Thursday, October 31, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 158 - Masking in the Glory Edition

Day 158 / Hat 158: Red lucha libre mask with gold detail on front and sides and yellow lace-up closure in back.

For those of you who aren't familiar with it, lucha libre ("free wrestling" in Spanish) is a style of wrestling popular in Mexico and characterized by the colorful masks the wrestlers (called luchadores) wear in the ring.

I was only vaguely aware of the whole lucha libre thing until I moved to Los Angeles and a friend suggested checking out Lucha VaVoom -- which, wait for it, combines lucha libre wrestling, burlesque and comedy in evening's festivities.

I bought this bad boy at my very first Lucha VaVoom years ago, and I chose it as my Halloween headgear because it's obviously not something that gets a lot of daily use (though, truth be told, wearing it in L.A. traffic does have a certain calming effect on road-raging drivers).

Two other bits of Halloween-related  news:

1) I recently compiled a quiz about Halloween costumes in pop culture past and present (touching on Heidi Klum, Kim Kardashian and Steve Jobs among other topics).  How much do you know? Take the quiz and find out.

2) I get my indomitable Halloween spirit from my sainted mother Nancy who never fails to pull out all the stops (and embarrass half the family) with the elaborate costumes she wears to work at my family's Wayside Country Store in Arlington, Vermont (my favorite was the cow costume). If you are as curious as I am (or just want to see how far the apple falls from the tree) check out the big reveal at the store's Facebook page later today!

Related:
PC 157: Laker Tip-off Lid
Lucha VaVoom draws this man out of the house
Column One: The Fiesta of the People

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 157 -" Let's Go Lakers!" Edition


Day 157 / Hat 157:  Reversible knit Los Angeles Lakers cap by Adidas. One side (the interior in the above photo) is Lakers' gold with a team logo embroidery, reverse side (the exterior above) is part purple (aka "Forum blue") and part black with intarsia knit design in yellow that reads: "LOS ANGELES" followed by the Adidas logo.

I'm wearing this hat today in celebration of last night's tip-off of the 2013-2014 NBA season, for which I was fortunate enough to have seen from a seat inside Staples Center. (Every season, four of us scramble for two sets of tickets -- one early in the season and one late in the season -- the minute they go on sale. We just so happened, this time around, score opening day.)

The Lakers, playing as the home team, faced off against the team that shares the building -- the Los Angeles Clippers -- and were not expected to fare very well at all. The Lakers, as you can see from the scoreboard (above right) handily won against a team that swept them last season.

So I feel t's incumbent upon me to direct today's tip o' the knit cap to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Related:
PC 156: Snakes on the Brain
Hublot signs deal to be Lakers 'official timekeeper'
Lakers take top three spots on NBA list of top-selling jerseys

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 156 - Snakes on the Brain Edition

Day 156 / Hat 156: Green foam Medusa headdress with red tongue and purple eye details  from Chris March's Big Fun wig collection (exclusive to Target, $20).

It seems the hat gods aren't just smiling on me lately -- they're laughing heartily! As I cruised into work on two wheels this morning, I was met with an ebullient Ingrid Schmidt who laid this fine piece of foam headgear on me (as well as two other pieces from the same collection you'll see sometime in the next few days).

Today's tip of the reptiles, scales and all, obviously goes to Ingrid "Hat Trick of One" Schmidt.

Oh, I hope you didn't look directly into my eyes -- if you did you'll be turning into stone any minute now.




Related:
PC 155: Super Fly
PC 154: Mystery Camo
PC 153: Prince Ace Face

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 155 - Super Fly Edition


Day 155 / Hat 155: Black plush fly hat with green metallic colored "feelers," red metallic colored eyes and multi-metallic colored wings from Elope, 75% polyester, 25% cotton made in China.

This super-fly fly hat was in the box of "Halloween / Seasonal" excavated from Garlodge storage yesterday. It's among the pieces of headgear I wear while answering the door and handing out candy on all Hallow's Eve.

