News from Borges & Scott about our Panama Hats

CULTURAL ICONS AND THEIR PANAMA HATS (PART X)

American actress Kate Hudson caught her big break in 2000 when she landed the role of rock groupie Penny Lane in indie film hit Almost Famous, a role director Cameron Crowe had originally intended for Sarah Polley. When Polley dropped out to pursue another project the movie was almost scrapped, but Hudson begged for a chance to read for the role and Crowe was so impressed that she got the part. She won a Golden Globe for the role and received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Hudson has gone on to star in numerous box office hits, achieving her stardom with sheer talent, determination and her renowned charismatic energy (perhaps a trait she inherited from her glamorous mum, Goldie Hawn).

Hudson has managed a busy acting career alongside raising her two sons, Ryder (b.2004) and Bingham (b.2011). It seems her boys have inherited their mum’s snappy fashion sense - here Ryder and Kate are chillin’ on a spring day sporting mixed checks and, of course, matching Panama hats (the perfect complement to any outfit!). Very Cool!

If you admire their style you will love our Signature Ladies Fedora, and Childrens Borges & Scott Teardrop Fedora.

CULTURAL ICONS AND THEIR PANAMA HATS (PART VIII)

STEPHEN HOUGH

“Handmade with the finest threads you can imagine, it takes almost a year to make each hat - being on the Island I think it would be very useful protection against the sun and would be a rather splendid item to have.”

One of the greatest musicians of our time, the British concert pianist Stephen Hough began his musical career at the Royal Northern College of Music, followed by a master’s degree at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. Since launching his professional performing career in 1983 he has performed in all the great concert halls around the world (including 20 BBC proms concerto appearances), and has over 50 recordings to his name garnering numerous international awards, including several Grammy nominations, 8 Gramophone Magazine awards and the Gramophone ‘Gold Disc’ award.

But Mr Hough’s talents don’t just end when he exits stage left - he is regarded as a true polymath, also know as a distinguished writer, composer and painter. His intellectual abilities were recognised in 2001 when he became the first classical music performer ever to receive a MacArthur Fellowship, joining prominent writers and scientists who have made significant contributions in their fields. In 2009 he was also named by The Economist and Intelligent Life magazines as one of 20 living polymaths.

Aside from Hough’s regular performance, recording and teaching commitments, as a writer, he regularly contributes articles for the Guardian, The Times, Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine, and for seven years wrote a blog for the Telegraph which became one of the most popular and influential forums for cultural discussion. Having joined the Roman Catholic Church aged 19, and considered joining the priesthood on several occasions his book, The Bible as Prayer, was published by Continuum and Paulist Press in 2007.

In October 2016 Stephen Hough appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, speaking honestly and openly about his many passions, childhood and personal life, while his ‘castaway’ selections revealed an eclectic taste in music, and a love of the ultimate in sophisticated headwear - the Panama Hat, selecting the finest Montecristi Panama hat, supplied by Optimo Fine Hats in Chicago, as his one luxury item (a snip at $20,000!).

Style: The English Gentleman with a touch of New York sophistication

He Says: “Ironically, it’s important for musicians to step aside even from music, and from listening to music. I think it’s terribly important for musicians to have silence in their lives because we’re dealing constantly with something that breaks the silence.”

If you’re looking for a beautifully made Panama hat that will stand the test of time in terms of quality and style, we recommend our Signature Teardrop Fedora.

CULTURAL ICONS AND THEIR PANAMA HATS (PART VII)

JESSICA ALBA

Now here's a woman with a Panama Hat for any occasion – she certainly seems to be a big fan of this classic accessory!

The American actress, model and business woman is perhaps best known for her starring roles in 'Honey' and the 'Fantastic Four' films. Aside from her successful acting career, Alba is also the co-founder of The Honest Company, a consumer goods company that sells non-toxic household products, and plays an active role supporting the work of a number of charities, particularly children's charities, oh, and she's a mum to her two young daughters.

A natural beauty, Alba never fails to look gorgeous, even when dressed down and wearing little makeup – Here she is looking every bit the girl about town, topping her simple monochrome outfit with a white fedora-style Panama Hat, and again chilling out at the beach shaded from the sun by the generous brim of her natural Panama Hat.

Style: simple elegance, flowing fabrics, the natural look

She says: “My theory is that if you look confident you can pull off anything - even if you have no clue what you're doing. ”

To emulate Jessica's look, we recommend our Signature Ladies Fedora in classic white for smart days out, and our Signature Ladies Fedora in 'Natural' for days at the beach – both are foldable and rollable making them perfect for travelling to more exotic climbs!

CULTURAL ICONS AND THEIR PANAMA HATS (PART V)

JULIANNE MOORE

Spotted – another Oscar-winning actor who just loves a Panama Hat to accessorise her summer wardrobe...

