Goorin Brothers, hat makers since 1895, recently opened a store in our Santa Monica, California neighborhood and Pugilist Brand Gentlemen's Grooming Products owner Tom stopped by to try on some hats to add to his existing collection and find what hat best suits the bearded gentleman. Now Tom doesn't profess to be a model, so some tongue in cheek poses were called for to offset the often used cliche of bearded hipsters and hats.

These were some of my favorites in addition to other non-Goorin Brothers headwear already in my collection. There's something about the right hat that sets of a grand beard or magnificent handlebar mustache, in addition to keeping you cool in the summer and warm or dry in the winter.

Don't forget to keep that facial hair clean and conditioned with a full range of beard care, mustache wax, facial hair washes and soaps at our online store at www.pugilistbrand.com. Champion of Gentlemen's Grooming. Made by Beardsmen for Beardsmen.

 Goorin Brothers 'The Doctor' wool wide brim fedora hat in Stone color.

I own one of these hats and love it. It's warm, stylish and also available in black. A  nice warm winter hat.

The Fedora is making somewhat of a renaissance after being hugely popular in the early part of the 20th Century.

 Goorin Brothers 'Pierre Renoir' real straw boater hat. Named after the French impressionist painter.

A nice lightweight straw hat, perfect for summer and a little bit different in style. In the 19th century the boater was worn to mark the start of summer, when heavier winter hats would be packed away. Now mostly seen in barbershop quartets, we think it deserves a comeback. Boaters were allegedly worn by G-men (FBI agents) as an unofficial uniform in the 1930's.

 The bowler hat was designed in the UK in the mid 19th Century, when a  low-crowned hat to protect  gamekeepers heads from low-hanging branches and swooping birds while keeper's rode on horseback. The gamekeepers had previously worn tall top hats, which were easily knocked off. The Bowler hat was conceived to solve the problem.

 This is a Goorin Brothers 'Bowler' also known as a Derby in the US. This is another warm hat as

it's 100% felt wool. Personally, I didn't like this bowler as I've have seen better bowlers with upturned brims at the side.

Didn't feel like a true bowler hat.

 Goorin Bros Ruben Gonzalez, hand woven Panama hat made in Ecuador of 100% Toquilla straw.

As early as the 15th century hat weaving became a popular business along the Ecuadorian coast. Hat weaving and wearing grew steadily in Ecuador over the next two hundred years. These hand woven straw hats were shipped first to Panama, before sailing for their destinations across the globe, thus acquiring the name "Panama hats" rather than the more accurate Ecuadorean hats.

 Goorin Brothers 'Jack Johnson' Panama hat, made from 100% shantung, a type of paper and substitute to authentic panama straw.  Very lightweight and comfortable. I own this hat, which is perfect for summer.

Not a hat but a motorcycle helmet I use when riding my custom bobber motorcycle. Prior to 1992 helmets were optional in the state of California where Pugilist Brand is based.

The stereotypical Russian 'Ushanka' hat. Ushanka is Russian for 'ears' i.e the flaps of the hat that can be lowered and extended over the ears in extremely cold climates. Sean Connery became famous for his portrayal of a ushanka wearing Russian submarine commander in the movie 'The Hunt for Red October'. I'm certainly no Sean Connery. A very warm hat that I wear maybe twice a year in California. The ushanka is great for skiing in the mountains of California, as it also affords some protection in addition to warmth. 

The Ottoman Empire and Turkey made the 'Fez' the best known hat of Arabic origin. Worn in various guises from military costume to traditional Turkish dress. It's better known for it's comedic value in the west, from Laurel & Hardy's Sons of the Desert appreciation society to 1970's British comedian Tommy Cooper. 

 Goorin Brothers 'Good Boy' 100% wool hat with shorter 1 7/8 " brim.

My Brixton wool western style hat. A lot of brim for plenty of shaded protection.

 Goorin Brothers 'Pleasure Point' hat. This is an everyday wear hat as it's on the less expensive side, a blend of  72% cotton & 28% cotton make this a medium weight and weather hat. Not as lightweight as the straw boaters and panama hats, however not as substantial and heavy as a 100% wool felt Fedora.