Thom on February 4, 2009 11:37 AM:
My girlfriend actually tried to pull this off, but felt she looked a little too Madeleine. You see plenty of boaters at the Governer’s Island Jazz Age ball (apologies if that’s not quite the name). Not sure it could make the transition to everyday wear.
John George on February 4, 2009 11:58 AM:
From a person wearing a bow tie right now, I find it hard to imagine. But it’s one heck of a prediction. If it comes true you look like a total visionary.
wayne pate on February 4, 2009 12:22 PM:
I might rock that poolside or at the beach out in Shelter Island this summer. I think dressed down would be the way to go. Cut off chinos, a border tee
and flip flops. Look for me at Sunset beach with the wife and kids. Holler!
Warren on February 4, 2009 12:37 PM:
For whatever reason (hats, days of yore) this reminds me of the Billy Collins’ poem Death of a Hat, about his father passing away. I think this country is in need of a dapper revolution.
plaidout on February 4, 2009 1:01 PM:
“Death of a Hat” is brilliant. Good call, Warren. I just bought a boater on eBay yesterday. What a strange coincidence.
Jeff on February 4, 2009 1:11 PM:
I recently purchased one and will be unveiling it this Spring. I’m in agreement that it’s time to bring it back and have posted about it on my blog, tophatsandspats.com
Michael Williams on February 4, 2009 1:14 PM:
Good blog Jeff. I like that Olch coverage as well. Send us pictures of you in the Boater come summer.
ACL
truantmagazine on February 4, 2009 1:22 PM:
My friend recently got one in soho and it is quite amazing. I think they needto come back with a vengeance.
Mike on February 4, 2009 1:33 PM:
I got an antique one a few months back: planning on wearing to the beach this summer, too bad its a size or two too big
Amit on February 4, 2009 1:48 PM:
Those photos are dope. Source?
Blake on February 4, 2009 1:49 PM:
I have one I wear with the seersucker and bow in the summer. The one reason I don’t don it more often is because it’s so hot and it’s a tad too small.
Michael Williams on February 4, 2009 2:15 PM:
Most of the photos are from the Library of Congress…
r on February 4, 2009 2:41 PM:
I think Van Dyke Parks used to pull this look off well…the thing with these hats is how uncomfortable they are, so stiff around the brim and around your skull.
June on February 4, 2009 2:46 PM:
I was just watching the BBC version of Gaudy Night the other evening, and Lord Peter Wimsey looked smashing punting down the Isis in summer togs and a jaunty bowler.
And, of course, Anthony Andrews rocked one in the Granada version of Brideshead Revisited.
Yes, they’re period pieces, but if the chaps looked great, why couldn’t they come back?
Ian on February 4, 2009 3:46 PM:
I wear my boater religiously during the summer. I don’t think its a difficult thing to wear at all. Especially if the band is black. Another great option is a straw porkpie a la Buster Keaton.
Laguna Beach Trad on February 4, 2009 4:34 PM:
No chance. Pure costume. Last time I wore a boater was at Henley in the 1980s and early ’90s, and when I wasn’t actually rowing of course, and only when I was almost completely drunk. I have the photos to prove it. Forget about the boater; let’s bring back the striped rowing blazer first.
james fox on February 4, 2009 4:36 PM:
The old man (serial bow tie wearer, piped smoking jacket etc) rocks the boater for summer parties. the brim feels so great.
Lauren K on February 4, 2009 4:52 PM:
I agree on both! I’d love to see it and see it done well.
Tadd Kelby Casner on February 4, 2009 5:29 PM:
My boater from Lock’s in London is my choice for THE hat of summer. I’m only thirty-one years old, does wearing one make me strange? I think not!
poo on February 4, 2009 5:38 PM:
i noticed these popping up in nyc last summer… have yet to see anyone pull it off. i agree with laguna beach that it’s too costumey.
EnzoAGC on February 4, 2009 9:38 PM:
It irks me to see this hat called a “boater.” I believe its original name was the 42nd St. Skimmer or Skimmer for short. As for a summer trend, I don’t know as the skimmer is a hard hat to pull off. Just ask Birdie Wooster.
Blushing Hostess on February 4, 2009 10:53 PM:
I’m with LBT… this is pure folly.
Cyclo on February 5, 2009 6:14 AM:
I feel it’s one of those item’s which crosses the line between dressed up and dressing-up.
Straw wise, a panama is acceptable and almost anything else will make you look like a twat.
I direct you to Mr. Pooter and his straw helmet.
“August 16.—Lupin positively refused to walk down the Parade with me because I was wearing my new straw helmet with my frock-coat. I don’t know what the boy is coming to.”
Diary of a Nobody as a webfeed here
http://www.diaryofanobody.net/index.php
Cator Sparks on February 5, 2009 9:45 AM:
Boo ya – here is mine come May. Good seeing you last night Sport.
http://rodkeenannewyork.com/collection/spring-2009/venice-multi/
seesaw designs on February 5, 2009 10:46 AM:
That would be awesome.
Chad on February 6, 2009 11:12 AM:
Yeah, I think the panama is most appropriate.
Our president seems to think so.
http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/54240/thumbs/s-OBAMA-SMOKES-large.jpg
Charles R T on February 6, 2009 6:50 PM:
I would wear one, but only in a private garden party or punting in Oxon-Cantab. I wouldn’t dare venture out in a boater in broad daylight in town or city (yet)!
sam on February 7, 2009 5:15 PM:
I would look bad in or under one, but I agree with June that rewatching brideshead kind of makes me wish I could.
Style Salvage Steve on February 8, 2009 4:39 PM:
A delightful selection of images. I love nothing more than settling down with a cup of tea whilst pouring over the images of The Library of Congress. I would love to see this prediction come true but unfortunately I see the return of the boater as consisting of antinque boaters gracing bookshelves.
Tone Loki on February 9, 2009 10:15 AM:
I wore one last summer, with a Fred Perry and jeans to surprisingly little reaction from passersby…
white lightning on February 11, 2009 9:23 AM:
we had a MJ ss09 crushed boater in the office the other day…i rocked it all afternoon. TOTALLY wearable!
cake. on February 14, 2009 5:45 PM:
i have a crush on this post.
Ray Frensham on February 17, 2009 4:13 PM:
As I already mentioned uin a separate e-mail to you, I never imagined myself being a style icon or being ‘ahead of the curve’, but when I bought a new (replacement) boater last summer, little did I realise how ahead of my time I was.
On my blog about it:
http://rayfrenshamworld.blogspot.com/2008/10/buying-my-straw-boater.html
I never realised that all the UK’s boaters come from one company, Olney and Luton, whoever the retailer is. You learn something new every day.
And it’s good to see my pal Tadd Casner (a fellow enthusiast) posting up.
Let’s see more men in boaters (and bow ties)!
Morgan on April 13, 2009 3:30 PM:
Spotted a guy wearing a straw boater last Saturday in northern Malibu, at a gas station on PCH. He appeared to be using it as a substitute for the standard-issue LA fedora.
Abe on April 26, 2009 4:12 PM:
you should’ve been at the manhattan vintage show yesterday; so many beautiful boaters. the best find was an italian made brooks boater with a navy and red ribbon, and only $95. sadly i still didn’t have that but such a deal.

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