This hat reminds me of the movie I was watching yesterday while abed -- "Them!" -- a  1954 movie about civilization-threatening giant mutant ants resulting from the atomic tests in New Mexico.

Related:
PC 154: Camouflage Mystery
PC 153: Ace Face
PC 152: Hat Vegas

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 154 - Camouflage Mystery Edition


Day 154 / Hat 154: Camouflage trucker-style cap with mesh back and olive drab front panel with barely decipherable screen-printing in dark green that reads (I think): "W1 PC7 35[UNDECIPHERABLE] E Mlc 56 Trabajadores." Pin on hat reads: "Diesel U Music 2004."

This is the last hat in the two hat-trick JH series and to tell you the truth it perplexes me. Google Translate tells me the word "trabajadores" translates from Spanish to mean "workers" or "work people." It is also the name of a Cuban newspaper founded in in 1970. I'm guessing this is one of those hats that's made to look like something a Cuban guerrilla might wear -- but that would be a long way to go for a little as I like to say.

A sincere multiple hat tip to Jenn Harris for this six-hat series -- and for ending it on a mysterious note. If she sheds any light on the provenance of the hat, I'll be sure to let you know.

Related:
PC 153: Ace Face
PC 152: Hat Vegas
PC 151: L.A. Zoo Edition


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 153 - Ace Face Edition

Day 153 / Hat 153: Black and white cycling-style cap with red and black confetti pattern on yellow on underneath side of the bill and screen printing on front that reads: "Prince Ace Face."

On loan to the Project from Jenn Harris, I was pretty sure my research was going to turn up that this hat was concert merch from a tour by the artist formerly (and currently) known as Prince and that "Ace Face" was either the name of a little known album, an alter-ego or perhaps an opening act.

Turns out there was actually a brand  back in the day (that day being the late '80s and early '90s) called Prince Ace Face and the name and logo appeared on athletic apparel and tennis rackets.

I still think it would make an awesome name for a Prince stadium tour, though.

Related:

PC 152: Hat Vegas
PC 151: Zoo Land
PC 148: The Dork Knight

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 152 - Hat Stays in Vegas Edition

Day 152 / Hat 152: Black and white pattern printed cap with black front panel printed with: "Las Vegas
Hilton." Interior tag reads: "Triangle Headwear, Hialeah, Fla."

Another hat from the JH series, this cap is so bangin' it could only have come from an early '90s trip to Las Vegas (we'll need Jenn to confirm that time frame for us though).

[Post-publication addendum: Jenn, having just arrived in the office confirms that time frame. "My parents used take us to Vegas a couple times a year," she says, "And that was our hotel.")]

We've actually stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton a few times (back when it was still a Hilton -- in 2012 the affiliation with Hilton hotel chain was dropped and it became simply the "Las Vegas Hotel and Casino") including a particularly memorable Easter weekend.

Whatever the name, the place has some serious Sin City history to it. Here's a brief excerpt culled from the hotel's Wikipedia entry:

" ... designed by architect Martin Stern, Jr., [it'] was built in 1969 by Kirk Kerkorian and opened as the International Hotel. When it opened, the International was the largest hotel in the world. Barbra Streisand was the opening-night performer, along with Peggy Lee performing afterwards in the hotel's lounge.

On July 31, 1969, immediately following Streisand's engagement, Elvis Presley performed for 58 consecutive sold out shows, breaking all Vegas attendance records, (130,157 paying, and ostensibly gambling customers in the period of one month), with stellar reviews coming from both critics and the public. He broke his own attendance record in February 1970, and again in August 1970, and August 1972. When playing Las Vegas, he lived in the penthouse suite (room 3000), located on the 30th floor, until his last performance there in December 1976."

If you've ever stayed there you'd be aware of the Elvis connection as there's a can't-miss-it statue of the King outside the entrance to the hotel.

So it is incumbent upon us to once again tip our hat to Jenn and say (in our best Elvis voice): "Thank you - thank you very much."

