Dress Around Your Hat This Easter

Of course, you should dress around your hat every day of the year, not just special occasions like Easter. It simply makes good sense. There’s an article in HatLife.com that reads, in part:

A hat is just about the most visible item of clothing you’ll ever wear.

Whereas odd socks will do only limited damage to your overall “look”, the wrong hat will render ridiculous even the most expensive designer get up.

In the past, I’ve given some thought to dressing hat first. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to get past that “naked in a hat” thing and keep losing track of exactly what it is I’m supposed to be doing.

Do remember, though, not to attempt pulling on a t shirt or sweater over your hat. Geez, it took me forever to get out of that one. Thank goodness I was in a crushable hat, otherwise it would have been all over for that little guy.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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An Easter Bonnet Can Tame Even The Wildest Hare

HARE, get it? Oh, yeah, that’s funny! And there’s a lot more where that came from over at Easter Bunny Wisdom.

Another bit of bunny business is “Some body parts should be floppy.”

Really, I’m killing myself here.

But getting back to the business at hand, I may have actually chosen my Easter bonnet – er, hat. After yesterday’s post, I knew it was decision-making time. So I used this internet-based focus-therapy game to regain a modicum of concentration. (By the way, were you aware that South American Ameraucana and Araucan chickens can lay eggs that are green, blue, or pinkish in color?).

Anyway, I’ve decided to go with the color of Easter in the incredible Borsalino straw shown here.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Did You Get Your Easter Hat Yet?

Easter’s coming up pretty fast, with Easter Sunday falling on April 8th this year. Where does the time go? The stores have been crammed with bunnies and chocolates, colored eggs and baskets for days now.

Did you get your Easter hat yet?

A hat is one of the only items in a man’s wardrobe where there’s truly a myriad of choice available. And it’s making me miserable.

I mean the Borsalino fedora shown here is a real beaut, and I’m partial to the texture of raffia weave. But then I feel really sorry for all the rest of the hats that won’t be on my head this Easter. Wonderful hats just sitting there…headless…and I start to question my choice.

Like, I wonder why I didn’t choose the snappy Henschel woven toyo, called the Downer High Roller. It’s got a great pinch front and I like the self trim. Or maybe the Jamaican from Scala, a very affordable Grade 3 Panama with an expensive, sophisticated look.

By the way, I have the real answer to why two heads are better than one.

Exactly.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Zen In A Hat

Today’s Daily Motivator reads:

‘Calm and effective’

When you are at your busiest, when you are overwhelmed with things to do, when the pace is getting more frenzied by the moment, that is when an attitude of calm relaxation can do you the most good. Stepping back and calming down will actually move you ahead more effectively than nervous, anxious energy.

. . . don’t get in such a rush that you waste most of your energy fighting against yourself. Produce results rather than just activity. Instead of just being busy, be effective. Spend your energy on achievement rather than on nervousness.

I knew this of course. When life gets wild, I stick on my hat and zen right in on the tasks at hand. Then I go outside and play. Hard.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Top Men’s Hats in Different Price Categories

Well, well, well. I’ve been asked to make a decision. A customer called for a couple of recommendations on the best hats in various price ranges. Didn’t mention a style, mind you – didn’t ask me for the best cowboy hat under $50 (Toby Keith) or the best Panama hat under $700 (The Montecristi Classic).

Nope, this guy wants an general recommendation.

So I start low, thinking that there are fewer items in that category, which should make the choice easier. I begin with the $25 Scala Ascot Ivy Cap in twisted seagrass, and The Chad, a $30 cotton ivy dress cap. And then I stop. Why?

Because in all good conscience, I can’t recommend one cap over the other any more than you can tell your kid that you like your other kid better. This ain’t just apples and oranges here, folks.

Of course, I didn’t blow the guy off completely. I told him that there’s simply no choice to be made, now that I’ve got the best Montecristi Panama hat in the world in my (gloved) hands. His reaction was fantastic. He heard the price and simply fainted away.

Thanks for playing,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Keeping It Simple In My Hat

Are you instantly accessible to everyone or do you sometimes disconnect? I like this quote from Mitch Hedberg, a comedian who died way too young a few years back, who said:

I don’t own a cell phone or a pager. I just hang around everyone I know, all the time. If someone wants to get a hold of me, they just say ‘Mitch,’ and I say ‘what?‘ and turn my head slightly.

Most people I know are of the same mind-set and highly value their limited amount of private time. Like attracts like, perhaps. It’s funny, I suppose then, that most all of us wear hats too.

