Thanks for the clarification! Sometimes those subtle pronunciation differences can be pesky; I was surprised to hear the narrator of the Pathé reel mispronounce "Coke," for instance. :) - Preston
The bowler hat with a black suit and umbrella was once the "walking out" dress for British officers, which is why it is seen when veterans march with their former units in the UK.
I have been waiting for this video for 2 years. I utterly adore bowler hats and am so happy we finally have a definitive guide on them with the mellifluous narration of Preston's voice.
I think a bowler hat looks best when paired with an all white outfit, complete with suspenders, a jockstrap and a pair of black combat boots. That really sharpens you up for a bit of the old ultraviolence!
There is nothing like learning history. This was trove of knowledge that opens one mind and see the bowler hat from a different angle. Im getting one ! Maybe in brown. Thank you !
Yes! A little known fact. Most folks think it was the iconic 10-gallon hat of the 1950’s TV Westerns. HBO’s TV series “Deadwood” got it right. The characters were not immaculately groomed and dressed like the Cartwrights.
It’s ironic how the most versatile accessories are the underrated ones. Because stiff hats are mostly if not all the most formal, but the Bowler hat was also common amongst the middle class but also in the aristocracy.
I first started to love the bowler after seeing it from cartoons and comics like Tin Tin. I even have a photo of my great great grand father Chief Yellowhammer, newly released as a prisoner of war in 1905 from the Modoc war, return to Oregon and he had a bowler clutched in his hand. So I got my first bowler in 7th grade a Bailey from the local haberdasher in Portland and wore it during more formal settings but I always noticed people wearing them in tough situations like heavy work in movies. I always wondered why in movies based in the West and early 20th century seen the bowler worn in all situations. So I started to wear the hat all the time but got disappointed that it started to lose its shape from rain. I currently work at the railroad and occasionally will wear my original worn out bowler at work in cooler weather because it's wool and I still like the idea of an all purpose hat like I grew up watching. I do have a more nicer one which I wear in more cleaner conditions. It's still my favorite hat to pair with my wool top coat in the winter along with my top hats.
Greetings from Australia. I have only recently joined your channel but I find your channel to be a joy to watch and I learn something with every video. One day (post COVID) my wife and I will travel to the US and I hope to meet some of the people who to contribute to each video; and perhaps get some personal advice on buying a suit. WELL DONE !!
I guess like anything it's up to you if you look good in a bowler hat or not! Like other hats they come in different shape and sizes. Sammy Davis Jr. looked good in a bowler hat as a gangster in "Robin and the seven hoods." And I saw the old African american boxer Jack Johnson look good in his too. Have to get the right size for your head though or it will look silly! I wear and like the fedora hat better myself. But usually wear it only in Fall weather with a jacket and no suit underneath, as an Indiana Jones kind of look. I wear the fedora with the brim up sometimes too. Great channel for the well-dressed man.
I found my self an antique bowler hat In impeccable condition. For 50 dollars on Facebook including the original box . But this is not my first bowler I have 4 others. It is written SUPER QUALITY. I am so happy and it fits me so well
Photos of late-19th century railways generally show 'workers' wearing flat caps, but inspectors and 'middle managers' wore bowlers as a sign of their status. Top hats were worn by station masters of the biggest railway stations and the most senior managers, though there were many exceptions in working locations, where a variety of 'travelling hats' are often seen.
A very interesting video-although I was flabbergasted that it wasn’t until the 14:21 mark that A Clockwork Orange was given its due as a sartorial statement!
Thanks to you guys I finally made a decision and bought a bowler hat ( genuine vintage one ), it's great it fits very well, good condition, looks great and obviously its real vintage. So thank you very much Gentelman's Gazette and keep up the good work. PS. Please just one small video about frock coats please.
Harder hats like the bowler or top hat are much harder to fit because the same size can have many different shape. That's when the confirmateur comes into play. It can determine your headshape and help the hatter get the fit right.
Gosh I was born in the WRONG ERA - I get weird looks for even wearing a nice suit here and there to the office!!! < Rolling my eyes> .... Time machine, anyone? ;-)
Personally I prefer fedoras or a broadbrim hat (if I need to wear a hat) but still a rather interesting video because I finally found out what my grandfather meant by Billycock.
I really get that. I don't like wearing a bowler as much as I used to due to the unwanted attention it brings. I've had people shout "cool hat" from cars driving by, or people in the street yell "time-traveller!" I've had similar stuff happen with a boater and homburg too. On the other hand, a bowler hat with a Chesterfield coat and umbrella looks great.
I love bowlers and classic hats but until classic hats become the norm again(they won't) I won't be wearing one. The line between neckbeard and pulling it off is too thin.
Bowler hats also go well with bib overalls, work shoes, a white shirt, black bow tie or narrow black tie that is too short, and a black one-size-too-small sport coat. 😉
Just a small correction: Winston Churchill didn’t wear bowlers with his morning suit (at least not in that picture): he wore the similar-looking “Cambridge”, the exact description of which can be found on the site of Lock Hatters, which is also its creator :)
They have an interesting history for sure, they used to be the go to "casual" or day hat for the urban middle class and upper classes, and initially came in many varieties. Apparently it is consideredto be the first "modern" hat. Upper society men would wear two sided cocked hats for the most formal evening events but eventually they faded out of existence outside of costume and uniforms.