Related:
PC 151: Hail Caesar!
PC 52: Tschorn in a Tricorne
PC 2: Tyrolean Vagabond


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 151 - Zoo Land Edition


Day 151 / Hat 151; Red, yellow and white, 100% cotton, made-in-China cap with "Los Angeles Zoo" printed on the bill in black and extraordinarily detailed multicolor embroidery on front panel depicting what appear to be (from left) a giraffe with a toucan riding shotgun, a sloth, an elephant, a tiger, a banana-eating simian of indeterminate origin, a zebra and a leopard.

Another installment in the JH series, Jenn says this lid dates back as far as the Dork lid and was procured on a trip (maybe her first trip) to the Los Angeles Zoo.

I'm embarrassed to admit, in all my years here I have not actually been to the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens which opened in November of 1966 and was the fourth zoo to serve the city (the first opened in 1885). Among the factoids you can find at the zoo's website? It was home to the world's first gorilla Caesarean section delivery in 1977.The gorilla baby,  weighing in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces,was named Caesar. (If you go to the website, click on "Zoo History" and scroll into the 1970s you can see an OMG cute photo of little Caesar. If it doesn't make your heart melt it's probably a lump of coal.)


Related:
PC 150: Go you Wildcats!
PC 146: Buffalo Brain
PC 145: Canadian Coyote


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 150 - Austin-Powered Beanie Edition


Day 150 / Hat 150: Red felt beanie with black top button detail, black appliqued number 51 and red-and-black ribbon detail with plastic football and pin that reads: "Davidson Wildcats."

I felt it necessary to briefly interrupt the JH series to showcase this sweet lid that arrived yesterday from my sister-in-law Kathleen who procured it whilst on her recent jaunt to Austin, Texas. Based on the other items in the package that arrived, I'm guessing she found it at the antique store called Uncommon Objects.

'Thleen's note said she thought it might be too small for said head but if you ask me it fits just right. (She's long had a theory that I love hats and headgear so much because the headgear reminds me of when I actually had hair. Until I put this snug head rug atop my pate yesterday I didn't place much stock in that theory. But now I think she may have a point.)

So, who, exactly are said Davidson Wildcats? I thought you'd never ask. According to a brief search of the interwebs, Davidson College is private liberal arts college located in Davidson, North Carolina. The school's colors are indeed red and black and its mascot is one Will E. Wildcat.

Since the school was founded in 1837 by Presbyterians of North Carolina, it was certainly around in '51 (I'm just guessing that the number indicates a graduation year or a freshman class year and isn't akin to a jersey number.) In case you're interested, the next football game is apparently this Saturday (Oct. 26) against Jacksonville.

So a sincere tip o' the hat to 'Thleen and GO YOU WILDCATS!

Related:
PC 149: Bridegroom Blues
PC 91: 'Uncle Grandpa' Beanie Edition
PC 50: A 10-Gallon Hat for When You're Feeling 5 Gallons Flat


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 149 - Dodger Blues Edition

Day 149 / Hat 149: Blue, 100% cotton made-in-China baseball style cap with white contrast stitching and baby blue/cocoa brown embroidered appliqué on front that reads: "Los Angeles Dodgers  Est. 1958."

The second hat in the current JH series, it's one I wish I'd had back when the Dodgers were still alive in the playoffs. As the season was winding down and Dodger mania was ramping up I found myself searching frantically for my own Dodgers cap - which  distinctly recall purchasing years and years ago when I took the visiting Halfew to a game in Chavez Ravine (I distinctly remember going to buy a hat and a Dodger Dog as he and his baseball glove headed to the seats).

The 1958, btw, refers to the year the team first played as the LOS ANGELES Dodgers -- the team made its National League debut back in 1890 in Brooklyn. While you are probably  aware that the team's name (shortened from "Trolley Dodgers")  is a reference to the borough's then maze of trolley cars, you might not be aware that the team started out with a very different nickname: the "Bridegrooms."