Julianne Moore, known for The Hours, Still Alice and, most recently, The Hunger Games, paired her Panama hat with a printed tunic, white Birkenstock sandals, and a sleek tote when out and about in New York City this summer. The 55 year old actress never fails to look chic and elegant, even when going for that practical smart-casual look, achieving it with a playful, youthful edge.

Style: effortlessly chic, classy and elegant She says: “I think imperfections are important, just as mistakes are important. You only get to be good by making mistakes, and you only get to be real by being imperfect." Whichever of our Panama Icons you most identify with, remember: wearing a Panama hat is a great way to get ahead when you’re aiming for standout style.

BESPOKE BANDS AND PANAMA REPAIRS

We now offer bespoke hat bands, in a range of gorgeous colours, on all our Borges and Scott Panama Hats!

If you fancy something a little more colourful than our standard black or brown bands, or perhaps a particular shade to match a favourite outfit, look out for a new page coming to our website soon with further details and the full range of colour swatches to choose from.

Our bespoke bands are £8.95 (in addition to the cost of the hat) – when ordering your Panama hat, just email us (quoting your order number) to request a bespoke band in your chosen colour, and we will send your new hat out to you as soon as possible. Price includes our in house milliner fitting your choice of coloured band to your hat.

An example of a bespoke band using a military ribbon sent in to us by a customer.

Is your hat well traveled? Lost a bit of its shape from all that rolling?

Well, if you feel your Panama Hat needs a bit of TLC we now offer basic repairs and re-shaping – from replacing tired bands to coaxing it back into that signature fedora shape. If you feel your hat would benefit from a little 'service', please email us at sales@borgesandscott.com, attaching a photo of the hat, and we will get back to you as soon as we have assessed the damage.

Andy Demonstrates Barbecue Chic...

Andy here teaches us all how to look cool, calm and effortlessly sophisticated whilst performing one of the most demanding tasks any of us may face over the summer months - being given full responsibility for the party barbecue!

Alfresco dining may be idyllic for your guests, but for the elected grill master, flipping those burgers and grilling those halloumi skewers to perfection can be a tall order. Andy however seems completely unfazed by the task in hand, he makes it look easy - top tip for any of you aspiring barbecuers out there, don a timeless Panama hat and you will not only look chic and cocktail-ready, but no one will notice your twitching temple as you calculate the optimum time to flip those burgers!

Andy is wearing our Borges and Scott Signature Fedora (Natural Classic), proving that the versatile Panama is perfect for any occasion. Bravo Andy!

If you're thinking of lighting up the Barbecue this weekend, here are a couple of tasty Brazilian inspired recipes to get you in the Olympic spirit: Frango Churrasco (grilled lemon and garlic Chicken), and how about trying this smoky tomato pepper salsa as an accompaniment. Enjoy!

More than just Fedoras; the different styles of Panama hats

People typically think of a Panama hat as a the classic white fedora style hat with a black band.  However, as long as the hat is woven in Ecuador using the traditional materials, methods and techniques,then it is a Panama hat regardless of it's shape or colour.

Allow Borges & Scott to take you on a voyage of discovery to find your perfect style, shape and colour of Panama hat!

Style	Description
Fedora	The “Classic Panama”, with a mid-width brim and indented crown. Typically creased lengthwise down the crown and "pinched" near the front on both sides. The typical crown height is 11 cm. The brim is usually approximately 6.4 cm wide.
Folder	Also known as the Colonial, Optimo or Natural. Has a single ridge along the centre of the crown which lends itself well to rolling up. Our most popular shape for regular travellers.
Dumont	Also known as the Planter or Gambler, it has a vintage, 1930s aesthetic. The brim, rather than flipping down, remains constant all the way around. Please note this style is not suited to rolling.
Teardrop Fedora	This adaptation of the classic Fedora has a slightly wider, teardrop shape crown, making the crown slightly lower than our classic Fedora, resulting in a closer fit.  It has a turned up brim at the rear, that comes down slightly at the front.  Please note this style is not ideal for rolling and will lose a little of its shape if rolled.
Trilby	A narrow-brimmed hat; which would normally be angled down at the front and turned up at the back. It also has a slightly shorter crown than our Fedora.  Borges & Scott Trilbies have a "flip brim", and so can be worn with the whole of the brim turned up, or with the front turned down. Please note this style is not suited to rolling.
Heart (Ladies)	An extra wide-brimmed sun hat with a scalloped indentation at the back of the brim to produce the heart-shape. Finished with a pretty ribbon bow. Please note it is not suited to rolling.
Wide-brim Sun Hat (Ladies)	An extra wide-brimmed sun hat with smooth lines. Can be finished with a black band and bow.