The London Lounge

Gents,

I'm off on a field trip to India in the name of scientific medicine in July and August of this year and am contemplating taking a hat with me. I want to avoid wearing a panama - is there anything you would suggest?

Best wishes,

Spinola

Hmmm . . . a solar topee?

Nature has already provided me with one of those!

BenedictSpinola wrote:Gents,

I'm off on a field trip to India in the name of scientific medicine in July and August of this year and am contemplating taking a hat with me. I want to avoid wearing a panama - is there anything you would suggest?

Best wishes,

Spinola

How about a linen cap?

Available soon in LL Limited Editions. Details to follow.

Most of India in July and August will be hot (>40 degrees Centigrade), wet and very humid. The best hat for these conditions is something like a floppy hat (for you cricket aficionados here, something quite like what Sunil Gavaskar wore to the crease). It would be great if you can get such a hat in linen or some breathable yet water resistant material (Ventile hats at safari clothing stores). A floppy hat will be cooler than a linen cap because there is a little room between your scalp and the roof of the hat allowing the air to circulate. Other than that just remember to drink lots of liquids -- the incidences of heat strokes in these months are remarkably high.

Today I visited David Saxby's excellent shop in my search of a suitable hat. I found the perfect hat for my trip - lightweigth crushable felt, made in Italy. Mr. Saxby had two sample hats in stock (as his supplier is a little slow in delivering items). Neither sample was the correct size. I could order, but it would take 3 months (and I'll be back in Europe by then).