The explanation, from the franchise history section of the team's mlb.com page is as follows:

"The moniker "Bridegrooms" was attached to Manager William 'Gunner' McGunnigle's 1890 ballclub because seven of the players got married around the same time in 1888."

I so did not know that when I started this post ...

Related:
PC 148: Dork Knight
PC 137: Irish Raincoat
Turning the bland Dodger Dog into a power hitter

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 148 - Don't Be Afraid of the Dork

Day 148 / Hat 148: Trucker-style cap with gold mesh back and bill and white front panel with flocked black letters spelling out the word "DORK."

Hat one of the brand-new, highly anticipated six-hat (that's TWO hat-tricks all at once, btw) JH series courtesy of fellow cube farmer Jenn "Way Cray" Harris.

Of the dork lid, Jenn says: "That's one of the hats my sister and I have had for a long time -- since the whole Ashton Kutcher trucker hat thing was big. I remember wearing that with my hair in pigtails and wearing a Juicy [Couture] velour sweatsuit. That's so embarrassing."

Actually, I'd say it's downright adorkable.

So today's hat tip obviously goes to Jenn -- with many more to follow. ...

Related:

PC 147: Pretty in Pink
PC 97: Pretty in Pith 
PC 29: Pretty in Polka Dots


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 147 - By the Way, Which One's Pink? Edition

Day 147 / Hat 147: Pink canvas hat with pink-paillette-covered floral embellishment. Interior tag reads: "Misaharada Millinery."

Borrowed from the Bride's holdings, she says of its provenance: "I'm pretty sure I go it when I was in London -- a long time ago."

You may not be familiar with the milliner's name (the brand appears to have both names run together, the designer's name is two words: "Misa Harada"), but you've doubtlessly seen her work. The following is a brief excerpt from the profile at her website:

Commissions from style icons and celebrities include men's hats for The Scissor Sisters, The Rolling Stones, Mickey Rourke as well women's headwear for Jennifer Aniston's wedding, Britney Spear's "Blackout" album cover and hats for Janet Jackson's "All for you" tour. Misaharada was also behind many of the millinery delights featured in the "Sex and the City" series. 

Related:
PC 146: Where the Buffalo Leather Roams
PC 145: Canadian Coyote
PC 144: Pick a Peck of Paillettes


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 146 - Buffalo on my Mind Edition

Day 146 / Hat 146: Black, buffalo leather cap with black cotton interior lining. Interior tag reads: "Antik Batik." This is the last hat in the recent IS series. 

For some reason this hat (as well as this paillette-festooned Antik Batik cap I wore a few days back) reminds me of the hat worn by Kaptain Kool (Michael Lembeck) of Kaptain Kool and the Kongs -- the faux glam rock band created for Sid and Marty Krofft's Krofft Supershow Saturday morning variety show that ran on ABC from September 1976 to September 1978.

For some reason that short-lived fake band -- and Lembeck's headgear -- stuck with me. (It also caused no undue amount of confusion since, for several years, I mistakenly thought this band and Kool and the Gang were one and the same.) Of course the trippy brains of the brothers Krofft are also responsible for the hat-centric Saturday morning favorite of mine -- "Lidsville."

Related:

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Friday, October 18, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 145 - Canadian Coyote Edition

Day 145 / Hat 145: Brown leather trapper's hat with black, nylon-quilted interior and 100% coyote fur trim. Interior tag reads: "Cabela's outdoor gear, world's foremost outfitter, since 1961."

Yet another luxurious leather lid (say that five times fast) from the ISS (Ingrid Schmidt Series), according to the multiplicity of interior tags (four in all), we know the following things about this hat:

- the origin of the fur (fourrure provenance) is Canada
- the nylon in the quilted lining is made from reclaimed fibers (au fibres recupere)
- it is a size small (grandeur petite)
- it has been made in compliance with the Public Health Act of Manitoba (été fabriqué en conformité de la Loi de la Santé publique du Manitoba).

