Re: Hats?

[Donal Philby <donalphilby@earthlink.net>]

J. Redfern wrote:
> 
> >Excuse me.  I'm of the age (46) where we Don't Wear Hats unless in the military or the like.  What in the blazes is a 'Tilley hat'?
>   Otherwise known as "spot the american tourist hat" to those of us
> from the other side of the pond. ;>
>         Sturdy and practical they may be and always to be found advertised in the back of  grey power magazines but they look silly on anyone.
> "J"

No doubt about it, except why aren't they known as the Canadian tourist 
hat, since they originate there?

The Tilley hat and knockoffs are unusual these days, but do require that 
you know when to wear them.  I wear mine only on the water and 
backpacking.  I often wear a felt hat for everyday.  

To me, the silliest hat is the Baseball hat, especially for 
photographers, since they have to be turned backwards to use the camera 
vertically.  And for sailing you need a cord and clips to connect hat to 
jacket so it doesn't fall off in the wind and into the water, and when 
you turn the hat backwards to shoot, the cord gets all tangled.  If 
there is any "american Tourist" hat, surely the baseball cap is it.  It 
has absolutely no class at all.

I just wish I still had plenty of hair on top so a hat would not be so 
important against the sun.  

So "J," what is the best hat for a photographer that meets the standards 
of acceptance around the world and doesn't look silly??

Donal Philby
Sunny San Diego (where I went sailing yesterday in a T-shit)