Pith helmet

[Coemgen]

I've been contemplating getting a pith helmet (from here). Personally, I think it'd look quite good, and it's practical: strong, yet lightweight; provides lots of shade; can be soaked in water to cool the head, but doesn't loose its toughness.

Besides, I can always pretend I'm on safari; I might as well be! The students here are animals, and the dorms are jungles, so I might as well go whole hog and get a safari shirt, a machete, and a khaki kilt (and, of course, a loyal native guide/servant/friend who wears a fez and gives wise, but cryptic advice)!

What think ye?

[Darkislander]

What the heck, Start a new trend.

[slohairt]

Make sure you grow a handlebar moustache and carry an elephant gun as well.

[beloitpiper]

I can't wait 'til Panache gets to this thread.

[BoldHighlander]

Here's a picture from my wedding (1996) that I thought you'd appreciate



Since it was an 1860's period wedding (complete with Confederate parson & sabre bearing honor guard) our piper, who is a uniform collector (in his stash is one of the uniforms worn in the Shirley Temple film "Wee Willie Winkie"), wore an authentic India campaign uniform circa 1865, complete with a military pith helmet.

(My bride was wearing a gown my sister made based on one that John Hunt Morgan's bride wore to their 1862 wedding, and though I did not own a kilt at the time & keeping somewhat with the calvary theme, I wore a Gordon tartan vest that my sister made for me).

[billmcc]

A pith helmet will make you look like you are wearing a costume.

[McClef]

Outside of military usage, which would in any case be largely historical, wearing one might very well be taking the pith.

[Larry124]

Years ago I lived in walking distance of a yearly Highland Games.
The day was usually hot and the grounds sunlit. Headgear for shade and in something other than wool was a good idea.
There was usually at least one Pipes Band or Pipe Major who wore tall pith helmets and looked good -- but that was a band uniform.
I recall perhaps two or three gentleman attendees who wore the safari style helmet.
To my eyes and in that venue the helmets looked good.
No more of a costume (in the US) than bonnets or Aussie/safari style slouch hats.
And more attractive than bucket hats.
But my own preference is for cotton caps or brimmed hats.

[Prester John]

Several pipe bands wear them in the summer.

Technically, it would be a uniform item, but as is so often the call on Xmarks, if you like it, wear it!

[pipesndrumsnun]

Dude...I thought you were poor and starving? Get a box of graham crackers, a jar of peanut butter, and some Ramen noodles instead!