My only regret with this hat from the Great White North is that I didn't have it on hand (or head) on Monday to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving.
 
Oh, and just in case you think you're seeing a case of duplicate hatting, I did recently sport a trapper up top -- just 10 hats ago -- but rest assured it was a whole different animal -- literally.

Related:

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 144 - Pick a Peck of Paillettes Edition

Day 144 / Hat 144: Brown leather, paillette-covered cap with brown cotton lining. Interior tag reads: "Antik Batik."

Dropped by the collection just this morning by Ingrid who seems to have redoubled her hat-herding efforts in order to earn membership in the MHDC. (When she blew in like the Santa Ana winds she actually dropped an entire hat-trick on my desk all at once -- look for the others in future installments).

In case you were wondering (because I was), the word paillette is a diminutive of the French word paille (meaning straw).

How did it come to mean, as the American Heritage Dictionary puts it: "a spangle used to ornament a dress or costume"? A clue might be comes from another definition of the word (from the same dictionary): "[a] small piece of metal or foil used in painting with enamel."  One piece of foil shaped like a piece of  straw lends its name to another piece of foil not shaped like a piece of straw and voila! -- word mission creep.

At least that's my theory - and I'm sticking with it.

Related:
PC 143: Cha-Cha's and Chain-links
PC 124: Reunion on my Mind
PC 120: Pirate Season

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 143 - Cha-Cha's and Chain-links

Day 143 / Hat 143: Black, 100% wool felt kepi-style women's cap with black grosgrain sweatband inside and gold chain-link and black leather cord hatband detail outside. Interior tag reads, I kid you not: "Cha-Cha's House of Ill Repute."

The hat - and the interior tag- look so old we were convinced this was a seriously vintage lid, but a quick search of the interwebs reveals that the aforementioned Cha-Cha's is still very much a going concern -- and is the millinery design studio of a designer named Dina Pisani.

Loaned to the Project by Ingrid -- who by my count is at hat-trick-plus-one. Her flurry of recent contributions pushes her closer to officially joining the ranks of the Multiple Hat Donor Club (MHDC), a very exclusive and (oddly, come to think of it) all female group of high-volume hat-lenders.


Related:
PC 142: Not the Same Straw Hat (MARGARET)
PC 141: Late Night at Red Rock
PC 102: Hot Rod Keenan Edition


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 142 - Straw Man Edition


Day 42 / Hat 142: J. Jill  wide-brimmed  straw paper and polyester hat with coordinating straw trim and grosgrain-ribbon-lined brim. Interior tag reads: "Made in China."

Loaned to the Project by cube farm compatriot Jenn Harris -- who earns today's tip o' the hat. One more and she gets ... wait for it ... a hat-trick!

Speaking of which, have you ever wondered where the awesome headgear-related term "hat-trick" -- referring to a troika of goals or scores -- came from? A quick search found that we owe it to the game of cricket.

Here's an entry from the Extended Oxford English Dictionary 1999 Edition (cited in the Wikipedia entry for hat-trick) :

"It came into use after HH Stephenson took three wickets in three balls for the all-England eleven against the twenty-two of Hallam at the Hyde Park ground, Sheffield in 1858. A collection was held for Stephenson (as was customary for outstanding feats by professionals) and he was presented with a cap or hat bought with the proceeds."

And now we know!

Related:
PC 141: Late Night Red Rock
PC 140: Great (Jeremy) Scott!
PC 128: Skywalker/Firefighter

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 141 - Red Rocks

Day 141 / Hat 141: Red, sublimation print cap "Red Rocks" style from Brokn Legend (the same folks that provided Hat 138 ).

Back panels of hat are brown with orange contrast stitching and orange embroidery that reads: "Raw and Real." Because, of course, things don't get any rawer and realer than this cat.

It's late and that is all.

