Stephen Fry Hates Panama Hats

In an exclusive interview in The Chap, legendary actor, raconteur and author Stephen Fry puts forward some frank and unashamed views about headwear, including comments to the effect that Panama hats make him want to vomit.

What started as a jovial discussion about the usual Chap matters, in which Mr. Fry waxed in his usual lyrical fashion on common courtesy, cricket, Englishness and whether flip flops are an appropriate form of footwear in the civilised world, this soon developed into a heartfelt outpouring on the subject of hats. “Anyone who wears a Panama hat ought to be thrashed,” was his opening salvo on the subject.

This publication has always championed the wearing of headwear on all occasions, when outdoors. From trilby to flat cap to straw boater, the bearing of hats has always been the mark of distinction between Chaps and mere men. According to Mr. Fry, however, “As well to have tattooed on your forehead the words ‘I am a fatuous twat’ as to wear a Panama.”

Readers are invited to form their own opinion’s of Mr. Fry’s views, by reading the full interview in the June-July issue of The Chap, which can be purchased here

July 9, 2009

40 Comments »

Comment by Michael Gutteridge — July 9, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

I recall someone saying in a biographical documentary about Stephen Fry that he was a man of innate good-manners who has an extraordinary aversion to hurting the feelings of his fellow human beings. Obviously, he has since expunged himself of this characteristic. I’ve always been an admirer of Stephen but this whole interview put a serious damper on that affection. Upon reflection, my guess is it is Stephen ranting on at his own psychological phantoms and projecting them onto the rest of us.

Comment by Albion — July 10, 2009 @ 9:52 am

It was once said that there is no purpose in having prejudices unless they are aired publicly from time to time. It seems that the quizmaster of “QI” has a quite irrational dislike of the Panama hat. Let it be so for him, as freedom to air QIs of this nature is the hallmark of civilisation. Personally, I own such a hat and enjoy its shady protection from the Sun enormously.

Comment by Sir Round Sound — July 10, 2009 @ 11:09 am

Although I do own and wear a Panama of the folding variety when in the company of Royalty or in situations of extreme civility, I prefer to don a Pith helmet in all other situations when protection from the tropical sun or restless natives is required.

Comment by Elgar Holst Esq. — July 10, 2009 @ 5:07 pm

Sir Round, I empathise entirely, tending to don the Pith helmet for general summer exploration, but opting for the Panama when on the Continent to avoid arousing anti-imperialist sentiment in our associates from the far bank of our Channel. Mr Fry should remember “For every hat a reason”.

Comment by The baron — July 10, 2009 @ 7:15 pm

Dear readers, When l go on sarfari to the British colonies, Malaya Kenya Rodesia British Hong Kong British Singapore British India New Zealand and Australia.One always take a panama hat incase of sun stroke,or getting a beastly tan ,and looking like a native.One must protect the pale English skin from the ravergers of the climate, and always keep up ones appearance in front of the natives.l myself never leave the hotel without a hat fix to ones head.At the Raffels Hotel you can find myself in a topper in the evening and a bombay bowler for lunch, and a panama for breakfast.One simply does not swan about with a naked head God for bid, you might be mistaken as a bearer or a cooly,which l never had the fortune to be mistaken for .

Comment by Peachy Carnehan — July 12, 2009 @ 7:06 am

As an ex-pat (a deplorable term) living in tropical climes, I find my Panama to be of great comfort in the dead of summer. I am lucky to be a close acquaintance of an American born Equadorian haberdasher, who supplies the finest titfers through his family business, “The Panama Hat Shop”. I have rarely met a man in the trade who still blocks, cleans and repairs hats, yet this fellow does it all. I have a fine weave “Stingy Brim”, which complements my linen suit perfectly, and I often receive complements on the ensemble.

Comment by Michael Sutcliffe — July 12, 2009 @ 1:13 pm

Just as the pocket flaps on a chap’s jacket are functioning items, and never just put there for mere adornment lest a chap be considered a poser, so to a panama hat is functional accessory that simply cannot be surpassed in terms allowing a chap to retain an appropriate demeanour while braving the warmer elements. Mr Fry seems to have overlooked the fact that, from time to time even for a chap, form can follow function.

Comment by Dr Hubert Barrel-Barrel — July 12, 2009 @ 6:50 pm

I fear that this and Mr Fry’s habit of ‘tweeting’ to all and sundry may demonstrate a certain Instability of the Mind, and I worry that he is not about to suffer an Unfortunate Episode. If Mr Fry should be reading this, I advise him to send me a postal order valued one guinea and I will forward him a list of eminent nerve specialists by return of post.

Yrs, etc.

Comment by Seth Onetooth — July 13, 2009 @ 10:57 am

I regularly don a panama hat and will continue to do so.
Could it be that Mr Fry shed a few brain cells along with six stone in weight recently?

