From Rude Boy Ska to Runway Couture

We've all seen the traditional rude boy ska style, whether your favorite bands include Reel Big Fish and The Specials or not. This fashion trend has been popular for years, but what you may not know is that this style is not just about thick rimmed glasses or thick sideburns; the essential accessory that adds the finishing touches to such a classic look is the pork pie hat.

And here's a bit of news that may shock some of you - this casual men's hat is now one of the hottest fashion must have accessories. As the models stepped out onto the runway earlier this year for a St. Louis fashion show, fashion headwear was the focus. Pork pie hats provide an ultra sleek, super cool runway couture look that can easily go from day to night.

Take it from Chris Meloni, star of Law & Order SVU, who recently attended a fashion show at Bryant Park wearing a stunning gray pork pie hat.

Still don't believe me? What if I told you this accessory has topped the head of soccer superstar David Beckham for a casual day of travel with his family?

What's more - trendy ladies have been seen stepping out in these typical men's hats. Fergie and Mischa Barton have been known to bend the rules before, so it's not surprising that they've added pork pie hats to their funky celeb style.

 

-Katie

Hats in the Belfry

www.hatsinthebelfry.com

The Best way to promote hats....

If you are reading this you probably have something to do with the hat business and are interested in promoting hat wearing. Please stop reading and put on a hat. Enjoy the compliments from your fellow citizen and rest easy knowing you did your part to promote hats. Repeat as needed until we elect a president who again wears a hat.

Yes, its just that easy.

THA Kicks off Annual "Hat Day in the Sun"

With 90 percent of all skin cancers caused by sun exposure, The Headwear Association (THA) is once again launching Hat Day in the Sun on Friday, June 19, 2009 to coincide with the first weekend of summer.

Hat Day in the Sun, an annual national public awareness campaign will educate adults and children about how the right hat can protect against skin cancer, premature skin damage and the advance aging process. To celebrate this event, THA members will be giving away free wide-brimmed sun-protection hats across the country as well as tips for sun protection.

“A hat with a wide brim along all sides of your head should offer good sun protection for your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck,” said David Goldman, president of The Headwear Association. "In the case of sun protection, a good hat should be both stylish and functional."

To be sure you are purchasing the right hat to protect against the harmful effects of the sun; The Headwear Association recommends the following tips:

Size - A hat with a minimum 2 ½” brim can provide adequate sun protection for the neck, face and ears.

Shape - Hat shapes that protect better against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) are ones that curve down to follow the contours of the head and neck.

Material - The material of a hat should be lightweight and breathable. Fabric should be a closed weave straw, raffia, cloth, or felt.

For more information about The Headwear Association or Hat Day in the Sun, please visit http://www.theheadwearassociation.org/ or call Susan Weiss, SWPR at 312-222-1337.

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