I've been on the lookout for a sailor's hat for a while and a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to find a second hand one at a vintage fair in Italy. This particular hat was produced by the Brugnato-based Consorzio Liguria clothing manufacturer for the Italian Navy between the mid-'80s and the beginning of the '90s.
Worn universally, the versatile white canvas sailor hat is known in English as the “dixie cup hat” for its resemblance to the waxed-paper drinking cups made by the Dixie company, and has a long history, going as far back as 1886 when it replaced the straw hat.
What truly fascinates me about this hat is that it's a rare example of an accessory part of an established uniform that can be actually customised: indeed sailor usually reshape it to suit their personal styles and retain in this way their individuality.
Besides, though very simple and cheap to make (this hat is usually made in three phases: the first part made is the brim with its rows of stitching that keep it stiff; then the crown is put together on a sewing machine and, when the two parts are completed, they are stitched together using again a sewing machine), it looks sharp and distinguished and it's easy to maintain (my brother's bleach bath seemed to work on this one that had some yellow spots in some places).
The hat has got such a characteristic shape because it can be used also as a flotation device (I admit I still haven't used it for such a purpose…) or as a sun shield. Always synonimous with sailors, though it was shortly replaced in America with a hat known as “combination cover”, the dixie cup never went out of fashion, proving it's still very durable in popularity.
Member of the Boxxet Network of Blogs, Videos and Photos
http://www.boxxet.com/my/badgeBN.80.15.js?boxxetId=u23036
Member of the Boxxet Network of Blogs, Videos and Photos
http://www.boxxet.com/my/badgeBN.160.30.js?boxxetId=u23036
http://www.lijit.com/wijitinit?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lijit.com%2Fusers%2Fabnet75&js=1
Rispondi