@@isaiahwilliams7828 yes,when they go to country or having an informal events in city they whipped the top hat,the most formal are cocked hats,sometimes with feather and bows or tricolore
Finally,thank you gg team,bowler for me has always an banker and bussinessman vibes,im waiting for a topper video,i love my bowler Its great for an bussiness outfit and always match stroller,good for you gg another excellent video!
I’m torn between my bowlers and my Homburgs. I have brown and black in both. I also have a brown and a grey Fedora so depends on where I’m going and how I’m feeling at the moment 😀
@@heinzguderianbutmoreyounge9659 I've seen you on a lot of top hat videos. Out of interest, do you own one or, better yet, do you own a full white tie or morning ensemble? 😲
I own a vintage bowler hat from c. 90-100 years ago. I like it, but I have so few opportunities to wear it with my current wardrobe… it’s in such good shape, though, and fits me too well to just get rid of. But if anybody’s interested in a ventilated(!) summer bowler from the 1920s or ’30s…
I love bowlers and have wanted one for years. I've had no luck with vintage, since I have an unusual head shape, although I recently read you can steam then to shape. Fortunately I have found a local hatter who is actually within walking distance to my house. His primary market is Black Hat Orthodox Jews, but he also sells 2 levels of quality bowlers. This is a large market in my area, with 4 Orthodox Synagogs also in walking distance. I think a bowler is in my future very soon!
Bowlers make me kind of sad. There used to be a very talented hatter in my city who specialized in bowlers. He closed his shop in 2021 because COVID ruined his already vulnerable business, as he sold the hats for only about 110€, plus the bowlers are by default less popular than the fedoras or homburgs that other hatters in the city are making.
Thank you Preston, and all involved at Gentlemen’s Gazette for an informative episode on one of my favorite hat styles. I have several in my collection - some vintage others custom made. I appreciate seeing other folks enjoying and wearing and Derby/Bowler hat. ~Jed 🤠
We mustn't forget Cousin Itt. I always wear a Christys' London black bowler. I wear it with absolute confidence and I always get compliments. It works great with formal wear; but I also wear it to rock concerts and gigs (just jeans and black shirt). The bowler is a very "cool" hat.
You see plenty of bowler wearing gentlemen around the 12th July. In Northern Ireland (in particular in the country) it is worn by members of the loyalist "Orange Order" during their parades.
I've got the Christy's woolfelt bowlerhat. I couldn't the furfelt one for a reasonable. However the woolfelt Christy bowler hat is a very good quality hat stil. It has a nice leather band inside, satin interior. And most imporyantly it has the typical classic bowler hat shape! :)
My favorite style hat and part of my favorite Three Stooges joke Judge - “Kindly speak English and drop the vernacular” Curly - “Vernacular? That’s a derby!” Judge - “Drop the vernacular!” Curly - _drops derby_
I have a Lock & Co extra stiff Coke hat. Every time I wear it I’m well dressed and I get far more comments on my hat than my suit and tie. A side note regarding construction I learned when my hat was fitted by Lock & Co, at least my hat (I don’t know about the normal Coke hats) is made with a shellack shell on the inside and the felt outer and silk liner are covering that. Also, my hat has a very unique way of adjusting the hatband. It’s a piece of leather about 1.5 inches tall with a string woven through the upper part. You pull the ends of the string together and tie a bow in it to make the hat fit more snug, or slightly higher on your head.
I love classic hats but I really don’t feel that the bowler is timeless. You recently put a video out on ‘how to avoid looking like a costume’ and I feel the bowler hat screams ‘costume’ more than any other hat. Regardless of its history, the bowler hat became part of a very specific uniform for a very specific (upper) class of gentlemen working in the City of London, most probably as a banker, lawyer or clerk. By the 60s it was already considered archaic (as the frock coat was by the 30s) and today, nobody working in the City would be seen dead in one if they wanted to be taken seriously. This hat has a place for the dandy but in my opinion isn’t for a gentleman who works in an office environment. I think the fedora or even homburg are a much better option and more versatile.
Completely agree. I don't think it can be pulled off. The right guy with the right outfit can still get away with a fedora or a flat cap but bowlers are just too dated.
They should focus more on how to make modern hats into more formal or "gentlemanly" styles, like flat caps could be seen as the more formal version of baseball caps for instance
@@Egilhelmson but what i mean is that styles have shifted and so the channel should potentially try and reflect that instead of trying to make bowler hats look good. Flat caps in Britain are seen as either the farmer hat or the only fools and horses market hat, but they're the closest thing to a formal hat nowadays that doesn't look too out of place in comparison to something like a top hat or boater
Me and my fiancêe, Judy, yes she has the same name of the Zootopia main female character, and the same natural beautyful purple eyes, we are Pinkerton agents based in Aspen. Still today the biggest trademark of the Pinkerton National Detectives Agency after the silver badge is the Bowler hat.