Comment by Fatuous Twat — July 14, 2009 @ 2:16 pm

Dear Friends,

Fry is a splendid fellow: his anti-Panama philippic most refreshing. There is nothing, in my view, more satisfying than an opinion, however contrary to what may be one’s own, that is expressed freely, frankly and firmly. I believe today’s world to be restrained and constrained by a uniform mundanity that discourages the freedom of expression and averts an individual from being one’s self for fear of attracting that most damning of indictments, that much afeared epithet – eccentric. Thank you Mr Fry your views are noted, valued, and indeed, cherished. Notwithstanding this, however, I do have to disagree.

I like hats. I might look like the proverbial tit in a hat -but I still like them. My hair is thinning, my skin is pale and my head is small – my hats protect my scalp, maintain what is left of my hairstyle, complete my outfit and preserve my complexion – hats, to me, Mr Fry, are a positive boon; an object of desire; a garment set apart.

I have a range of hats – from boaters and busbies to waxed-caps and zucchettos – and my little collection of Panamas gives me much pleasure, protection and, if I may say so, some much needed panache. Those blessed with the natural endowments that negate the need to sport “an object upon one’s head” must consider those to whom the good Lord was not so kind, and to whom the hat provides the satorial equivalent of the Virginia Creeper on a less than prepossessing edifice.

I disagree with you Mr Fry – but I revel in the fact that I can.

I take my hat off to you Sir.

I remain warmly yours,

Fatuous Twat Esq.

Comment by Diederik vL — July 14, 2009 @ 4:21 pm

Dear Sir,

Opinions are a splendid thing to have, and venting them the birth right of each chap (only hoi polloi should being kept from doing so in our general direction, I believe they have internationales for that very purpose).

Mr. Fry has in the past on many an occasion evidenced to dispose of many terrific qualities, several of them worthy of the highest laurels of chappishness. However, this does not in any way sanctify the man (nor have I ever read about him claiming such thing, but the populace often has difficulties with the mere human-ness of their haloed heroes) and so like any other of us he can easily err in his ways. And has the right to. It merely shows him for what he is. A man/chap just like the next one.

Mr. Fry claims that the sight of panama hats makes him want to vomit. Funnily enough I had a similar sentiment when I read his novel ‘The Liar’. Boarding school buggery is not my reading material of choice.

As to the mental balance of Mr. Fry, it (or the lack thereof) is widely documented. In 1995 Rik Mayall was to co-starr in a theater production alongside his friend Fry who suffered a nervous breakdown and fled to Belgium of all places. The play was forced to close shortly afterwards. In a 2007 interview, Mayall said of the incident: “You don’t leave the trenches … Selfishness is one thing, being a c**t is another. I mustn’t start that war again”. Rather than panama hats or moustaches I feel reliability should be an epithome of chappist ways.

In short, what the dickens should I care about Mr. Fry’s – or anyone’s – opinions on panama hats. In the anarcho-dandyist spirit of the movement I can be whomever I want to be and am happy to make my own judgments – sartorial or otherwise – without losing sleep over whether or not to cause nausea with Mr. Fry.

The man has given us fine hours of televised and other entertainment. Maybe his superb thespian qualities had us confuse his characters portrayed with his own persona.

Respectfully and what not,
DVL, esq.

Comment by Ozwald of Nene — July 15, 2009 @ 6:32 pm

Feeling rebelious and sporting a Panama at Henley one year rather than the more traditional boater, I suffered from profuse perspiration in the cranial area…much I am sure, to the delight of the more traditional elements of Phyllis Court.
I have since taken to a rather jaunty Fez, which constructed of the richest of wools & with its silken tassel provides a most elegant topee, offering full air circulation, and a very efficient fly swat from the swirling silk.
I commend the Fez to the house.
Yours
Ozwald of Nene

Comment by Manuel Carvalho — July 15, 2009 @ 6:52 pm

Dear Sir,

The whole interview was a bit irascible, wouldn’t we say?
I like my Panama, it just feels and looks good with my suits. And with the sun shining the way it has down on Iberia, it makes me wonder why everybody else isn’t cool under one. Panama, I mean. I’m glad I ordered that Jeeves and Wooster dvd, though. Not that I’ll forget the books.

Yours,
Manuel C.

Comment by Christopher delaMaison — July 16, 2009 @ 5:05 am

Well……..I must admit, I am taken aback by the aforementioned comments concerning the Panama Hat. I wear my custom-made Montecristi Panama to work in the summer months, and have enjoyed its many benefits. It works well with all of my summer outfits and allows me to stand out from the crowd; which, unfortunately, is not all that difficult, given the exceptionally poor sartorial tastes prevalent here in the states.

I take great pride in dressing well, and encouraging my associates to do likewise. I would hope that the venerable Panama would be considered a mainstay of any “chaps” wardrobe.