I can’t think that the hat acts as a shield, as much as it’s simply the chosen accoutrement for people truly comfortable in their own skin; for those who are individualistic enough to make a statement, and self-confident enough to want to stand out and draw attention.

What hat are you wearing today?

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Demand is Up for Hat Industry Worldwide

More reasons for hat makers and retailers to celebrate (besides their innate good looks when modeling their own products). Another voice from that wilderness called The Fashion World claims this year to be an imminent millinery moment.

Patricia Lerat, organizer of the French accessories exhibition Première Classe held earlier this month, says that “the [hat] market used to be about formal occasion wear, but in the past couple of years there has been a move towards urban and sports.”

The International Herald Tribune article (From New York to Tokyo, Hats Make a Quiet Comeback) quotes a report from Mintel, a consumer marketing group, which agrees that “most growth has been in casual headgear, as opposed to formal hats” and also cites a Fashion Accessories Retailing report from last year which identified an upturn in sales to the tune of 21 percent over the period from 2000 to 2005.

Most interesting, though, is hat maker Philip Treacy’s observation that beyond Britain, “trends are country specific. In Japan, there has been a massive increase in the young trendier market,” he says, “while in Russia there has been a massive increase in spending across the market due to a massive increase in spending power.”

A colleague agreed with him, saying “we all need the Japanese because they probably wear the most hats. Of all the countries, Japan has the longest tradition of wearing hats in winter and in summer to shade women’s skin because their idea of beauty is to keep faces pale.”

When you read country or culture-specific trends like that, you’ve got to wonder what other businesses might be on the rise or decline–all completely unrelated as to what’s going on here at home. There’s a deep thought in here somewhere, but it escapes me now.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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We Don’t Recognize You Without Your Hat, Sir

Jack Perkins, host of the TV show A Gulf Coast Journal with Jack Perkins, in Florida, says that people tell him they don’t recognize him without his hat. It’s true Mr. Perkins wears a hat (mainly for sun protection because the program is taped outdoors); however, he does admit on his blog entry that

people who say they don’t recognize me “without your hat” underestimate the collection. There are baseball caps, of course. (Not neatly arrayed on the back shelf of the car for people following to admire, as is the Florida wont.) And western hats, cowboy hats, Stetson, Resistol. Florida straws, Australian bush hats. Tilley Endurables.

I never fancied collecting stamps or coins or barbed wire, but I do enjoy collecting a few serviceable hats.

Seems that Mr. Perkins won’t be in a “three thousand dollar Montecristi” until he finds “a way to put new hats on the expense account.”

Mr. Perkins, you’re some smart man. With or without that hat.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Sheryl Crow Says Real Cowboys Wear Pink Cowboy Hats

Amid cheers at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show last week, Sheryl Crow (whose romance with Austin native Lance Armstrong ended a year ago) told the audience: “My sister said I needed to come out here and just say it: I’m looking for a cowboy. I’m not giving up on Texas – yet.” She then launched into her hit Are You Strong Enough to Be My Man, hollering mid-way through “Anybody up for the job?“

The People magazine article entitled Sheryl Crow: I’m Looking For A Cowboy went on to say that the event

had a Paint the Rodeo Pink theme in honor of the battle against breast cancer. Vendors sold pink cowboy hats with awareness ribbons on the brim – and Crow [a breast cancer survivor] urged the audience to join the fight. “We appreciate you wearing your pink,” she said. “I know cowboys don’t normally wear pink – but real cowboys can get away with it.“

I’ve liked this feisty singer for ages, and my respect for her has grown over the years. Sheryl Crow, I’ll wear my pink cowboy hat for you any time, anywhere.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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Passion Equals Productivity

Zen Habits blog writer, Leo, gives productivity tips including the advice that to be productive, do something you’re passionate about. He reasons:

if you really want to do something, you’ll work like hell to get it done. You’ll work extra hard, you’ll put in even more hours, and you’re less likely to procrastinate. It’s for work that you don’t really care about that you procrastinate.

He’s right on the money about that and goes on to suggest ways to get that dream job.

I’d add to his list that you may need to try several different jobs on for size–many of us tend to fall into what we’re doing by chance, and are lucky enough to end up loving it. Who knows? You might start with a humble kitchen make-over, and end up discovering that home renovations and flipping real estate is a creative and exciting (and lucrative) career.

If you’re really fortunate, you’ll end up travelling the world, meeting artisans and writers, heads of production and marketing gurus, country singers and media moguls.

You might even end up with lots of free hats.

Thanks for reading,
Steve Singer
CEO Hartford York

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