@@RateMyRestaurantYEG Thanks, and what a better place to wear fancy hats like Fedoras and Derbies than in one of the most luxuary places in the whole world? And in a profession that is most often associated to hats?
A bit embarrassing: Because of that hat „The Avengers“ German title was „Mit Schirm, Charme und Melone“. Melone (actually melon, like the fruit 🍉) is the German word for a bowler hat, so the whole thing translates into: „With Umbrella, Charme and Bowler Hat“. That was obviously to give the German audience a taste of British style. Remember, TV shows and movies get translated and overdubbed for German TV.
Sorry for ignorance, but I'm Italian and some terminology is difficult for me, so, "fur felt" is the lapin?? In Italian there isn't a word for this particular felt like "feltro di lana" for wool felt, GRAZIE!!!! PS: your video are always useful!!!
What's not to love about bowler hats? They look great with my stroller, of which I usually pair with light-grey twill or cashmere-striped trousers. The bowler contrasts nicer with the cashmere-stripes in my opinion, but still looks pretty smart with the solid grey trousers nonetheless. Having a bowler is a great investment for your wardrobe since it's practical (can be worn for formal occasions, with everyday business attire and maybe even certain types of smart casual outfits if you're daring) and you'll look sharp too. It's a shame men stopped wearing hats, but on the other hand, you'll probably get lots of compliments if you do wear a more traditional hat style. A bowler will definitely bring many compliments even if you're not dressing it up as much as it could. Thanks for the informative video, your content is always a joy to watch. It makes me happy to see that traditional menswear will continue to live on, especially since my generation keeps getting more casual and can't wear suits, let alone a dress shirt correctly. Edit: Fixed Grammar
Detachable collar boi, I agree. Men are way too casual these days. I still wear a fedora but only with a leather jacket, with no suit in the fall weather, as an Indiana Jones kind of look. Sometimes I wear the brim up too.
@@sonnycorleone3251 Nice, that sounds classic. A fedora or a bowler are my goto everyday hats. I agree with you about how casual it's gotten the last few years. My peers and colleagues all seem to gravitate to jeans, track pants or hoodies. Sport coats count as "formal" according to them lol
@@TheRefinedGentleman Yes, Even some guests at weddings and funerals I see guys toooo casually dressed. I think dressed down Fridays brought everything down to eventually all week casual basically. Too bad. All the best to you!
@@sonnycorleone3251 Yeah pretty much, seems like most things mainstream these days are "comfy." Regarding funerals, if it's too casual it's plain disrespectful to the deceased. Thank you, may your sartorial journey be fulfilling!
These people who run this channel seem to like to casually dress this way, and don’t fear judgement, very confident elegant and classy if I say so myself
A note, if I may. You can 'tough it up' a bit and wear it with a Crombie overcoat, jeans, boots and braces, and a nice black or plain white Ben Sherman, or similar. Looks top notch, and you could wear the ensemble in a London pub, neck a pint, and still look spiffy. Best regards, X
I used to wear a wool felt bowler that my father bought for my 21st birthday. Sadly though, it fell victim to a hot car and now it doesn't fit right. I'm currently trying to figure out how to restore it to its original shape. This was a great video as always, gentlemen!
Steam will usually do the trick. The idea is to expose the hat to a steam source for long enough so the hat softens and becomes pliable. Let the hat sit for a few minutes so the steam dries. It should go back to its original shape. If not, you might need to resteam and adjust the shape manually. Alternatively, a hatter can reshape and reblock the hat if necessary
Here in Germany, hats with feathers are also not so common, but you can see feathers at traditional huntsmans hats or at ,native dress( Trachten) hats.
I have a question. Would a bowler hat be comparable in formality to the homburg or the straw boater? I prefer the style of the bowler to the homburg and I am wondering if i may use it in a black tie or a wedding style ensemble. Thank you in advance.
Yes, Bowlers (at least black ones) reach to semi-formal level with the Homburg and Boaters. I've only ever seen them in person with semi-formal daywear, but they should be acceptable with black tie.
A black bowler is acceptable for lounge suits or semi-formal daywear. A black homburg can be applied in the same way as a black bowler, but is the preferred choice for semi-formal eveningwear. A boater may be worn for semi-formal daywear or eveningwear, provided it's in the summertime.
Wouldn’t you say that this type of hat is quite outdated, unless you are talking about very specific situations that still uses classic/old traditions off dress? Like wearing this type of hat with a suit (like presented in the video) wouldn’t it stick out like a sore thumb? Making it look more costume than elegant.
Am I right in thinking that top hats were not just for style, it was the lower classes originally that had issues with the ruling landowners, and they would normally doff their caps, so they wanted to show they were no longer doing that so a conspicuous hat was needed, or is that just urban myth?
Can you suggest the perfect outfit to wear to a horse race....something suitable for the Kentucky derby that would make all attendees look and say "now thats a mans man!"