Related:
PC 139: Olé!
PC 130: Flair Hair Up There
PC 129: Not-so-Secret Crusher

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!


Sunday, October 13, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 140: Great Scott Edition

Day 140 / Hat 140: Jeremy Scott X New Era black faux patent crocodile cap in a 9FIFTY snapback silhouette.

If I'm not mistaken, this particular design was part of a six-piece Spring/Summer 2013 collection that also included faux ostrich and faux snake versions.

For those of you who may not move in the fashion world, Scott is an L.A.-based designer whose shows are, for me, consistently among the highlights of New York Fashion Week. He's also been a kind of Energizer Bunny of collaborations over the years, both with brands like Adidas, Longchamps, Swatch and Smart Car and other creative types (most recently rapper A$AP Rocky for Adidas Originals and artist Kenny Scharf for his own Spring/Summer 2014 line).

This particular was loaned to me for the Project by my ink-stained, pixel-flinging compatriot Ingrid Schmidt (whom you might also remember from recently stepping to the plate and serving up Hat 138).

Related:
PC 139: The Fourth Amigo
PC 138: Blue for the Green Mountains
NY Fashion Week SS14 Jeremy Scott and the "Teenagers from Mars"


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 139 - Some Sombrero Edition


Day 139 / Hat 139: Green velvet sombrero with extensive gold thread details and embellishments including golden horseshoe motif. Interior reads" "Hecho en Mexico," and "Belri Hats, made by hand."

I purchased this hat yesterday during my lunch break for the princely sum of $24.95 (marked down from $34.95) from Casa Bernal on Olvera Street in the historic heart of downtown Los Angeles. If you ask me, that's a pretty good price for hat with such an exquisite level of  detail.

I've decided that today's tip o' the hat goes generally to our neighbor to the south, the nation of Mexico, her inhabitants, all the beautiful things that flow from them. I was in a deep funk before I quite unexpectedly found myself on Olvera Street yesterday and ended up leaving with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.

Not to mention a serious sombrero on my head.
Related:
PC 138: Mountains on my Mind
PC 137: Irish Raincoat Edition
PC 131: The French Connection

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?  

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013. 

 Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound

Friday, October 11, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 138 - Mountains on my Mind Edition

Day 138 / Hat 138:  Blue, baseball-style cap with mountain vista sublimation print on front panel and bill, navy blue back panels and leather details under bill and on adjustable strap in back. Embroidery on the back of the hat reads: "The Great Escape."

This hat, dubbed "Blue Mountains" is from L.A.-based  brand Brokn Legend's "The Great Escape" collection (others in the collection include "Green Forest" and "Red Rocks"). My compatriot Ingrid Schmidt recently brought the label to my attention, and I'm glad she did. I mean, what's not to like about a company with a philosophy like this: "At Brokn Legend we believe that a hat is more to a man than a simple accessory. It is a companion on his journey." 

As a boy from the Green Mountain State you might think the mountain range would remind me of  the Green Mountain range that runs pretty much down the middle of the state (which is why it's often referred to as the backbone of Vermont). But it actually doesn't -- the Green Mountains, at least down in the banana belt of the state where I grew up, were a much milder, worn down bunch. If I'm not mistaken these are some serious western U.S. mountains.

What the hat does remind me of  is the Great Escape theme park near Lake George, New York, where we used to go back when it was still a Mother Goose themed amusement park called Storytown U.S.A. (Which happened to be next door to a now-defunct old-timey them park called Gaslight Village with catchy ear-worming radio ads that ran something like this: "Gaslight Village - yesterday's fun today! Vo-dee-oh-doh, vo-dee-oh-doh, vo-dee-oh-doh-doh-doh!)

So today's double tip o' that hat goes to first to the hat-loving Brokn Legend bunch and second to Ingrid Schmidt for her mad hat-wrangling skillz.

