Panama Hat which combines well with the light tan suit.

Very few men early in the 20th century dared go hatless. Today’s gentlemen rarely wear hats but with summer upon us there is both a practical and fashionable reason to don one.

The most popular hats at the start of last century were the homburg, the boater and the panama. The homburg and boater are generally not worn today but the panama is once again becoming popular.

The Panama is a lightly coloured, tightly woven straw hat that originally comes from Ecuador. First worn in high society by Napoleon III it was not until 1906 that it became known as the ‘Panama’ when President Roosevelt worn one during a tour of the Panama Canal, thereby setting a trend for the American man.

Initially a luxurious dress hat worn during the summer, this hat is best combined with a light coloured (tan, brown, blue or grey) suit or trouser.

By Mark Ferguson