I would imagine a nice tweed three piece suit would look dapper. That’s what I’m looking at getting made for this summer’s races up here in Canada. I have a beautiful brown bowler and a brown Trilby for the occasion. Remember the British saying “no brown in town”
LOL I love the bowler and honestly the first time I wore one was for my Alex Delarge costume for Halloween one year. After that it sat in a closet at parents house for almost 30yrs. Its a cheap hat but a genuine bowler. I bought it from a second hand store in the DFW area. It cleans up well enough for costumes but I would never pair it with an overcoat, which is the way I prefer to wear mine now. Usually pair it with my Crombie some nice Sta-Prest trousers and a nice pair of brogues.
I have a hat that says it is from Christy's London. After watching some videos about the making of their hats, I am not so sure it really is. Mine is Bowler shaped, but not stiff. There is no ridge around the edge, and no silk lining; just a round insignia covered by plastic. It is sewn, not glued, and says it is a size 7 or 57. The ribbon around the outside is tack sewn on. Does anyone know what I have?
I've been trying to find a decent new grey bowler with black band, and your recommendations from your site only carry all black. Do you have any recommendations on where to look for something like this? I really appreciate the info.
An old English book of etiquette I found suggested wearing a grey bowler with a stroller/black lounge suit as an alternative to black. Historically, grey hats would've been worn in the summer before straw hats were really a thing. Imo, a grey hat can really soften the look of an overall dark ensemble, or even look nice as a spring hat right before the transition into straw hats. Best to stick with a black bowler if you're wearing something more formal. You can find them vintage. For brand new, to my knowledge, Ascot Top Hats out of the UK sells a "grey" (looks more like grey-brown from the photos) Christy's bowler, but it's only available in wool felt rather than fur felt.
Just a quick point for our American friends - Leicester is pronounced "les-ter" rather than "lie-ster" :)
Thanks for the clarification! Sometimes those subtle pronunciation differences can be pesky; I was surprised to hear the narrator of the Pathé reel mispronounce "Coke," for instance. :)
- Preston
@@gentlemansgazette I can only apologise for our strange, British pronunciations that seem to go directly against the spellings!
I’ve been pronouncing it Like-Esther 😂 Thanks for the info!!
As a fellow British person, I'm glad you mentioned that haha!
I came here to say this! 🤣
The bowler hat with a black suit and umbrella was once the "walking out" dress for British officers, which is why it is seen when veterans march with their former units in the UK.
I have been waiting for this video for 2 years. I utterly adore bowler hats and am so happy we finally have a definitive guide on them with the mellifluous
narration of Preston's voice.
I have just acquired a coke hat for 5 Scottish pounds in bonnie Scotland in a place cauld paisley ....just as well am fae Scotland
I think a bowler hat looks best when paired with an all white outfit, complete with suspenders, a jockstrap and a pair of black combat boots. That really sharpens you up for a bit of the old ultraviolence!
Clockwork orange vibes
It's real horrorshow to viddy such platties!
"I'M CURED!"
I concur sir
Ultra violence
There is nothing like learning history. This was trove of knowledge that opens one mind and see the bowler hat from a different angle. Im getting one ! Maybe in brown. Thank you !
The bowler was actually the original hat of the Cowboy. As cattlemen moved westward, the most common hat seen was the bowler.
Yes! A little known fact. Most folks think it was the iconic 10-gallon hat of the 1950’s TV Westerns. HBO’s TV series “Deadwood” got it right. The characters were not immaculately groomed and dressed like the Cartwrights.
@@georgelush1998 They did eventually switch to more wide brimmed hats. Especially further south.
The hat that won the west
It’s ironic how the most versatile accessories are the underrated ones. Because stiff hats are mostly if not all the most formal, but the Bowler hat was also common amongst the middle class but also in the aristocracy.
Even Cowboys preferred the Bowler/Derby look up butch Cassidy gang
I first started to love the bowler after seeing it from cartoons and comics like Tin Tin. I even have a photo of my great great grand father Chief Yellowhammer, newly released as a prisoner of war in 1905 from the Modoc war, return to Oregon and he had a bowler clutched in his hand. So I got my first bowler in 7th grade a Bailey from the local haberdasher in Portland and wore it during more formal settings but I always noticed people wearing them in tough situations like heavy work in movies. I always wondered why in movies based in the West and early 20th century seen the bowler worn in all situations. So I started to wear the hat all the time but got disappointed that it started to lose its shape from rain. I currently work at the railroad and occasionally will wear my original worn out bowler at work in cooler weather because it's wool and I still like the idea of an all purpose hat like I grew up watching. I do have a more nicer one which I wear in more cleaner conditions. It's still my favorite hat to pair with my wool top coat in the winter along with my top hats.
Bowler Hat is one of my favourite out of other hats
I can easily understand that
I have a Bowler from Diefenthal in Colone, Germany, and I love it.
Preston looking like the riddler more than ever in this video
My bowler is my favorite hat to wear! Thanks for finally making a Bowler video!
