Rag & Bone Porkpie

THE ASKMEN TAKE

This item appears in our Fall Fashion Preview 2009.

This traditional hat is made of wool, finished with a black band and a small gray frame, and features a short crown. This simple yet strong men’s accessory will be your companion from day to night. It will easily transform a smart outfit into a super-smart one. For a more casual, laid-back attitude pair the Rag & Bone porkpie hat with basic jeans -- a bit distressed, slightly rolled up -- and a loose shirt; it will add that little extra nonchalance (think Orlando Bloom and Justin Timberlake sporting their faithful porkpies while shopping with Miranda and Jessica). Be careful, though, and pay attention to every detail; it only looks easy. Otherwise, your porkpie will transform you into a messy Pete Doherty.

UNIQUENESS

Neville and Wainwright, having their roots in denim, know how to do accessible, wearable clothes. Their primary challenge behind the Rag & Bone label was to create clothing that their friends would like to wear everyday. In this deceivingly humble accessory you’ll find what’s best about Rag & Bone: strong British tailoring influences (stereotypical -- yes -- but here in a good sense), classic construction and a handmade feel. The price tag doesn’t look ridiculous, either, and guarantees decent quality.

DURABILITY

Gone are the times of dark, stuffy, old-fashioned jazz bars full of cigarette smoke and glasses filled up with whisky. Now it all became so scarily sanitary. What’s left is nostalgia and porkpie hats so willingly worn by jazz icons back in the days. The porkpie hat has been around for decades and it’s not going anywhere. This perfectly made Rag & Bone porkpie is a clever investment. You’ll wear it for years, anytime you feel like upping your style quotient or when you simply feel nostalgic.