Hat Update + Last-Minute Homework

Let's cut to the chase: the Amazon bowler hat goes back from whence it came.

I swung by J.J. Hat Center yesterday afternoon to try on some bowlers in person. The first (of two) was $185 (a Selentino) -- very nice but out of my budget; the second was by Capas and $85.

The cheaper hat was wool felt as opposed to fur felt. Apparently wool felt hats don't hold their shape as well over the long haul, so if I really see myself wearing a bowler a lot, I should go for fur felt. I tried on a few different sizes but, as one or two of you said yesterday, my head shape is better suited to a "long oval" bowler, which apparently is no longer manufactured, though they do turn up from time to time on eBay. The problem is the shape of my head, particularly the front, which isn't round enough for the classic bowler shape to fit perfectly, even when the size is right. That said, at the store they can do some things to help it fit better.

Lest you think all I do is think about hats all day, I also ventured over to Dover Street Market again (where I first saw that "Home Sewing is Easy" shirt -- still there in all its $188 glory). I love this store, which is filled with the most incredible avant garde fashion. I finally tried on some Comme des Garcons culottes and drop-crotch pants and now covet both big time. At $245 each, however (from their cheapest line, Black), those garments are just going to have to wait to be knocked-off -- my next project, perhaps.

Even if you don't buy anything (and there didn't seem to be much plastic changing hands yesterday), Dover Street Market is a great place for inspiration.

Like this shirt:

It's a synthetic (nylon?) floral print overlaid with black mesh and would be very easy to copy.

In other news, I left my Menswear Sewing class homework for the last minute as usual. What's worse, I did it all here, on my home machine. I know it sounds like a cinch to hop over to FIT since I live three blacks away, but I'm only three feet from my Kenmore sewing machine, and just a bit more than that from the KITCHEN.

For today's class we had to cut sleeves and sleeve plackets from the cotton shirting we've chosen for our final shirt, and make cuffs and collar. I used fabric from my stash. I don't have enough of it to make a whole shirt, so I'll use these pieces for something else and when I find shirting I want to use for my final shirt, I'll start over again.

I bought that floral cotton voile from Metro Textiles years ago, and while it's pretty from close-up, from far away it reads muddy. I've only ever used it to make boxer shorts.

Finally, Michael had a pair of Levi's 501's he wanted to get rid of -- he says they look like Mom jeans on him. I tried them on and they fit me, but it has been years since I've worn RTW jeans and I was so surprised at how baggy they were compared to the jeans I make for myself. The back rise, in particular, is inches higher than my version(s), but quite comfortable when you bend over or sit on a bike seat. I hate the riding-down feeling on the back waist of a pair of low-slung men's pants. Maybe it's time to make myself some Mom jeans!

Is it time to revive high-waisted pants?

Have a great day, everybody!