Greetings from Australia. I have only recently joined your channel but I find your channel to be a joy to watch and I learn something with every video. One day (post COVID) my wife and I will travel to the US and I hope to meet some of the people who to contribute to each video; and perhaps get some personal advice on buying a suit. WELL DONE !!
With Bowler hat comes great responsibility, never forget!
The bowler is objectively the most cool hat in existence!
I wear one of these every day.
And i don't even own one
*Sad hatless noises*
what a perfect time, just start to search fit bowler hat and gentlemen's gazette deliver great knowledge
I guess like anything it's up to you if you look good in a bowler hat or not! Like other hats they come in different shape and sizes. Sammy Davis Jr. looked good in a bowler hat as a gangster in "Robin and the seven hoods." And I saw the old African american boxer Jack Johnson look good in his too. Have to get the right size for your head though or it will look silly!
I wear and like the fedora hat better myself. But usually wear it only in Fall weather with a jacket and no suit underneath, as an Indiana Jones kind of look. I wear the fedora with the brim up sometimes too. Great channel for the well-dressed man.
At long last you've made up your promise that you have promised us a long time ago
I found my self an antique bowler hat In impeccable condition. For 50 dollars on Facebook including the original box . But this is not my first bowler I have 4 others.
It is written SUPER QUALITY.
I am so happy and it fits me so well
I have my Lock & Co bowler I wear in lodge, love it!
Photos of late-19th century railways generally show 'workers' wearing flat caps, but inspectors and 'middle managers' wore bowlers as a sign of their status. Top hats were worn by station masters of the biggest railway stations and the most senior managers, though there were many exceptions in working locations, where a variety of 'travelling hats' are often seen.
A very interesting video-although I was flabbergasted that it wasn’t until the 14:21 mark that A Clockwork Orange was given its due as a sartorial statement!
Thanks to you guys I finally made a decision and bought a bowler hat ( genuine vintage one ), it's great it fits very well, good condition, looks great and obviously its real vintage. So thank you very much Gentelman's Gazette and keep up the good work.
PS. Please just one small video about frock coats please.
Henry The Hatter in Detroit sells good quality fur-felt bowlers.
Neat! A few years ago I bought a locke bowler from the 50s that fit me at a fair for 25€, I just recently got it brushed up and it looks nice!
Harder hats like the bowler or top hat are much harder to fit because the same size can have many different shape. That's when the confirmateur comes into play. It can determine your headshape and help the hatter get the fit right.
Great video! You should consider doing a video/style review of the Jeeves and Wooster television programme!
I was looking forward for a derby guide, thank you!
Gosh I was born in the WRONG ERA - I get weird looks for even wearing a nice suit here and there to the office!!! < Rolling my eyes> .... Time machine, anyone? ;-)
Personally I prefer fedoras or a broadbrim hat (if I need to wear a hat) but still a rather interesting video because I finally found out what my grandfather meant by Billycock.
I have always loved the bowler; it may be my favorite hat. But, I have never gathered the confidence to wear for fear of it looking to costume-like.
I bet you could pull it off if you are wearing a suit. It would look great with a suit, a scarf, and an overcoat.
I really get that. I don't like wearing a bowler as much as I used to due to the unwanted attention it brings. I've had people shout "cool hat" from cars driving by, or people in the street yell "time-traveller!" I've had similar stuff happen with a boater and homburg too. On the other hand, a bowler hat with a Chesterfield coat and umbrella looks great.
I love bowlers and classic hats but until classic hats become the norm again(they won't) I won't be wearing one. The line between neckbeard and pulling it off is too thin.
the best part of this video was about hat making. You should do a video about this,
You say bowler hats aren't crushable but I own an original from the 1930s that was sold as "The Pliable" and that one actually is
Bowler hats also go well with bib overalls, work shoes, a white shirt, black bow tie or narrow black tie that is too short, and a black one-size-too-small sport coat.
😉
My favorite hat that isn't a flat cap is the coachman. I know that's an odd one, but it would be great could touch on that style.
Just a small correction: Winston Churchill didn’t wear bowlers with his morning suit (at least not in that picture): he wore the similar-looking “Cambridge”, the exact description of which can be found on the site of Lock Hatters, which is also its creator :)
Top hats next please!
Definitely and the real ones not the felt ones🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂
They have an interesting history for sure, they used to be the go to "casual" or day hat for the urban middle class and upper classes, and initially came in many varieties. Apparently it is consideredto be the first "modern" hat.
Upper society men would wear two sided cocked hats for the most formal evening events but eventually they faded out of existence outside of costume and uniforms.
@@isaiahwilliams7828 yes,when they go to country or having an informal events in city they whipped the top hat,the most formal are cocked hats,sometimes with feather and bows or tricolore
I wear my bowler hat to work, pairing it with no jacket, just a cancas cotton work vest.
I don’t know that I’ve ever encountered someone wearing one of these. But if I ever do, I am DEFINITELY complimenting him on his Billycock.
