Tuesday 11 June 2013

The Bowler hat - dress like a London City Gent

The bowler hat is one of those accessories in a man's wardrobe I do associate with London, for it was In London the hat was invented. It is being said that James Lock & Co, were commissioned to come up with a more day to day work hat, which would be an alternative to the top hat used back then. But a long story short, James Lock & Co subcontracted the task to a pair of hat makers named Thomas & William Bowler to make the hat, thereof the name "bowler" hat.

Sadly these days these hats "bowlers" are rare and if worn, the gents will be from the Conservative side of the political spectra and of a matured age. In my humble opinion, the bowler must be a staple hat gear for any gent that cares about his looks.

The below pictures do really depict that a bowler makes a gent look good and distinguished, classical, stylish and immaculately dressed and a piece of clothing that is linked to the City of London and adds that dash of English gentry.

An illustration of an English gent in a peaked lapel single breasted suit, stripped shirting, tie, pocket square, furled umbrella under armpit, bowler and holding gloves. Very elegant illustration of a London City gent.

A London City gent in a blue pin stripped suit, well knotted tie, boutonniere, furled umbrella, the bowler as an essential part of the dressing code and paired with black Oxfords.
Cassius Clay aka "Mohammed Ali" as a London City gent, in a stroller set, dark jacket and stripped trousers, double breasted grey waistcoat, white shirting, boutonniere, tie and the unmistakable bowler hat, furled umbrella and black shoes covered with grey spats. Very elegant photo of Mr. Cassius Clay "Mohammed Ali" as a London Conservative City Gent, he could have also went as a London City banker or a "diplomat". Very classic. 
A London City Gent (banker perhaps) in a suiting, tie, umbrella and the bowler hat.
 An elderly London City gent striding in a Chesterfield coat, grey trousers, umbrella and the bowler hat.
A London City Gent inspecting some high technical "thing", dressed in a double breasted suiting, crisp white shirt, a tie and linked to the London city by the bowler hat and the umbrella.
 An elderly gent in a tube, wearing a bowler hat and reading his newspaper.
An elderly London City gent standing and observing something/someone in a Chesterfield over coat, white shirt, instead of the umbrella he has a cane and topped it off with the bowler and top well shined Oxford shoes or Balmoral boots. So London like.
London City gents, in sharp three piece suitings, crisp white shirts, ties, bowler and Homborg hats, furled umbrellas. Look at the spit shined Oxfords. 
No need to introduce the below blue blooded gent, in a grey double breasted suiting, crisp white shirt, regimental tie, furled umbrella and a bowler hat.
HRH Crown Prince William and HRH Prince Harry, the former in a grey two button single breasted suit, crisp white shirt, regimental tie and the bowler. His younger brother in a navy blue double breasted suit, crisp white shirt, furled umbrella and a bowler hat. I am missing the pocket squares on both royalties and a touch of boutonniere.
A very serious look from this London City gent in a double breasted jacket, white shirting a tie and the bowler hat.
Photos sourced from Style Forum, AAAC and other cyber sources

14 comments:

  1. I believe in the top illustration, the gent is wearing a "Lord's" hat, sort of a less formal homburg

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi NCJack,

    Thanks for being so eagle eyed, true that the illustration (which I have now replaced) with the appropriate was depicting a City Gent wearing a Homborg hat. Apologies for the mishap and thanks to you attentive to details.

    Have a pleasant day Sir.

    Best regards

    The Shoe Aristo Cat

    ReplyDelete
  3. Replies
    1. Hi The Blogs I am following,

      Yes, I did realise that blunder as the English Royals line of succession is not that simple. So I will omit the Crown Prince salutation from now onwards.

      Thanks for making me aware of that blunder.

      Have a pleasant weekend.

      The Shoe Aristo Cat

      Delete
  4. Prince William Duke of Cambridge is no Crown Prince, even his father Prince Charles Prince of Wales is no Crown Prince, since he is no son of a king or a queen when he was born as His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh. On 26 July 1958 – present: he became His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. William is second in the line of succession, behind his father.

    The Queen was princess "Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh" when Prince Charles was born, and the queen was heir apparent or heiress to the throne when Prince Charles was born.

    A Crown Prince is the son of a king or a queen, like Princess Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland.

    Greetings Hubert Staudenmaier

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous - Hubert Staudenmaier,

      Thanks for the appropriate salutation of the English Royals. I have noted down the correct salutation of the English Royals and will in the future refer to your appropriate salutation.

      Have a pleasant weekend Sir.

      Regards

      The Shoe Aristo Cat

      Delete
  5. Dear AristoCat.
    I just Wonder if everything is fine with you? You didn't post anything in a long time now.

    Hope that you will soon be back.
    Best regards.
    Ekaterina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Madame Ekaterina,

      Thanks for your concerns, I am fine, I am away but will be back soon. I have a little detour currently and will be posting as soon as possible.

      Have a pleasant weekend.

      Best regards

      The Shoe Aristo Cat

      Delete
    2. Good to know that you are fine. Its good to have you back.

      Best wishes from CPH
      Ekaterina

      Delete
    3. Madame Ekaterina,

      I will be back very soon. Just a few more days of a detour and all will be back in motion, a steady flow of updating the blog and more.

      Have a pleasant evening/night

      Best regards
      The Shoe Aristo Cat

      Delete
  6. While our gent blogger takes a hiatus... Why don't we discuss .. If we could buy one shoe... Bespoke, rtw anything ... What would it look like? Who makes it? I'll put some thought into it and get back... Feel free to fire away folks..!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Brad,

    I appreciate the challenge you set up for the other blog followers/readers. Hopefully some readers will take you on that. Looking forward to the response to your thoughts and challenge.

    Have a pleasant weekend.

    Best regards
    The Shoe Aristo Cat

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great blog.

    However, I believe that the "London City Gent inspecting some high technical "thing", dressed in a double breasted suiting, crisp white shirt, a tie and linked to the London city by the bowler hat and the umbrella" is actually Edward VIII.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Edward VIII? Doesn't look like it to me. Nose seems a bit too big.

      Delete