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