Finally,thank you gg team,bowler for me has always an banker and bussinessman vibes,im waiting for a topper video,i love my bowler
Its great for an bussiness outfit and always match stroller,good for you gg another excellent video!
I’m torn between my bowlers and my Homburgs. I have brown and black in both. I also have a brown and a grey Fedora so depends on where I’m going and how I’m feeling at the moment 😀
And so, we meet again. Hello!
@@carltrotter7622 hello my dear chap,we are really striking the wrong fellows on internet huh about formal wear
@@heinzguderianbutmoreyounge9659 I've seen you on a lot of top hat videos. Out of interest, do you own one or, better yet, do you own a full white tie or morning ensemble? 😲
@@carltrotter7622 sadly not,but we follow each other on ig
Great vid as always. The bowler on Preston does gives him quite the "Ed-Nygma" vibes.
I own a vintage bowler hat from c. 90-100 years ago. I like it, but I have so few opportunities to wear it with my current wardrobe… it’s in such good shape, though, and fits me too well to just get rid of. But if anybody’s interested in a ventilated(!) summer bowler from the 1920s or ’30s…
I love bowlers and have wanted one for years. I've had no luck with vintage, since I have an unusual head shape, although I recently read you can steam then to shape. Fortunately I have found a local hatter who is actually within walking distance to my house. His primary market is Black Hat Orthodox Jews, but he also sells 2 levels of quality bowlers. This is a large market in my area, with 4 Orthodox Synagogs also in walking distance. I think a bowler is in my future very soon!
Bowlers make me kind of sad. There used to be a very talented hatter in my city who specialized in bowlers. He closed his shop in 2021 because COVID ruined his already vulnerable business, as he sold the hats for only about 110€, plus the bowlers are by default less popular than the fedoras or homburgs that other hatters in the city are making.
Thank you Preston, and all involved at Gentlemen’s Gazette for an informative episode on one of my favorite hat styles. I have several in my collection - some vintage others custom made. I appreciate seeing other folks enjoying and wearing and Derby/Bowler hat.
~Jed 🤠
Great job Preston.
Look, I like to go out at night and I want to keep my head warm.
What's a guy to do if he doesn't want to wear a baseball cap?
We mustn't forget Cousin Itt. I always wear a Christys' London black bowler. I wear it with absolute confidence and I always get compliments. It works great with formal wear; but I also wear it to rock concerts and gigs (just jeans and black shirt). The bowler is a very "cool" hat.
I was always curious about the bowler. Great video!
You see plenty of bowler wearing gentlemen around the 12th July. In Northern Ireland (in particular in the country) it is worn by members of the loyalist "Orange Order" during their parades.
I've got the Christy's woolfelt bowlerhat. I couldn't the furfelt one for a reasonable.
However the woolfelt Christy bowler hat is a very good quality hat stil. It has a nice leather band inside, satin interior. And most imporyantly it has the typical classic bowler hat shape! :)
My favorite style hat and part of my favorite Three Stooges joke
Judge - “Kindly speak English and drop the vernacular”
Curly - “Vernacular? That’s a derby!”
Judge - “Drop the vernacular!”
Curly - _drops derby_
Bowler hat is so much fancy unfortunetly they no more wear those
Its special banking hat
I have a Lock & Co extra stiff Coke hat. Every time I wear it I’m well dressed and I get far more comments on my hat than my suit and tie.
A side note regarding construction I learned when my hat was fitted by Lock & Co, at least my hat (I don’t know about the normal Coke hats) is made with a shellack shell on the inside and the felt outer and silk liner are covering that. Also, my hat has a very unique way of adjusting the hatband. It’s a piece of leather about 1.5 inches tall with a string woven through the upper part. You pull the ends of the string together and tie a bow in it to make the hat fit more snug, or slightly higher on your head.
The bowler was also worn by Alex and his Droogs in A Clockwork Orange.
I love classic hats but I really don’t feel that the bowler is timeless. You recently put a video out on ‘how to avoid looking like a costume’ and I feel the bowler hat screams ‘costume’ more than any other hat. Regardless of its history, the bowler hat became part of a very specific uniform for a very specific (upper) class of gentlemen working in the City of London, most probably as a banker, lawyer or clerk. By the 60s it was already considered archaic (as the frock coat was by the 30s) and today, nobody working in the City would be seen dead in one if they wanted to be taken seriously. This hat has a place for the dandy but in my opinion isn’t for a gentleman who works in an office environment. I think the fedora or even homburg are a much better option and more versatile.
Completely agree. I don't think it can be pulled off. The right guy with the right outfit can still get away with a fedora or a flat cap but bowlers are just too dated.
They should focus more on how to make modern hats into more formal or "gentlemanly" styles, like flat caps could be seen as the more formal version of baseball caps for instance
@@ichimaru96 Flat caps were golf hats, or New England boating caps. Never baseball.
@@Egilhelmson but what i mean is that styles have shifted and so the channel should potentially try and reflect that instead of trying to make bowler hats look good.
