naked above waist. Just so that you know, the radiologist allowed me to keep the crown jewels discretely covered.

Honestly, they never crossed my mind...

 

[scottyrocks]

This morning was a first for me.

I was sitting in my car at a red light, in the dark, when I become aware of a commotion inside the car next to me.

When I realized that I was the subject of said commotion, I went against my better judgment and rolled my window down.

The people in the car told me I 'looked like the guy from Breaking Bad.'

I was wearing my black Adam. I guess, combined with the goatee and glasses, it wasn't a stretch.

I asked if that was a compliment, one of them said yes, definitely, and I said thank you. Smiles all around.

 

[Frunobulax]

Well, this past weekend I attended an antique show in Columbus, OH. A pretty big one that is held at the Expo Center on the Fairgrounds complex pretty much monthly. It was a great show, and I picked up a few things (including a complete Strat box for a fin).

There was a gentleman who had a booth which was dedicated to The Ohio State University paraphernalia. He had to have been an ex-OSU football player - the guy was a mountain. At least 6' 8" and well over 300 lbs, and wearing a huge, almost cartoonish, white cowboy hat (think toned-down Turd Ferguson).

As I walked by his booth I hear, "Hey, nice hat! Stetson or Dobbs?" I called back, "Stetson," and went over to talk with him. Just a great guy and we talked hats for a few minutes, with him telling me of all the hats he had ("I've got them from Mike the Hatter in Cleveland, Batsakes in Cincinnati, Optimo in Chicago..."). He takes out his phone and shows me some photos of some very fine customs he was wearing.

So, I whipped out my phone and started scrolling through some of my recent WHAYWT entries, listing them off, "Forties Royal Stetson, Resistol, Stetson 3X, Royal Deluxe Two-tone, Dalton..."

He looks at me and says, "Man, that's some serious stuff!"

Yeah, I know it's bragging, but it felt good to talk hats with somebody who is passionate. Plus, he was a really great guy.

I'd just make sure I got in line ahead of him at the buffet.

 

[GHT]

These were my Grandfather's tortoise shell spectacles, I've had them for ages but have never found an optician who would take the risk of removing the lenses and fitting my reading prescription, that is until recently. A phone call to tell me that they were ready, I was on my way. It was quiet in the shop, having only just opened, the staff were standing in a group all with a hot drink in hand. Got to get the day's priorities in order, and a hot drink is top of the list.

My specs were a cause of much pleasure and everyone was waiting for me to try them on. You need to know what I was wearing for the reaction to the specs. A vintage navy suit, matching colour fedora, and because it was raining I had put my dark mohair coat over my shoulders without putting my arms in the sleeves.

One of the opticians slid my specs onto my face, smiled, and asked the others for their thoughts. One lady said: "Arnold Toht." The others looked at each asking: "Who?" "Major Arnold Toht," I informed them. The lady looked at me. "I've had my share of Hey Indy," I told her, but never Hey Toht." I'm impressed she said. So to show off a little more, as I'm quite well known for, I said, "played by the brilliant, late Ronald Lacey." "I didn't know his name, but I'm sure that you are right," she replied.

The staff were bewildered, "whose Toht?" one of them asked. The lady that knew said, "It's the hat that's the giveaway, that and those lovely specs of your's." If I can remember, next time I wear that suit, I will put my specs on and get Tina to take a photo. Here is Ronald Lacey in character.

 

[Zombie_61]

View attachment 210083
These were my Grandfather's tortoise shell spectacles, I've had them for ages but have never found an optician who would take the risk of removing the lenses and fitting my reading prescription, that is until recently...

Seriously??? You're going to share a wonderful story like that with us and not include a photo of you wearing your Grandfather's spectacles?

 

[belfastboy]

went for a beer with a group of buddies wearing my vintage Borsa, semi western, flat brim no snap. One of the group looked at me and said..."lookin' kinda Indiana Jones today huh". I didn't bother to correct him, what's the use?

 

[GHT]

Seriously??? You're going to share a wonderful story like that with us and not include a photo of you wearing your Grandfather's spectacles?

What a hard taskmaster you are. You do realise that I have had to go and get my suit, coat, tie and hat just to pose for you? Such is the addiction of The Lounge.

 

[hatsRme]

What a hard taskmaster you are. You do realise that I have had to go and get my suit, coat, tie and hat just to pose for you? Such is the addiction of The Lounge.
View attachment 210228

Well worth the effort! Absolutely smashing, sir!!!

Next assignment is to find a photo of your grandfather wearing them. For extra credit, of course.

And I don’t believe you have trousers on in the photo...

 

[GHT]

And I don’t believe you have trousers on in the photo...

Some secrets are best kept to oneself. wouldn't you say?

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Well, this past weekend I attended an antique show in Columbus, OH. A pretty big one that is held at the Expo Center on the Fairgrounds complex pretty much monthly. It was a great show, and I picked up a few things (including a complete Strat box for a fin).

There was a gentleman who had a booth which was dedicated to The Ohio State University paraphernalia. He had to have been an ex-OSU football player - the guy was a mountain. At least 6' 8" and well over 300 lbs, and wearing a huge, almost cartoonish, white cowboy hat (think toned-down Turd Ferguson).

As I walked by his booth I hear, "Hey, nice hat! Stetson or Dobbs?" I called back, "Stetson," and went over to talk with him. Just a great guy and we talked hats for a few minutes, with him telling me of all the hats he had ("I've got them from Mike the Hatter in Cleveland, Batsakes in Cincinnati, Optimo in Chicago..."). He takes out his phone and shows me some photos of some very fine customs he was wearing.

So, I whipped out my phone and started scrolling through some of my recent WHAYWT entries, listing them off, "Forties Royal Stetson, Resistol, Stetson 3X, Royal Deluxe Two-tone, Dalton..."

He looks at me and says, "Man, that's some serious stuff!"

Yeah, I know it's bragging, but it felt good to talk hats with somebody who is passionate. Plus, he was a really great guy.

I'd just make sure I got in line ahead of him at the buffet.

Great story Jim. You’re a great TFL Ambassador.
So...did you sign him up??
What’s his handle??
B

 

[Frunobulax]

Great story Jim. You’re a great TFL Ambassador.
So...did you sign him up??
What’s his handle??
B

There's another show February 22. I'll see what I can do.

 

[scottyrocks]

View attachment 210228

'What shall we talk about?!'

 

[Zombie_61]

What a hard taskmaster you are. You do realise that I have had to go and get my suit, coat, tie and hat just to pose for you? Such is the addiction of The Lounge.
View attachment 210228

My most sincere apologies good Sir! I hadn't realized it would take so much effort on your part. Of course, if you had simply taken the photo while you were still wearing your suit, coat, tie, and hat...