Related:
PC 137: "Irish Raincoat" Edition
PC 58: I Took a Viking to You
PC 8: Knit Kangol cap


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 137 - Luck o' the Irish Edition

Day 137 / Hat 137: Donegal tweed flat cap by Jonathan Richard. I found this hat this mornin' (sorry, this morning) while looking through an "Adam Seasonal" box in the Garlodge for some cooler weather gear.

This hat was, indeed, purchased in the Emerald Isle whilst on a trip with the Bride and sister-in-law for a wedding, a trip that found us fishing, boating, horseback-riding and engaging in falconry t a summer-camp level. In the photo above I'm wearing it with my Irish raincoat.

I wish that was a euphemism for something but it's not -- it's simply a lightweight yellow raincoat I bought while there after realizing I'd not arrived with any wet-weather gear. Somewhere there's  a photo of me sitting in the prow of a boat on a cold Irish lake (why does that sound like the beginning of a Sting song?) sporting both of these. If I ever locate it, I'll add it to this post.

It was on that trip that I battled a bat in the belfry -- well, second floor, anyway -- of Ashford Castle (bat 1, Adam 0), learned what happens on the Fields of Athenry (certainly nothing good if you've stolen Trevelyn's corn) and learned that no human being in their right mind should schedule a trans-Atlantic flight the morning after an Irish wedding.


Related:
PC 136: Tono su Tono
PC 135: Trapper Yearling
PC 129: Vintage Red Crusher

OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 136 - Now That's Italian! Edition

Day 136 / Hat 136: Borsalino cappello marrone in feltro con girotesta tono su tono. Translation: Brown Borsalino felt hat with tone-on-tone headband.

I got this hat during Milan Fashion Week at an exhibition titled: "Cinema Wears a Hat. Borsalino and Other Stories" which turned out to be one of the best museum exhibitions on hats I've ever seen. (OK -- it was the only museum exhibition on hats I've ever seen, but still ....)

Another of the autumnal headgear series, this one starts getting heavy use about this time of year.

Related:
PC 135: Trapper Yearling
PC 134: Mermaid on my Mind
PC 133: Throwback Coonskin


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Project Cubbins: Hat 135 - Trapper Yearling Edition

Day 135 / Hat 135: American Eagle Outfitters trapper hat with green camouflage exterior, black polar fleece interior lining and faux fur trim.

Probably more of a deep winter hat than an early fall lid, I'd decided a few days ago to bust out this cap for day 135 since it's been hanging on the coat rack in the cube farm for close to a year now, hovering just within my line of sight.

It's been one of the safety hats I've counted on being able to grab at a moment's notice ever since embarking on this multi-hat project. It's today's hat because reaching number 135 means I just have 365 hats (and days) left to go to fulfill my goal. So why not throw a little safety to the wind in the form of standby hat?

But with one year to go, I DO have a hat bucket list (as opposed to a bucket hat list) I want to work on. It includes: one of those antique diving helmets, an old-school bowler, an aviator's cap (with goggles), the helmet from a suit of armor, and a Greek fisherman's cap.

There's also a really random one -- a jellyfish hat -- that was shown to me in a bar in Saxtons River, Vermont, one particularly memorable night a week or so ago. I don't remember much about it or the creator (I was shown a photo of said hat on a phone) but as I said at the time, and reiterate now, I'll gladly pay postage both ways on that one if the hat gods make it manifest.

So today's tip o' the hat goes to the as-of-yet unrealized heroes of Project Cubbins -- I know you're out there.


Related:
PC 135: Yachts and Mermaids
PC 34: Carmen Miranda, eat your heart out
PC 9: Vermont '79


OK, nice hat -- but what exactly is Project Cubbins, anyway?

A: One man's homage to Dr. Seuss and his second book, "The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins," which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its publication in 2013, Project Cubbins is an attempt to document the wearing of a different hat or piece of headgear every day for 500 consecutive days. No do-aheads, no banking of hats, no retroactive entries. PC started on May 27, 2013 with Hat 1

Got hats? If you loan 'em, you'll get e'm back safe and sound!