Flat caps in Britain are seen as either the farmer hat or the only fools and horses market hat, but they're the closest thing to a formal hat nowadays that doesn't look too out of place in comparison to something like a top hat or boater
Bowler hats and preston? Two of my favourite things
My son once made me attend to our chickens in a Bowler or "Melone" as we call it in Austria, simply because it looks nice.
Me and my fiancêe, Judy, yes she has the same name of the Zootopia main female character, and the same natural beautyful purple eyes, we are Pinkerton agents based in Aspen. Still today the biggest trademark of the Pinkerton National Detectives Agency after the silver badge is the Bowler hat.
Really? That’s your career? That’s very cool.
@@RateMyRestaurantYEG Thanks, and what a better place to wear fancy hats like Fedoras and Derbies than in one of the most luxuary places in the whole world? And in a profession that is most often associated to hats?
A bit embarrassing: Because of that hat „The Avengers“ German title was „Mit Schirm, Charme und Melone“. Melone (actually melon, like the fruit 🍉) is the German word for a bowler hat, so the whole thing translates into: „With Umbrella, Charme and Bowler Hat“. That was obviously to give the German audience a taste of British style. Remember, TV shows and movies get translated and overdubbed for German TV.
I've always wanted a bowler hat, ever since I was very young. I still want it, but where do I buy one of good quality today?
Excellent material, as always!
The “I'll have 2 number nines, a number nine large, a number six with extra dip, one with cheese, and a large soda” hat
Sorry for ignorance, but I'm Italian and some terminology is difficult for me, so, "fur felt" is the lapin?? In Italian there isn't a word for this particular felt like "feltro di lana" for wool felt, GRAZIE!!!!
PS: your video are always useful!!!
What's not to love about bowler hats? They look great with my stroller, of which I usually pair with light-grey twill or cashmere-striped trousers. The bowler contrasts nicer with the cashmere-stripes in my opinion, but still looks pretty smart with the solid grey trousers nonetheless. Having a bowler is a great investment for your wardrobe since it's practical (can be worn for formal occasions, with everyday business attire and maybe even certain types of smart casual outfits if you're daring) and you'll look sharp too. It's a shame men stopped wearing hats, but on the other hand, you'll probably get lots of compliments if you do wear a more traditional hat style. A bowler will definitely bring many compliments even if you're not dressing it up as much as it could. Thanks for the informative video, your content is always a joy to watch. It makes me happy to see that traditional menswear will continue to live on, especially since my generation keeps getting more casual and can't wear suits, let alone a dress shirt correctly.
Edit: Fixed Grammar
Detachable collar boi, I agree. Men are way too casual these days. I still wear a fedora but only with a leather jacket, with no suit in the fall weather, as an Indiana Jones kind of look. Sometimes I wear the brim up too.
@@sonnycorleone3251 Nice, that sounds classic. A fedora or a bowler are my goto everyday hats. I agree with you about how casual it's gotten the last few years. My peers and colleagues all seem to gravitate to jeans, track pants or hoodies. Sport coats count as "formal" according to them lol
@@TheRefinedGentleman Yes, Even some guests at weddings and funerals I see guys toooo casually dressed. I think dressed down Fridays brought everything down to eventually all week casual basically. Too bad. All the best to you!
@@sonnycorleone3251 Yeah pretty much, seems like most things mainstream these days are "comfy." Regarding funerals, if it's too casual it's plain disrespectful to the deceased. Thank you, may your sartorial journey be fulfilling!
Other than fancy dress / theme parties, when would anyone dress this way? I've only ever seen them in period movies...
These people who run this channel seem to like to casually dress this way, and don’t fear judgement, very confident elegant and classy if I say so myself
A note, if I may. You can 'tough it up' a bit and wear it with a Crombie overcoat, jeans, boots and braces, and a nice black or plain white Ben Sherman, or similar. Looks top notch, and you could wear the ensemble in a London pub, neck a pint, and still look spiffy. Best regards, X
I think tilting it at an angle/to a side it's called a specific tilt? The "Irish Tilt" perhaps?
I used to wear a wool felt bowler that my father bought for my 21st birthday. Sadly though, it fell victim to a hot car and now it doesn't fit right. I'm currently trying to figure out how to restore it to its original shape. This was a great video as always, gentlemen!
good luck buddy 👍
Steam will usually do the trick. The idea is to expose the hat to a steam source for long enough so the hat softens and becomes pliable. Let the hat sit for a few minutes so the steam dries. It should go back to its original shape. If not, you might need to resteam and adjust the shape manually. Alternatively, a hatter can reshape and reblock the hat if necessary
I enjoy this channel...I subscribe to this channel...but seriously a bowler? Who would actually wear one today? You've got to be kidding.
In the UK...
I wanna take this seriously but I have seen your idea of top hats and I wanna trust you….
Leicester is pronounced "Lester" 🙏
The English language is weird and wonderful thing
Joys of British-English language right?? 😃
@@istvantoth7431 it's a weird language
@@RichMitch nah, can't beat Welsh..
I thought Luton, Bedfordshire was the hat centre of the world? I'll be on the lookout for a vintage Lock bowler though.
