Have you ever noticed that most of the old and new blues players always dressed with class as far back as I have seen most dress in suits or sports jacket not all but many of them did.
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Oh, I got me one of those Akubras, too (only problem with it is, while it fits, my, ahem, oversize body makes it look ridiculously small on me), as well as a Panama from Panama, my geology field hat (a Magellan fishing hat with a wide brim, that has pins all over it from the various countries I've been to / done field work in), and a black Resistol cowboy hat that has been ridden over, stomped, and danced in more times than I can count. Plus a huge selection of baseball and gimme caps, a couple of Tweed newsboys, a couple of Harley do-rags, and various Saudi shammaghs (as is obvious from the profile photo). Yeah, I like hats.
But every time I look at a Stetson, I just kinda go "Why would I pay $300 for a hat that needs a cover to protect it?"
CLOCKWORK said:
Akubra hats from Australia are the best genuine fur-felt hats in the world... better than Stetson ever was. A lot more expensive than Target, which DOES have a surprisingly good selection, but your descendants will be wearing it centuries from now.
Thanks, seriously I have had a running joke for years. Every so often I go into the local western wear shop and look at hats and boots. They have high end stuff, expensive. When the salesperson aproaches I tell them if they can find a hat in the store that fits me I will buy it, price is no object. NEVER came close to losing on that deal!
When I have found a hat that fits and someone doubts the situation I have put my hat on their head over their hat and it swallows them up completely. Its ridiculous!
Same problem with motorcycle helmets. Its a hassle really! Even special order has been very unsuccessful!
I'll order the Fedora just to see what happens.......
Akubra hats from Australia are the best genuine fur-felt hats in the world... better than Stetson ever was. A lot more expensive than Target, which DOES have a surprisingly good selection, but your descendants will be wearing it centuries from now.
After reading what evereone has posted, it has brought a lot of memories back on how we use to dress. But looking like you all say at why they dress up the best they could. It leaves a good impression on people when they see you no matter if your playing a gig or busking on the street. Looking your best leaves a lasting impression. No matter if your playing a cheap cbg or a $5.000.00 guitar how you look counts. And let us not forget the hat, most of the blues men wore some type of fadora which has a place in my heart still to this day because my grandfathers and my father wore them.
When I was in high school (late 50's- early60's) you had to prove financial hardship to wear blue jeans to school. Some kids actually wore ties. If you were on an athletic team you were expected to wear a coat and tie to away games. Like others writing here my dad also came from the south, he was from northern Virginia and his appearance was always important to him.
Seriously though, consider the people and time period and where they wanted to play.
You think they all wanted to play for tips on the corner or get into the more "upscale" gigs? That was a way of life in the period. You want to move up, dress the part.
By the way, I have similar childhood memories about being dressed up proper, and feel some of the current generation could use a little kick in the ass in this area. Pants on the ground? you should be ashamed fool. Especially if you knew the origons of that particular fashion statement! Scary thing is, even those who do know seem to embrace it. I'm gettin' some of dads redneck on me here........
Oily "Strat-O'-Nine-Tales" Fool said:
Gents,
People used to want to look as good as possible. Why? You got treated better. People wanted to appear successful, or at least dignified. This has been proven empirically and scientifically numerous times ( the well-known book Dress For Success is based on such studies). Try it yourself. Next time you force yourself to go into any sort of store ( even Guitar Center), wear a coat and tie, and see how well you're treated (nice clothes mean money, and money means sales - granted, younger store clerks won't usually get this, but the perceptive and possibly older ones understand where their commish is coming from). Same thing buying a car: it signals seriousness of purpose and the ability to pay; I know, I used to work at a car dealership. Those were the customers we wanted to deal with.
