Who Needs a Riboon?

[Ben]

There is a lot of talk about hat ribbons, but who needs a ribbon, when you can have chains!

I picked this one up in Japan while I was there recently.

Yes, those are chains. Here is a close up:

The Japanese young people seem to really like Fedoras and there are more hat shops there than I see here. Here is a picture of me and the guy who sold it to me.

 

[RBH]

Different.. but kinda nice.
I dont think I could pull the look off but it looks good on you two.

 

[Vintage Betty]

Looks good on you! I can imagine you attaching things to the chain as you travel - kinda a rovin' world hat statement.

VB

 

[ScionPI2005]

Very stylish actually; I do believe you have stumbled across something unique and different.

 

[feltfan]

I was just in Tokyo myself. Is that Parco or a shop in
Harajuku? I saw some hats like that. The bashes
interested me until I realized they were almost as
stiff as helmets. Surely it's wool. Nice tall crowns! I agree with the
others here, though- good look for you. Are the chains
secured by something other than gravity?

I saw only one real, dedicated hat shop, the Borsalino
(and other brands) dealer in Ginza. I hear there is another
shop with better prices on panamas. The hat department
at Isetan had the same old stuff, except for what looked
like a decent (of all things) bowler, but I was in a hurry and
could not examine it (in its museum-like display case).

What I did not see, in case folks are wondering, is a local
hat maker or factory hat made with top quality fur felt. And
the hats I saw all had narrow brims in a 60s style. I took
a picture of a couple of truly terrible hats that I hope to
post soon. No, not one Mitsukoshi Stetson at the fleamarket.

 

[tandmark]

Hi,

Pretty interesting, Ben. And it looks better on you than I'd expect from a hat with what appears to have such a plain crown.

Translation: You don't look at all like Chico Marx wearing it! lol

Is there any indication of the name of a hatmaker?

And what's the price range there?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Ben]

Thanks for all the compliments. I think I have learaned that high crowns are what suit me best.

I was wondering how some of the traditionalists would react.

To answer the questions:

I bought it in Hiroshima. I do believe it is wool, and there is a stitch on either side to hold the chain in place.

As for the hat maker, the best I can come up with right now is PPFM. I will have to pull out my Japanese books and see whether I can parse the kanji on the rest of the label for more details.

With the exchange rate, I think this hat was about $40.

Also, can the mods fix the title of this thread? My 'o' finger was faster than my 'b' finger and I can't figure out how to fix it myself.

 

[Ben]

Another Fedora Fan

This photo, however, was taken in Harajuku. It is me with another Fedora Fan.
(I don't know what the story behind the two fingered salute is, except to say all the kids do it there when having their picture taken -- peace, victory, five beers -- who knows?)