JAN- JAN VAN ESSCHE- 2012 PARIS SHOWROOM

I just received some pics of Jan- Jan Van Essche's showroom in Paris for the presentation of SATTA AMASSAGANA. Unfortunately, I could not go but I will soon post an interview with Jan- Jan about his work.

NEW OBSESSION- AMISH HATS AND FEDORAS

Actually it is ridiculous- but fashion is and must be ridiculous to a certain extent. Summer has not really started and I am already can not wait for winter. Maybe there are just more possibilities in men fashion during winter times? Summer is usually just a t-shirt and a short and some sandals. And I hardly can wear my favourite accessory- the hat. This time round I'm especially fascinated by Dior Homme AW11 shows. I'm crazy about their Amish hats. The clothes are typically VanAssche- simple-elegant and monochrome but always with an interesting twist. This time round he seduces us with religion- sort of. The trilby is around for quite a while now but somehow I started craving for something more of a 'statement hat' and found the fedora.

The word fedora comes from the title of an 1882 play, Fedora written for Sarah Bernhardt. Bernhardt plays Princess Fedora, the heroine in the pa lay wore a hat similar to what is now considered a fedora. The fedora became a female fashion which lasted into the early part of the 20th century. When the fedora became a male fashion item, it was popular in cities for its stylishness but also for its practicality, its ability to protect the wearer's head from the wind and weather.

The poet Walt Whitman with a fedora style hat in the 19th century 

Since the early part of the 20th century, many Orthodox Jews have worn black fedoras and continue to this day. The hat is also often associated with Prohibition, Great Depression-era gangsters and the detectives. Popular stars in the 1950 like Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra wore fedoras. And of course in Hollywood movies of the 1940's, characters often wore fedoras together with a trench coat. Think of Humphrey Bogart in the famous film ' Casablanca'.  

The Beatles cover shoot for the album ' Hey Jude' sporting both an Amish style and fedora style hat in the late 1960's

During the 1970's the fedora became an unpopular style worn only by older man. But the 1980's saw a revival by singers like Micheal Jackson. In the 2000's trilby, similar to the fedora just with a narrow brim, because of it vintage appeal came into fashion again and now we have Dior picking up again on the broader brim version of the fedora- Amish hat for it's AW11 collection.

All  pictures above Dior Homme AW11 

The broad brim gives the look something very aristocratic and elegant. It is a great alternative for the a bit ' last season' trilby and to the comfy woolen beanie hat. This style is something for the more advanced and brave fashionisto with a artistic tendency. I hope you like my new obsession. I will definitely sport either a fedora or an Amish hat this winter for sure. So let the snow drops fall. My hat and my shoulders will stay dry! 
Enjoy the summer- The Fashion Philosopher