Now, imagine being a black musician - I grew up in the Deep South (born in Eldorado, Arkansas) and can assure you that during the 60's, even my grandmother's black maid dressed in her Sunday best for 1) shopping, 2) negotiating pay with my GM, 3) church services, 4) weddings and funerals, 5) dealing with the bank - pretty much anything that involved dealing with white folks. The musicians dressed flashier (and some would say, trashier, meaning like flash gangsters) than the preachers, but they all wore coats, ties and hats, until at least the mid-70s. Some still do.
Heck, I remember my Mom getting us new suits for my first airplane ride at age 4 in 1963 - everyone dressed up to travel. I remember her also getting dolled up just to go the grocery store with me and my two younger brothers.
I'm like oily ,, roots are in eastern kentucky in the appalachians,,, all my "old folks" might b in bib overalls on sunday ,, but had on a fedora ,, polished shoes,,starched white shirt,, and they b in the "newest" bibs
All wore "Old Spice" .. Hell ,,reckon if they didn t ,,none of us be here now !!
Replies
Oh, I got me one of those Akubras, too (only problem with it is, while it fits, my, ahem, oversize body makes it look ridiculously small on me), as well as a Panama from Panama, my geology field hat (a Magellan fishing hat with a wide brim, that has pins all over it from the various countries I've been to / done field work in), and a black Resistol cowboy hat that has been ridden over, stomped, and danced in more times than I can count. Plus a huge selection of baseball and gimme caps, a couple of Tweed newsboys, a couple of Harley do-rags, and various Saudi shammaghs (as is obvious from the profile photo). Yeah, I like hats.
But every time I look at a Stetson, I just kinda go "Why would I pay $300 for a hat that needs a cover to protect it?"
CLOCKWORK said:
LOL!
Thanks, seriously I have had a running joke for years. Every so often I go into the local western wear shop and look at hats and boots. They have high end stuff, expensive. When the salesperson aproaches I tell them if they can find a hat in the store that fits me I will buy it, price is no object. NEVER came close to losing on that deal!
When I have found a hat that fits and someone doubts the situation I have put my hat on their head over their hat and it swallows them up completely. Its ridiculous!
Same problem with motorcycle helmets. Its a hassle really! Even special order has been very unsuccessful!
I'll order the Fedora just to see what happens.......
Thanks Oily,
Mark
Here ya go:
http://www.e4hats.com/_e/Big_Size_Cotton_Solid_Fedora_Hat/product/c...
Oily ( who bought his cheap black small head Blues Brothers fedora at Target )
I want one. Anyone know where I can get a XXXL Fedora? Huge heads dont make it easy for hat fans. LOL!
No, seriously. You can ask my mom, she'll confirm!
When I was in high school (late 50's- early60's) you had to prove financial hardship to wear blue jeans to school. Some kids actually wore ties. If you were on an athletic team you were expected to wear a coat and tie to away games. Like others writing here my dad also came from the south, he was from northern Virginia and his appearance was always important to him.
Works unless your at the Harley dealership.....
Seriously though, consider the people and time period and where they wanted to play.
You think they all wanted to play for tips on the corner or get into the more "upscale" gigs? That was a way of life in the period. You want to move up, dress the part.
By the way, I have similar childhood memories about being dressed up proper, and feel some of the current generation could use a little kick in the ass in this area. Pants on the ground? you should be ashamed fool. Especially if you knew the origons of that particular fashion statement! Scary thing is, even those who do know seem to embrace it. I'm gettin' some of dads redneck on me here........
Oily "Strat-O'-Nine-Tales" Fool said:
Rich,
Old Spice! The choice of the old generation...now, my son's generation can't seem to get enough of Axe.
Which I suppose is alright for a budding guitar player. But Lordy, the stuff smells terrible. Possibly because he sprays a choking cloud of it.
I'm like oily ,, roots are in eastern kentucky in the appalachians,,, all my "old folks" might b in bib overalls on sunday ,, but had on a fedora ,, polished shoes,,starched white shirt,, and they b in the "newest" bibs
All wore "Old Spice" .. Hell ,,reckon if they didn t ,,none of us be here now !!
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