Straw Boater

[Shanghailander]

Also, Shanghailander, I like the monicker... are, or were, you really a Shanghailander, or are you choosing where and when you'd like to live?

I was born too late to be a true Shanghailander -those Western expats who lived in the International Settlement or French Concession of Shanghai before Pearl Harbor. My family did live in China from 1910 to 1952, much of that time in Shanghai, and included a stint in Japanese prison camps during the war. I've just finished writing a monumental history of that time period, which includes a lot of background material relating to the life of Westerners in Shanghai and China during the 1930s: www.captives-of-empire.com

My avatar shows me against the 1930 skyline of the city's famous Bund.

 

[feltfan]

I've just finished writing a monumental history of that time period, which includes a lot of background material relating to the life of Westerners in Shanghai and China during the 1930s: www.captives-of-empire.com

Interesting!

I once attended a documentary about the Jewish
ghetto there (I think it was "The Port of Last Resort").
I went with the father of a friend of mine who grew up
in that ghetto. His family took the first ship they could
get out of Austria, when it became clear Jews could not
stay. It was bound for Shanghai...

 

[jake_fink]

I was born too late to be a true Shanghailander -those Western expats who lived in the International Settlement or French Concession of Shanghai before Pearl Harbor. My family did live in China from 1910 to 1952, much of that time in Shanghai, and included a stint in Japanese prison camps during the war. I've just finished writing a monumental history of that time period, which includes a lot of background material relating to the life of Westerners in Shanghai and China during the 1930s: www.captives-of-empire.com

My avatar shows me against the 1930 skyline of the city's famous Bund.

All very cool. Have you seen the television documentary Sin Cities? Each episode featured a different city and the one on Shanghai was great. You've added to a fascinating body of literature on the subject. You might like to read Two-Gun Cohen, if you haven't already.

 

[jake_fink]

Interesting!

I once attended a documentary about the Jewish
ghetto there (I think it was "The Port of Last Resort").
I went with the father of a friend of mine who grew up
in that ghetto. His family took the first ship they could
get out of Austria, when it became clear Jews could not
stay. It was bound for Shanghai...

Apparently Shanghai was one of the few places with a European presence (though dwindling, what with all the Japanese shells) and a lack of interest in passports and visas in the late thirties.

 

[Samsa]

I purchased the first boater of my new, hat-wearing life. Next time I'm out, it will be sitting on my head instead of my panama.

I'm preparing myself now for the stares.

 

[Joel Tunnah]

Samsa, can you please post some close-up pictures. I'm interested in this hat.

Also, how is the sizing? Accurate? Does it seem well made?
Thanks,

Joel

 

[MattC]

I bought

a new Italian boater 30 years ago, and it is sitting in an attic in California. I think I 'll break it out. It has a narrowish brim...but....let's give it a try.

Your hat looks just great on you.

 

[Samsa]

Samsa, can you please post some close-up pictures. I'm interested in this hat.

Also, how is the sizing? Accurate? Does it seem well made?
Thanks,

Joel

Sure thing. I'll take pictures tonight. The hat sizing is different than the panama and the stingy brim fedora I own - those are both 7 1/2, and the boater is a 7 5/6. The sweat band is sewn in differently, however - there is a bit of a gap between it and the hat, which is why it fits differently.

At first glance it seems well made, but keep in mind I am a neophyte when it comes to hats.

 

[Samsa]

Let's give this a try

I've never posted pictures before, let's see if it works.

First off, the close-ups, as per Joel's request:

As it looks upon my head:

Sorry about the lighting. The flash makes the hat look white, and obscures any detail, so I had to disable it. As a result the pictues are too dark. Joel: If you want a different view, just PM me and I can take some more pictures and send those to you.

 

[J.B.]

IMO -- Shanghailander, Samsa, and up196 are all "naturals" for the boater style. Lookin' good, fellahs!

I remember Dan Duryea's character "Johnny" -- Joan Bennett's abusive grifter boy-friend always wore a boater tipped back on his head in the classic "Scarlet Street" with Edward G. Robinson.

Actually, it's kind of odd. While different styles of Hombergs, Derbys, Fedoras, Cowboys, etc. will occasionally look "wrong," "odd," or just maybe out-of-step on different individuals -- over the years I've noticed that boaters look great on everyone??!!

Mine is identical to yours, Samsa, including the "floating" sweatband -- (except for the nifty Detroit "Henry the Hatter" label.) Mine has the place set up for a label but my cheap-o vendor just left it sans the advertising!

I will say that you do get a wise-@ss comment now and then when sportin' a boater!...

"Hey mister, you lookin' for the rest of your quartet?" ...or...

"S'matter bud, did yer monkey run away?"...

From a boater/skimmer thread awhile back -- IIRC, there is only one remaining maker still left for these hats in Italy?!

And finally, if you are rollin' in dough -- here's a replay of a link from that old thread that offers the coveted, mystical 3-inch brim boater. :arated:

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I was in the county courthouse today wearing my boater and a guy asked me what that kind of hat is called, and I told him. Then he responded by saying he hadn't seen anybody wearing one in about 100 years.

Of course I was wearing white duck trousers, white bucks, a linen patch-pocket sportcoat and bow tie at the time too...

 

[Samsa]

I was in the county courthouse today wearing my boater and a guy asked me what that kind of hat is called, and I told him. Then he responded by saying he hadn't seen anybody wearing one in about 100 years.

Of course I was wearing white duck trousers, white bucks, a linen patch-pocket sportcoat and bow tie at the time too...

And here I thought that I was rather gutsy!lol

More power to you - I wish I had the nerve to pull that ensemble off.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

How old was that guy? If you see him again, ask him about what else was going on 100 years ago!

 

[Joel Tunnah]

Samsa, thanks for the pics. The hat looks great on you!:eusa_clap

Joel

 

[Samsa]

Samsa, thanks for the pics. The hat looks great on you!:eusa_clap

Joel

Thank you!