Wear a Hat – Eat Less Fat

For the best protection under the sun from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, you already know how to look good in a hat.

At MSNBC.com, Karen Collins says you can do even more: by limiting alcohol consumption and the amount of fat in your diet, you may also lower your risk of getting skin cancer — a disease which now affects one out of every five Americans.

High-fat diets may increase cancer risk by suppressing the immune system, according to some evidence. Polyunsaturated fats, such as most vegetable oils, may pose the biggest risk.

Excess alcohol has been linked with greater risk of melanoma skin cancers by some researchers. In one study, those who drank the most alcohol had 65 percent greater risk of melanoma than those who drank the least.

Well, I’m off to the yard again – hat firmly on, body glistening in 90 SPF sunscreen lotion, leafy green vegetables in hand, to sit under a tree, sip lemonade and calculate projectile paths on those new-fangled bits of July 4th dynamite pieces I just bought. They should bring down the house!

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Dirty Baseball Caps

No, not rude baseball caps (that’s for another time).

Sweaty, and grimy – how do you wash your favorite baseball cap?

At wikihow.com, there’s a method to this particular madness–and I’ve added a few touches of my own billiance for your reading pleasure:

1. buy and install a dishwasher;
2. look for and obtain a baseball cap mold—if you’re against theft, try a sporting goods store;
3. place hat on mold;
4. insert into empty dishwasher – encrusted lasagna dishes are NOT good company;
5. turn OFF “heat dry” cycle;
6. add small amount liquid dishwasher soap;
7. run the dishwasher on the normal cycle.

And that’s it! Your baseball cap’s all done.

By the way, there’s no way I’m trying this on my favorite collection of caps, so could you be a friend and let me know how it goes?

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

categories:hats women’s hats men’s hats

Big Hats for High Altitudes

For those of you who live in high altitude places like Denver (it’s not called the “Mile-High City” for nuthin’), you need to remember that you face increased levels of year-round UV exposure risks.

Look for events like Denver’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival, (July 1-3, 2006) where dermatologists provide free skin screenings and assessments, with educational materials and sunscreen giveaways.

And – please – wear your hat.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

categories:hats women’s hats men’s hats

Rocks in My Hat

I was corralled into entertaining the rug-rats yesterday (happens to the best of us), and found yet another use for my lid.

Took the brood rock-collecting at a nearby beach: I was the command center in my collapsible camping chair, looking in peak physical condition I must say, topped to perfection in my Everest hat.

Kids being what they are, we had 2.78 tons too many rocks for our sacks. Never one for tears, I wiped my cheeks, took off my hat, stuffed that baby and saved the day.

Power to the mommies!

(thanks for reading)
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

categories:hats women’s hats men’s hats

Quiz: Name the ‘King of Cowboy Hats’

If you didn’t say Stetson, go directly to jail. Do not pass go. And don’t even THINK about picking up that spending money.

E v e r y b o d y pictures cowboys when they hear the Stetson name – although of course even cops have incorporated the hat into their uniforms.

A Political Gateway article (Stetson Still The Hat Of The American West) cites that “law enforcement units [that use cowboy] hats include the Texas Rangers and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, whose red dress uniform includes a brown, flat-brimmed Stetson.”

What’s behind the enduring popularity of this American icon, this “grandiose, utilitarian trademark of the West”?

In addition to lifestyle (rodeo people, ranchers and Western businessmen) and pop culture influences (Toby Keith and Brokeback Mountain most immediately come to mind), Stetson spokesman Matthew Ranch says: “I think they add a bit of civility to society. Certainly more civility than a baseball cap ever would.“

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
The Extremely Civilized
CEO of Hartford York

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One Man’s Fedora

In his blog David McCreath, a web developer who lives in Anchorage, Alaska, asks the question currently reverberating around the country:

Can a well-dressed, semi-fashionable man…wear something like a fedora as part of his everyday outfit successfully?

Seems that David loves fedoras (as do all real men) but is worried about not appearing natural in one. He says: I’m not trying to make statement or be “out there”; I just want a nice hat.

What I usually tell guys who are a little hesitant about moving from baseball caps to a more sophisticated look is to start by simply wearing a casual straw fedora to the beach or outdoor concert in the park. You’ll fit in with everyone else and (more importantly) you’ll start getting comfortable with your new look.

