Saturday, August 23, 2008

Caps For Sale


A visit to Bon Ton Hatters on 20th Street North, is like stepping back in time.  You are greeted by several of the most personable shoeshine guys you will ever want to meet.   In addition to shines and shoe repairs, Bon Ton has been in business for as long as I can remember cleaning, steaming,  and blocking hats.  These days, I am surprised that they get many calls for that service,  but apparently there are quite a few dapper men running around Birmingham in some mighty fine chapeaus!  This case with its unusual array of headgear caught my eye.  Wouldn't you just love to meet the gentlemen that wear these ?    Isn't it refreshing to know that these long standing businesses are still providing the services that made them a Birmingham tradition.  So which hat is your favorite?

10 comments:

Eki said...

I'd love to have one of those hats! ;)

Lovely hats, V.

I think I should stop by at Bonton (it's a chain shop, if I remember it correctly) next time I visit the US.

Could you tell me how much those hats costs; well, the price range.

ft. lauderdale daily photo said...

Hat shops are such a rare entity these days. Nice photo of one that looks quite wonderful.

Laurie Allee said...

I think I'd look pretty swell in that little straw number on the top shelf, though I always love a good fedora. (Even though it looks like I'm trying to cross dress as Bogart or something.)

I wish men wore more hats. I think they look so great. I always notice hats and topcoats.

Wonderful post, as always, Virginia. You really make Birmingham come alive.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I am a hat person, but my island isn't. This is so timely, this post. We were discusing here over drinkies, when men actually stopped wearing hats en mass?

I love doing the mental comparioson from your Birmingham, to My Birmingham I left behind. You really do have the winner.

Knoxville Girl said...

My favorite hat is the one with the handsome man standing underneath it. ;-)

I like the casual hat roundup in the first shot.

Webradio said...

Hello !

Pretty hats !

Smile...

angela said...

I go for a panama every time..you do have some interesting shops in Birmingham..

Kate said...

I wish that hats would become more fashionable for both men and women again. I love the look!

Virginia said...

Eki
Will try and find the prices for you. Do you have your eye on one in particular???

Ming the Merciless said...

People used to really dress up back then. Now dressing up means no flip-flops or tank tops.

I love the hat in the last photo.