Cowboy Hat Can Make a Dead Ringer or Be a Dead Giveaway
Top Heavy: Everybody thought the Urban Cowboy look died out with John Travolta’s pre-”Look Who’s Talking” career. Yet suddenly Western dressing is becoming popular again, getting as big as the grill of the lumber-carrying Kenworth closing in on your rear-view mirror.
You can get in on the trend without looking too much like a citified cowboy by getting a genuine cowboy hat. But to keep from getting laughed off the dance floor while doing the “Achy-Breaky,” you’d better know how to wear it like a real TNN viewer.
“It’s not uncommon to see people wearing hats on the back of their heads,” says Eric McConnele of the Boot Barn in Orange. “They’ll do that to keep their hair from getting too messed up, but it’s not the way a real cowboy would wear it.”
When putting on your Stetson, think of the way Clint Eastwood and Gary Cooper wore theirs--straight on top of their heads, pushed down just a little, with the brim at a 45-degree angle with their face. If you want to give it a more distinctive look, ask your local hat dealer to give it a steamed crease in the rodeo or rancho styles.
And remember, wearing your hat on the back of your head may make people think you’re from New York City . . . NEW YORK CITY!?.
Vice Squad: The old “Miami Vice” television show created several fashion trends around the country, but only one is still around, and it’s not the unshaved face look.
Throwing on a jacket over a T-shirt became part of that Don Johnson aura, and it was quickly acceptable dress when going to a nice restaurant, a hip bar or a drug bust. Today, there’s still a temptation to combine that jacket and T-shirt, but does the look still work?
“A lot depends on how comfortable you are wearing it,” says fashion designer Heather Parks-McCrae of Dana Point. “If you look like you’re fine with the outfit, that will be seen by others. It’s still a hip look with an unreconstructed jacket that can be used when you want to look a little more dressed up.”
Don’t make the mistake of wearing a standard sport coat, slacks and shoes with a T-shirt. The look goes better with jeans and maybe a casual leather moccasin, along with a hip jacket. Don’t forget the shades (and, of course, Melanie Griffith on your arm wouldn’t hurt either).
Bar Exam: About 10 years ago, they were the hot fashion accessory for every up and coming bond broker or developer. Collar bars that pinned both collars down and uplifted the tie made one look upright and successful. Companies often gave solid gold collar bars to top performers.
But as the economy became rockier, the gold bars were taken off; guys loosened their ties to work harder. Millions of bars are sitting in drawers with old cuff links, gathering dust. Should they stay in the dark?
“Collar bars are still OK, but they’re best in a formal business environment,” says clothing consultant Randy Graves of Fullerton. “If you’re in a Brooks Brothers’ environment, such as in a law firm, collar bars are an excellent trim accessory that helps showcase a tie. You really don’t see them at parties, unless they’re cocktail parties right after work.”
When fitting a collar bar in place, keep it even and periodically check it during the day to make sure it hasn’t shifted. And, of course, don’t make the critical faux pas of wearing a collar bar with a button-down collared shirt.