Finally. It is here, I can die peacefully now.
About the retailers, what about 'Stetson', is that a good one?
Props to those who can pull off this hat. It doesn't work on me. I'll stick to fedoras.
Yes,these are a very hat if not combined very goodly,fedora is more forgiveable,and flat cap is more safer
Fedoras are fine. Wore them for years before going to akubra. It's wearing out now so I'll go for a bowler next I think.
@@heinzguderianbutmoreyounge9659 Agreed, I have many flat caps as well
@@dcarbs2979 I have a tawny Stylemaster, great hat.
@@dcarbs2979 get a Federation IV from the Hattery/Hats Direct.
Here in Germany, hats with feathers are also not so common, but you can see feathers at traditional huntsmans hats or at ,native dress( Trachten) hats.
The bowler is also THE standard hat of the Viennese city coachmen ("Fiaker").
Best regards from Vienna, Austria!
you know, if a drop in quality is the price to pay for more hatters to not get poisoned with mercuty, im more than happy to pay that price
Feels good here. This is a good channel. 🙂
Can u please do a video on what to wear to prom?
Fascinating history. It certainly wasn't a design made for sun shading, but in cooler outdoor environs it would be better than a bare noggin.
Love bowler hats. Looking at purchasing one actually. 😊
I have a question. Would a bowler hat be comparable in formality to the homburg or the straw boater? I prefer the style of the bowler to the homburg and I am wondering if i may use it in a black tie or a wedding style ensemble. Thank you in advance.
Yes, Bowlers (at least black ones) reach to semi-formal level with the Homburg and Boaters. I've only ever seen them in person with semi-formal daywear, but they should be acceptable with black tie.
A black bowler is acceptable for lounge suits or semi-formal daywear. A black homburg can be applied in the same way as a black bowler, but is the preferred choice for semi-formal eveningwear. A boater may be worn for semi-formal daywear or eveningwear, provided it's in the summertime.
Wouldn’t you say that this type of hat is quite outdated, unless you are talking about very specific situations that still uses classic/old traditions off dress? Like wearing this type of hat with a suit (like presented in the video) wouldn’t it stick out like a sore thumb? Making it look more costume than elegant.
I like bowler hats with a smaller crown and the Brim dipped down at the front and worn on a slight angle
I have 3: a Grey, a black, and a tan
Am I right in thinking that top hats were not just for style, it was the lower classes originally that had issues with the ruling landowners, and they would normally doff their caps, so they wanted to show they were no longer doing that so a conspicuous hat was needed, or is that just urban myth?
My dad gave me his vintage bowler hat years ago - it’s nice to get some ideas of how to wear it outside of Halloween costumes!
A man wearing a bowler hat in 2021?
Might as well wear a codpiece
Can you suggest the perfect outfit to wear to a horse race....something suitable for the Kentucky derby that would make all attendees look and say "now thats a mans man!"
I would imagine a nice tweed three piece suit would look dapper. That’s what I’m looking at getting made for this summer’s races up here in Canada. I have a beautiful brown bowler and a brown Trilby for the occasion. Remember the British saying “no brown in town”
Can you make video about bicorne or top hat?
Dum Dum Dugan has been wearing a bowler with corporal stripes since his first appearance with Nick Fury in 1963.
Does anyone know about these hats? Agnoulita Coke | Custom Handmade Rabbit Fur Felt Bowler Hat.. wondering if this would be any good?
What goes with the bowler hat? A cigar.
LOL I love the bowler and honestly the first time I wore one was for my Alex Delarge costume for Halloween one year. After that it sat in a closet at parents house for almost 30yrs. Its a cheap hat but a genuine bowler. I bought it from a second hand store in the DFW area. It cleans up well enough for costumes but I would never pair it with an overcoat, which is the way I prefer to wear mine now. Usually pair it with my Crombie some nice Sta-Prest trousers and a nice pair of brogues.
I have a hat that says it is from Christy's London. After watching some videos about the making of their hats, I am not so sure it really is. Mine is Bowler shaped, but not stiff. There is no ridge around the edge, and no silk lining; just a round insignia covered by plastic. It is sewn, not glued, and says it is a size 7 or 57. The ribbon around the outside is tack sewn on. Does anyone know what I have?
Is wearing the antique Bowler hate made in France 1900 Stetson,?
I've been trying to find a decent new grey bowler with black band, and your recommendations from your site only carry all black. Do you have any recommendations on where to look for something like this? I really appreciate the info.
An old English book of etiquette I found suggested wearing a grey bowler with a stroller/black lounge suit as an alternative to black. Historically, grey hats would've been worn in the summer before straw hats were really a thing. Imo, a grey hat can really soften the look of an overall dark ensemble, or even look nice as a spring hat right before the transition into straw hats. Best to stick with a black bowler if you're wearing something more formal. You can find them vintage. For brand new, to my knowledge, Ascot Top Hats out of the UK sells a "grey" (looks more like grey-brown from the photos) Christy's bowler, but it's only available in wool felt rather than fur felt.