Who wears/wore porkpies?

[jhe888]

I have a Milan porkpie for the summer. I wear it with the brim snapped down.

 

[Loz Dawes]

and me...

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?28705-Show-off-your-Porkpies&p=1738250#post1738250

love 'em!!

 

[Edward]

I have a couple of poly-straw pps which I bought from, as memory serves, My Baby Jo in the US. I like them for Summer wear, put me in mind of early Fifties Sinatra. I do really like a pp type in straw. I also have an Akubra Rap, a fur felt pp. The Akubra I bought originally as a hat which would look good with a Teddy Boy vibe (a bit of historical revisionism - Teds have never been inclined towards hats, for the obvious reasons which do not affect me as a headshaver; I needed something to top the look off, both for my own aesthetic sensibilities and the fact that I now feel naked if I leave the house without a hat). In 2009, I think, this hat was mauled beyond belief at a Pogues gig, but ten minutes over the kettle when I got home took it right back to normal. Great hat. I did put a pinch in the front of this one when I reshaped it, but I kept the telescopic crown. I have long had my eye on a nice, mid-grey pp with a 2" brim or so.... We'll see when funds allow. Great casual hat with something like a Harrington jacket.

 

[ManofKent]

I have a soft spot for pork-pies, but really like a 2" + brim, which limits options.

 

[hatsRme]

S. Stallone wore a leather porkpie as Rocky Balboa. Dean Martin;
Currently, Bruno Mars and John mayer(singers) wears porkpies. Johnny Depp. Bryan Cranston as Walter white in Breaking Bad

I couldn't find any photo of Rocky B. in a pork pie, only center dents. Ditto for Mr. Depp, Mr. Mars, Mr. Mayer. Dean Martin was seen in one only occasionally, (in the company of his pal Mr. Sinatra) and was far more often seen in a front-pinched fedora.

But you are right, cchgn... there are a respectable number of celebs that have worn, or do wear them!

 

[Dr H]

Just received this one through the post from Laird Hatters (London) - love it.
Aside from Lester Young, my Pork-pie wearers woud be Marcus Miller (jazz bass guitarist) and Danny Thompson (jazz/folk double bassist)...

 

[NewJack]

All great jazz giants gents! Because of the greats and not-so-famous, I've been inspired to have two converted and one refurbished...This one's a 1950s Champ refurbished by Gomez Hat Company of California.



And another...A Western transformation by my friend Tom from Gomez Hat Company:

 

[1mach1]

Two beauties, Newjack! Cool ribbons!

 

[stratcat]

All great jazz giants gents! Because of the greats and not-so-famous, I've been inspired to have two converted and one refurbished...This one's a 1950s Champ refurbished by Gomez Hat Company of California.

That's a beaut'
I don't think I could pull off a pork pie.

 

[Captain O]

Do Porkpie hats still, carry the "Jazz Musician" connection that the style once did?

 

[johnnycanuck]

In a word... no. A black porkpie will get more meth lab references than jazz.
Johnny
Why do you ask?

 

[Captain O]

From the 1930's to the 1970's the Porkpie was consistently connected to "be-bop" Jazz Musicians. Heck, even Raymond Burr as Erle Stanley Gardiner's character "Perry Mason" wore a Porkpie hat as a bit of a rebellious "backlash" against the stodgy reputation that attorneys had garnered since the Reconstruction (the post-Civil War period).

For the longest time, the Porkpie was associated with Marijuana, Cocaine, and Heroin as well as the smoky underworld of the Jazz nightclubs.

Does that clarify things?

 

[Zombie_61]

I agree with Johnny. These days most people would probably see a black Pork Pie and think of Walter White (a.k.a. Heisenberg), Bryan Cranston's crystal meth manufacturing character in the television series Breaking Bad.

And their parents probably think of Gene Hackman as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in The French Connection.

But I don't think too many people under the age of, say, 65-70 would see a black Pork Pie hat and think of jazz musicians, marijuana, cocaine, and/or heroin.

 

[KarlCrow]

here, even a black trilby or stingy fed will elicit a Heisenberg unsolicited response.

 

[Captain O]

I remember Gene Hackman as "Popeye" Doyle in "The French Connection". I also remember "The Three Degrees" (Black Female trio) singing in the nightclub.

 

[RJR]

I remember Gene Hackman as "Popeye" Doyle in "The French Connection". I also remember "The Three Degrees" (Black Female trio) singing in the nightclub.

+1

 

[campbell166]

was Popeye Doyles hat a diamond crown ? I can never quite decide from the photos I have seen ( & I also think I need new glasses) lol

 

[Captain O]

I believe that is was a traditional "round top" porkpie.

 

[campbell166]

thanks

 

[Zombie_61]

was Popeye Doyles hat a diamond crown ? I can never quite decide from the photos I have seen ( & I also think I need new glasses) lol

It did have a slight front pinch and came to a point in the front, so I'd say it had a casual Teardrop crease.