Tipping the Hat

chapeau1.jpg

In general, I have bore the brunt of a variety of reactions to my outfits in this past week or so in Paris – I’m fairly used to it just because Paris is what it is…  They range from children laughing and pointing to tutting to blatant criticisim in French which is even comprendable to me.  So today, it was a) nice to see the sun shining again and b) refreshing to see Parisians being dare I say… nice about my attire.  More specifically, it was an old fashioned mark of respect that I got.  With my vintage straw hat on the move, I had about five very elderly French gentleman that were coindentally very dapperly dressed, tipping their own hats (berets/tweed caps) to me and saying things like "Jolie chapeau!".  I found myself wanting to do the same thing but then I realised this ritual is only reserved for the gents so instead, I just nodded my head back in a very subtle ‘I’m greeting a gentleman’ Austenian sort of way.  I did have to stop myself from saying "Good day to you sir!" lest they thought I was a barmy woman who carries plastic bags full of other plastic bags and eats banana skins for dinner.  Nonetheless, it felt a little bit like a Madeline storybook as I came out of the Kenzo show in the very old Carreau de Temple structure (it had the most unbelievable finale of giant mechanical books opening up with pop-up flowers and butterlies being revealed…)  and then being greeted in such a way.  Just stick an accordian behind me playing Milord by Edith Piaf and that would indeed be a perfect cliche.

Chapeau1
Chapeau2

55 comments

  6. Hats are really a finishing off i think to a lot of outfits.
    How very English in a Parisian environment!

  7. aahh… well the parisians just have a different sense of fashion, albiet entitled… sometimes rightly so, but they just don’t have the sense of experiment as your average londoner. esp the queen of experiment Ms. Bubble.
    🙂
    you look absolutely lovely!

  8. I’m glad you mentioned this. Last time i was in Paris (July) people literally pointed and laughed at me and I don’t even dress outrageously. I love the comforts of here in London where you can really wear what you like! xLoulou

  9. A long time ago when I was IN Paris people ridiculed me because I wore Pucci & mini skirts- I never went back, even tho i’ve been told that they have changed. Doesn’t sound like it!
    I think our outfits were great!

  11. the second pic is great!
    oh, and people point and laugh at you almost everywhere in the world. i know it feels funny, but you probably shouldn’t care. they surely don’t look as stylish. keep it up, susie! xo

  12. you are so lucky to be able to go to pfw!
    i love the straw hat–it looks masculine but feminine-mary poppins-ish at the same time to me..the colour of the straw is very nice.
    oh, and i forgot to mention i have linked you blog!

  13. It’s looks very old world and grand, perfect for swinging round a street pole and dancing around with baguettes.
    Well of course you look very distinguished, but that’s what i would do!

  14. I think it would probably give your outfit a really cute quirky touch ,,just stumbled across your blog by accident today,,Ill be adding it to my favourites list 😉

  19. It’s a lovely hat.
    I find it interesting that the people on the streets thought it necessary to register their displeasure with what you’ve been wearing. What egos they have.

  21. I am a Parisian (although I now live in London) and I am always stunned at how narrow minded Parisian people are when it comes to fashion (and many other things – that’s another story). I remember a few years back wearing a bright green 60s coat and being followed for ten minutes by some dude in sweatpants repeating “green coat green coat” on a loop and making some other rude comments. Nowadays, when I pack my case to go see my family in Paris, I have trouble finding Paris Friendly clothes as everything I have seems to get me nasty remarks. It is so sad that one of the capitals of fashion is the host to such idiots!
    x

  23. I love Paris to death, aesthetically much more than London, but everytime I go there I just sight for London politeness and open-mindness. And I’m not even British i just live here at the moment. You looked as usual, lovely.

  25. I can’t believe Paris is still so narrow minded- I’m glad I never went back. Here in NY at least no one ever bothers u about what u are wearing. I was thinking about majoring in French, but after being ridiculed, and treated so rudely, I never spoke another word of French. Now I study Italian, much better.

  27. I noticed you wearing that hat in another set of pics and it is fab! Excellent timing with the Marc Jacobs show and all that, and it really suits you. You’ve got me hunting for one. Once when I was in Paris I was wearing a sort of sandal kitten heel but it was March or something so it was a colder month and I passed a mother/daughter and the mother pointed out my feet to her daughter! I thought it was strange but it didn’t really bother me but perhaps I have an aggressive North American attitude? I don’t know – if someone (in sweatpants!) no less taunted me for wearing something, I would probably taunt them back!

  28. in paris we care about beauty.
    no need to make a fool of yourself in a heap clothes for attention cos you wont get any.
    its paradoxal, you actually want to impress people you sa you dont care what others think, but when they dont like it, you are vexed.

  29. The problem is Marie, beauty is relative there is no such thing as a fashion arbiter and people have the right to be left alone no matter what their fashion choices are, that’s politeness.