Once you’ve conquered the straw, move on to one of the less formal fur or wool felt fedoras – especially apropos come the cooler, wet days of autumn.

Basically, dress for the weather initially — pretty soon, you’ll be so comfortable in hats that you’ll be wearing them without second-guessing yourself and you will feel undressed without one.

Fellow fedora fan,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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The Devil Wears Prada

I honestly can’t wait to see Lauren Weisberger’s bestselling novel on the big screen. It’s not the story so much (well, at all really) as it is (1) Meryl Streep – no explanation necessary; and (2) Patricia Field, the movie’s costume designer (explanation to follow).

Patricia Field—you may know her as the “trendsetting costume designer of Sex and the City, [who] made women all over America want to ditch their jeans and get dressed up to go out”—is basically a soul-mate of mine, who says her “aesthetic is influenced less by current designers than by classic movies.”

In my dreams, the fashion world is more glamorous than it is. I’m very inspired by the extravagance of old Hollywood. I love to watch Fred Astaire. It’s all so gorgeous. Of course I know that was another time, but I always lean a bit in that direction, and what’s on-screen becomes hyper-reality. If it were up to me, I’d be putting gloves and hats on people all the time.

I need to watch a musical right now.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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The Color of Hats is Reggae

Shelah Moody’s article in the San Francisco Chronicle (Dread Threads: from rags to designer riches, reggae infuses fashion with rhythm) explores the reason for the popularity behind Caribbean-inspired colors in higher-end fashion.

She says “the green and yellow shades found on the Jamaican flag, and the familiar Rastafarian red, green and gold stripes” all go back to Bob Marley, wouldn’t ya know.

In the current fashion scene, there is a growing trend for individuality in clothing, so it is no surprise that reggae is now popular,” said Barbara Beccio, academic director of fashion design, marketing and management at the Art Institute of California-San Francisco. “Reggae music became popular in the late ’60s, early ’70s — a time when individual liberation and freedom were exemplified by protesting the Vietnam War, civil rights issues, women’s liberation and sexual freedom. Today, again, we’ve seen many war protests, concerns regarding immigration and issues regarding sexual choice. Individuality is again looked to as an inspiration, so it makes sense that the individual, peace and love of reggae’s beliefs is mirrored in today’s fashion.

My take on the whole movement mirrors that of neo-soul singer-songwriter Martin Luther’s: “I funk, therefore I am.”

Please, no applause.

(And thanks for reading)

Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Emotions in a Hat

Hair stylist to Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston and Madonna, Orlando Pita says his creative aim is to design so that the cut brings out the beauty of his client.

“Hair is attached to a person and is attached to a feeling,” he explains. “If I’m working with a client, I have to give the person what best suits them. I like to involve my clients. When I’m in the salon or when I’m at work, I wanna talk to people, I wanna communicate, I want to see what they feel.“

Hats do pretty much the same thing, in my opinion – our emotions are obviously involved on some level when deciding whether or not to buy or wear a hat: you have to decide if you like it and whether it suits the occasion.

Hats are also much more versatile than hairstyles: you can use them to hide or to call attention to yourself. By changing hats, you can move from retro to wild to classic. (And you don’t have to pay $800 a pop!)

Well, I’m off to choose my hat of the day. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Time for a Hat

From basic ball caps to custom-made panamas, a gift of shade nicely covers the gamut from yesterday’s Father’s Day (didn’t forget, dijya?) to just-because days.

Of Father’s Day, Honolulu Star writer, Jason Genegabus, calls it “…one of the most low-key holidays of the year.”

Most dads don’t want to get dressed up for a nice dinner. They would rather fire up the hibachi in the back yard and play with the kids than strap on an aloha shirt and endure a sit-down meal at a fancy restaurant.

I think that ‘spirit of simplicity’ pretty well represents the mind-set of most guys (no matter what day it is). It certainly fits in well with the one fashion accessory that some consider man’s best friend: a hat.

Different styles provide different perspectives at price points that range from just a few bucks to $100 or more. [Hats are] affordable, easy to take care of and reflect a wearer’s personality.

It could be an over-simplification, but I (simply) don’t think so.

Thanks for reading,
The Very Simple
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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