Panama Hat Craze.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 401, 14 January 1904, Page 5

Panama Hat Craze.

An Australian writer, commenting on the Panama erase, says:—" Panamania in its most rabid stage was not so virulent as in its present condemnation. English papers are most eloquent in decrying the recently universal headgear, and even literary papers have had their litte dig at the dying fashion. As a knock-about or camping-out hat the Panama Will always be worn, but as a hat for city wear it is doomed. So many of the people who wore it ought to have known better. It only suits women who are young, dark, and piquant, without a line on their faces. As we know, women past their first youth' and well on into .middle age have adopted this jaunty headpiece. In Melbourne and Sydney small straw and pith helmets are coming into fashion. .They are hard to beat as knock-about bats.' I saw the first one worn in Hay street last Saturday week, and it caused quite a stir. The helmet, too is to be worn by men. It is eminently more decorous for. stout, pomSus men than the rakish Panama, which a ever been worn with a frock suit."— Nice people very seldom, if ever, wear tin Panama nowadays; it is principally "Mary Janes" headgear (says .the Christchurcb "Spectator"). For useful wear the neat sailor hat of college straw will probably reign supreme in a year or two again, and certainly none of the verities we Lava bad ' Su a» y&«? last year or two can beat the simple, bat becoming, *» sailor."