  30. The hat looks beaut and really suits you. I’m a student from Manchester and for some reason my fellow students at uni never seem to wear any kind of hat!? Last week I wore a beanie covered in black sequins and everyone looked at me like i was mad. Now it’s getting colder the hat draw is open and i’m on the look out for a lovely vintage hat in one of Manchester’s vintage shops. I’d never have picked the style you are wearing here but you have given me inspiration! It looks lovely on you.
    Rianna Bethany x
    http://appliquefashion.blogspot.com/

  31. Well, yes, I suppose I don’t really fit into the Parisian mould of beauty but actually I quite respect that…. I don’t mind ppl laughing/pointing etc because I respect that it’s a different culture/city…. I come from Hong Kong and it can be conservative there too…. I’m not lambasting ppl for thinking what they think….it’s their opinion.
    I was merely remarking on the odd old fashioned gesture that is still in survival…but anyways….
    I wear what I feel like and contrary to what most ppl think, these aren’t ‘fashion week’ outfits per se but a true reflection of what I’d wear day in and day out…except I have a LITTLE bit more time to ponder about what I’m wearing because I have to pack for the days here… if I wanted attention I could also do it an easier way… like I dunno expose a boob (see Andrea Crews SS09 for visual references…. !)
    If I listed the number of times ppl making comments etc on the street about my outfits on the blog, that would be me being vexed…as it stands, it’s something that I’ve grown with and gotten used to and I don’t really mind because it’s not my place to do so…. and in conclusion… I’m not at all offended…because ultimately my clothes makes me happy.

  32. good on you for wearing what you like! for me, the pros of paris outweigh the cons. although i’ve never had anyone criticise what i wear in paris, i don’t think i’d be particularly offended, epecially if that person themself isn’t look so dapper either. i bet the old men tipping their hats made your day, though 🙂
    oh and, could you post a picture of the full outfit that you’re wearing with that hat? i’d love to see how what kind of outfit you matched (or mis-matched) it with.

  33. I would just like to say that I tip my hat to you and your adventurous fashion sense. It’s really impeccable and admirable. I love your use of complimenting colors and layering.
    Visit Our Site

  34. I actually can’t believe they laugh at you because you always look so well put together. I’m always astounded at how well you pull everything off.
    So pah to them!

  35. i’ve heard that about paris! what snobs! i’ve never been there but so many people tell me i’ll be in trouble when i go. haha! i will finally, hopefully(!!) make it there next spring, so i’ll see how much i get ridiculed. but in any case, i love how you look in hats! wear more hats! 🙂

  36. Ah, your lovely photos just fuel my obsessions about straw hats more! People really should wear hats more often.

  37. Don’t worry – the french may be chic but they can also be boring, conservative and unadventurous. Each to their own, I say!
    And charming old men are fabulous wherever you may be 🙂

  39. 我在中国版的＜格调MISS>上看到关于你的故事!

  41. Hello,
    I would like to introduce my site http://www.jussararomao.com.br .
    For the past eleven years, the carioca Jussara Rom√£o has been creating images for Elle Brasil.
    Now, in her atelier- house, she explores textures, volumes and shapes found in nature and in the grafism of cities.
    Her collection puts together still not lapidated stones and fit them naturally on special silver shapes.
    The outcome is unique, a belief in simplicity and purity of forms.
    If you need to request any more, please contact us.
    Sincerely,
    Jussara Rom√£o

  42. MARIE- it is certainly your perogative not like what someone is wearing, but there is no reason to be so RUDE!!! And anyway, ideas about style & beauty are quite subjective. You sound like the cliche of the condescending rude Frenchman. What do you have to be so superior about??

  45. Oh dont listen to them.
    Your outfits were magical-especially the one with the cage skirt.

  46. i hope you don’t let their comments get to you! fashion is so personal. i don’t know how anyone could really judge someone for what they’re wearing!
    🙂

  47. i have tried to wear hats likes this. but it’s too windy here…

  48. awwww…i think its cute that the elderly gentlemen were tipping their hats…its cute!
    but your hat is cute too…but even if it wasn’t, there is no need for anyone to be blatantly rude about it

  51. The plastic bag in other plastic bags comment made me laugh–I’ve seen this so much when taking public transportation. It’s almost a requirement of crazy people.

  52. How comforting to know the French are acting in accordance with all preconceived notions and stereotypes — alternating between inordinately rude and impossibly refined. And I highly respect you for having the bravery to keep wearing exactly what you wanted. You do look adorable in the hat.

  53. I’ve seen that hat on here before, it is indeed lovely. On Austenian head attire: ever worn a bonnet? That would probably cause pointing :). Funny to hear about the Parisian reaction to fashion though, when I went in March I was actually worried I’d be underdressed in my comfy citytrip gear. At least now I know I must have fitted right in :/ weird.

  54. Oh, you look amazing! That hat is too cute on you. I have also noticed when I wear hats, it is mostly older men who give me compliments. Funny.

  55. Thanks a great deal! I truly enjoyed reading this.Looking via these posts and also the material you’ve provided I can appreciate that I still have a great deal of things to learn.
    6.These articles are fantastic; the specifics you show us is interesting for everybody and is really wonderful written. It’s just outstanding!!

Comments are closed.