Homburg or Coke/Bowler Hat

[storeynicholas]

Couch - it is, probably, as you say, a flipped image as an Italian American of Al Pacino's generation would certainly know how to wear a hat. The last time that I wore a black homburg was to a funeral and I am not sure that I'd wear one otherwise. A grey one (certainly, Lock's do a light and a mid grey) is different. I'd also wear a coke/bowler only on a horse. One of the last times that I wore a black homburg in central London, I was eye-balled by an incredulous Jilly Cooper in Covent Garden and decided generally to shelve it. I think that black and grey snap-brim hats are fine for the city but I have friends who wear brown ones and even flat caps in St James's Street. I am constantly surprised that they are never struck by a thunderbolt.
NJS

[Simon A]

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[G Charles Blue]

Costume be damned, purchase and wear the one that suits you! I wear both a homburg and a coke often in San Francisco and Oakland, I am often smiled at by many and complimented by others. Paramount, it makes me feel good in the morning when I leave the house!

Best,

[Frederic Leighton]

This afternoon I came across two gentlemen in their early 60s wearing black fedora and black homburg. Their attire was otherwise casual; non-black suit and non-black overcoat. The brim of the homburg was slightly smaller than usual, which I found contributed to the man going totally unnoticed in the crowd of passengers along the stairs of Notting Hill Gate. Another fellow passenger spotted one hour later at London Bridge wearing black fedora and black overcoat; somehow an unexpectedly mournful vision under the artificial lights of the carriage. Colour, light, and their always interesting interactions.

[Dr T]

The last time I wore a bowler in London (this year) I was frequently stopped by Japanese tourists who politely but persistently wanted to have their photo taken with me. I have been to embarrassed to wear it since.

[SMCK]

I have been looking at this...seems to be a good comprimise between an Antony Eden and maybe a rapper sort of hat??
Have not actually examined it , only online...but am tempted.
Lapse of good taste..I wonder

I cant upload picture. Bates Hats Soft Homburg

[Frederic Leighton]

Bates Hats Soft Homburg

..."soft"? ...what do you mean... "soft"?

I had two 80-90 year old homburg hats that I used few times before selling; too wide brim for my small body. You could balance a full-sized Bible* over the hat without fear of damaging its shape; you could knock on it and the sound would be that of a door.

* Yes, Italian upbringing.

[Luca]

Nice pic, BTW. Who is it?

[Frederic Leighton]

Arturo Toscanini!

[Frederic Leighton]

Can't you read? The score demands con amore and what are you doing? You are playing it like married men!

[Dr T]

Arturo Toscanini!

Correction please -The great Arturo Toscanini

[Frederic Leighton]

I cant upload picture. Bates Hats Soft Homburg

Today, I spotted a man wearing a soft homburg in Ealing, the colour matching his camel overcoat. Very floppy brim and asymmetrical look, with ribbon and silk edge in the same colour; not from Bates. Quite an unusual, welcomed encounter.

[Jfrater]

I own and wear both but I definitely get more wear out of the bowler as it has a lower profile and seems to fit better with a greater variety of suits for me. I strongly recommend the bowler first then the homburg.

[Frederic Leighton]

I own and wear both but I definitely get more wear out of the bowler as it has a lower profile and seems to fit better with a greater variety of suits for me. I strongly recommend the bowler first then the homburg.

Outside the vintage clothing scene, I came across men in bowler hat only three times during my last five years in London: at Tower Hill Memorial for Remembrance Day (old man in bowler managing the ceremony), in the Cotswold (because of bowler hat and white apron, I assumed the big man was judge of the dog competition that was taking place around him) and in Notting Hill during the Summer of 2012 (I was wearing a boater hat and a man in bowler stopped to congratulate me; ...that was the last time I wore my boater).

I'm glad opportunities to wear less common hats are becoming more frequent (as I can tell from the number of homburg hats I'm spotting this Winter). I'd definitely love to see the bowler becoming an option once again, although this might take few more years of sartorial revolution.

How are you using it, Jfrater, and where? ...welcome to the London Lounge.

[uppercase]

It's probably true that bowlers and homburgs should only be worn by the locals.

They are so specific to Britain, so culturally linked to GB, that I would not venture into that territory.

It would be like me wearing ethnic dress from Uzbekistan, in Uzbekistan.
It doesn't work.

It would be like you wearing a keffiyeh in Lebanon.
It doesn't work.

It may be handsome dress, but again, best left to the locals.

Too local. Too ethnic.