Wardrobe Why: What's so cool about pith helmets?

As a former game show question-and-answer man, I always appreciate finding out the "why" of our wardrobe choices. And a few weeks ago, when I was wandering about Carmel-by-the-Sea looking for cuff links, a chance detour into the the Carmel Hat Co. yielded not only a dapper looking straw Scala for my balding pate, but the explanation behind the instantly recognizable staple of jungle and tropical excursions known as the pith helmet (which the Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion also calls a "topee" or "topi").

According to the husband and wife owners Mary San Marcon and Chris Estrella -- who've been married 31 years and owned the postage-stamp-sized chapeau shop (it's less than 400 square feet) in the Doud Arcade for the last 16 of those -- the virtue of the solid yet lightweight domed head gear lies in the thick layer of solid material underneath the thin layer of fabric: pith or cork (essentially a layer of tree bark).

"Originally what they would do is soak the helmet in water overnight," San Marcon explained. "And then it would keep your head cool as the water evaporated slowly throughout the day."

While I didn't think it was quite the appropriate headgear for that evening's black-tie wedding, it fits in nicely with the explorer/desert military vibe that labels like Versace and Galliano had embraced for their Spring/Summer 2010 men's runway collections in Europe earlier this year. 

Now, I'm not advocating that when next spring rolls around everyone should chuck that stingy brim fedora and go all safari, but if global warming trends continue, a tree bark topper is certainly one low-tech, old-school option for keeping a cool head with a dash of retro-explorer style.

The Carmel Hat Co. at the Doud Arcade, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.  (831) 625-9510.

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo: The Carmel Hat Co.'s stock of pith helmets includes a style historically associated with British troops in South Africa and Afghanistan, center, and a lower-profile style, right, more common in India and known as a "Bombay bowler." $48.50 each. Credit: Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times

Vintage video: Patt Morrison teaches you how to wear a hat

 

Everyone gets comfortable in their individual fashion style. Branching out to try something new and unexpected can be a bit scary. To -- correctly -- add a bit of pizazz to your noggin, check Times columnist Patt Morrison's video on how to wear a hat. Sure, this video coincided with her 2008 article for Los Angeles Times magazine, but some looks never go out of style.

-- Whitney Friedlander

MORE HOW-TO VIDEOS:

How to wear sequined clothing

How to wear animal print

How to get the perfect manicure

How to do a marble manicure at home

Complete your Public Service hours at this Fairfax Avenue grand opening party

Public Service sounds like the latest traffic court penalty, but it’s actually a new men’s boutique behind Shorty’s Barber Shop on Fairfax Avenue.

Owners Lauren Megson and Chris Bair, who also owns Shorty’s, decided to convert the rear of the barbershop into a retail area that resembles a 1970s rec room with table tennis, air hockey and gymnasium wood floors.

Public Service stocks shirts, outerwear and leathers from L.A.-based brands NSF, Ever, Apolis Activism and Shades of Greige. Angelenos can’t get enough of loungewear, so the boutique carries an large assortment of hoodies, henleys and sweat pants from LnA, Alternative Apparel and Plain Gravy.

Gift merch (yes, that season is upon us) includes novelty graphic T-shirts ($30-40), Comme des Garcons fragrances, Ray-Ban sunglasses, Brixton fedoras and a contraption called Clocky, which is an alarm clock that falls on the floor and keeps ringing before you have a chance to knock it off the nightstand. 

On Thursday, Public Service celebrates its grand opening with an open-bar celebration from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call store to RSVP.

755 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 951-1191. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. www.publicservicela.com

-- Max Padilla

Photo credits: Public Service

Eek! It's a hat

Accessories designer Eugenia Kim loves mice.  "They are  very New York, kind of neurotic, high-energy, furtively look around a lot, and very stimulated," said Kim in a press release about her new line of hats for Urban Outfitters called Eek!  While there are no mice on these hats and headbands, they've been a common theme on the shoes and hats she makes for her own collection.

Eek! Includes '20s-inspired felt cloches, knit berets, ruched satin headbands and lily leather hair clips all with the sense of whimsy Kim is know for.     

Eek! Hits Urban Outfitters Aug. 1.  Hats range from $38-$48.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

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Photos: Pieces from Eek! By Eugenia Kim at Urban Outfitters/Urban Outfitters

 

 

Trends from Paris and Milan fashion weeks: Woven hats

One of the key runway accessories out of the men's Spring/Summer European runway shows was the woven hat -- and not just the same-old stingy brim fedora either. With colors like bright pink and road stripe yellow at Etro and woven toppers at Z Zegna, the catwalk was clogged with the head-turning headgear. Click here for a gallery of some of my favorites.

-- Adam Tschorn

At Paris Fashion Week, men's collections display explorer aesthetic  | Photos

Menswear works a macho vibe at Milan Fashion Week | Photos

More Paris Fashion Week coverage | Photos

More from Milan Fashion Week | Photos

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Photo: Etro Spring/Summer 2010 runway show Credit: Peter Stigter / For The Times

Helmets for hipsters

As if ripping through the trafficked streets of L.A. on fixed-gear bikes wasn’t risky enough, the daredevils who ride these brakeless bicycles rarely wear helmets. Efrem Yohannes, who works at L.A. Brakeless in Venice, swears he’d act even more imprudent if he wore a helmet. (We think he’s wary of looking like an egghead.) Perhaps he and his crew would rethink their stance if they saw these helmets designed to look like caps. They’re made by a Danish company Yakkay, which Valet uncovered last week. After Sunday's earthquake, I might even consider wearing Yakkay’s helmets in my daily life.   

-- Alexandra Le Tellier

Fixed-gear bikes go West

Getting from A to B on Ultra Motor's A2B Metro electric bicycle

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