Comment by Alexander Shaw — July 19, 2009 @ 10:35 pm

Ive always wondered why Mr Fry is wrongly revered as some kind of modern day sourcebook of classic manners and civility. The man may have possessed slick yet slightly foppish dress sense and a tongue to match, but these are not soley by themselves the prequisites of a gentleman and chap. A true chap is a man of un-shakable steadfast integrity, not a man given over to the latest media behaviour fads, he is certainly not a man given over to intellectually vain and vulgar satire, or a man that adopts a kind of canned charisma only when it suits. I believe some of Mr Fry’s previous work especially his time playing Jeeves fostered within many people an infectious comfort, and a yearning for the times of bowler hatted compitence and reliability often associated with the once prudent and respected banking sector. As a result i feel Mr Fry (maybe unfairly) has had the hope for the unlikely return to the civility and charm of a lost era projected onto him. Although it must be said that Mr Fry did once show some genuine qualities even in real life as a man that conveyed fantatic wit without contemporary crudeness, and a man who carried himself with an increasingly rare form of manly elegance. But fast forward to the present and you have a man that appears to have surendered a large part of what actual charms he commanded as a younger man upon the mantle of popular media and modern vulgarity, indeed he is now often seen looking intentionally dis-shevelld like some sort of university bum, so in short to finish this hard truthfull analysis of the man and not the myth, i will say that i have never been remotely concerned by any opinions Mr Fry may have on headwear or any other attire for that matter, especially when his opinions are starting to be peppered in the abbrasive manner which is more akin to the likes of the much Reviled Jonathon Ross. STEPHEN FRY WE ALL THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN THAT!

Comment by Pablo Picasso El-Stoopido — July 21, 2009 @ 5:32 am

Panama; excellent hat. A tad lightweight for my taste, but very wrong of Mr Fry to be so critical, very un-gentlemanly. I’m disappointed.

Comment by Archibald Fatherington-Fatherington Whapshott — July 22, 2009 @ 1:52 pm

Good Lord, I mean honestly! Mr Fry, you have taken the place of Her Majesty’s Government in ruining my day.

I shall spend the rest of a dreary Wednesday afternoon doffing my beloved Panama to all and sundry on the Circle Line with a zealousness akin only to a Frenchman waving a white flag in the face of a troop of advancing Girl Guides.

Comment by Right Rev. Horatio Quelch — July 22, 2009 @ 7:40 pm

I had occasion, during my tenure as Headmaster of Stouts Hill Preparatory School, to birch your Master Fry for conduct unbecoming an English Schoolboy. I am of the old school in that I am a firm believer in the wisdom of administering regular sound thrashings to build character and a sense of fair play in young boys. During an inter-schools hockey match in 1967 the young rapscallion used his stick to knock the Panama hat off Brigadier Roper-Bradshaw, a fine gentleman and member of the Board of Governors, who had kindly consented to act as umpire, a role to which his extensive military experience in India made him ideally suited. At the time I was concerned that the weals I left on young Fry might have been too severe even given the righteous outrage his disgraceful behaviour aroused in me. However, with hindsight, I believe I was if anything, too lenient as it is apparent that the boy learned nothing from his experience.

Comment by Very_British — July 23, 2009 @ 7:37 am

If the Panama were the last bit of shade on the planet to provide the head with protection from the sun, would Mr. Fry still complain like he does or would he break open the champers on the news he’s critically ill with skin cancer!?

Comment by John S.M. Griffin — July 23, 2009 @ 4:00 pm

Harrumph! That demmed fellah Fray at it again! I’ve a good maind to write to his Club and have him dash-well blackballed! Just because he gets himself on the telly does he think that it gives him a blasted right to tell respectable people what to wear. Too big a skull that chap has, y’know. Water on the breen I believe. No creditable hatter could fit him – thats his beef, I’d warrant.

Met old Roper-Bradshaw not long ago at Lords. Oh deary me, has he aged! Quite tight too he was at two in the afternoon. Some flunky was holding him up. I nearly fell over the old boy’s stick, thats how I recognised him. And may I say he was wearing a jolly dashed looking Panama as indeed I was myself as well as two thirds of the people there. Other third was wearing toppers in the Royal enclosure, don’tcha know, what?!

Really this upstart needs a sound thrashing, rather like the ones you used to dish out to him before, what? Ah the dear Headmaster, what-was-his name? – I can still hear the swish of his gown as he bustled down the hall…Oh demmit! That teem already? Tea at three,you knolw what? Village clock and all that, what? Must hurry. Hip-hip and Cheerio!

The Hight Honourable John McSweeney-Griffin

Comment by The Earl of Essex — July 26, 2009 @ 7:01 pm

I must admit, I have rather a liking for the Panama hat; Is it possible that Mr.Fry was admonished as a schoolboy, by a Master so attired, or had an unwelcome experience with a gentleman “colleague” who wore such a titfer?

Comment by L Harvey — July 31, 2009 @ 10:48 pm

All I have to say is that any man who deems it fit to mention an “Apple Store” as well as his yearning desire for one over a yearning desire for a decent outfitters is simply not a Chap in any sense of the word that we would understand.

I have a great amount of respect for Mr Fry and his works, he is a fine and witty writer, poet, ourator, “host” and is by every concept of the word, a gentleman; but not a Chap.

I did enjoy the interview, it was interesting to see an intelligent man fail to grasp the idea of the thing; but the ideas expressed should be considered as worthy as the ideas expressed by a Mr Micheal Winner in a previous edition of The Chap.

Comment by Brigadier-General Charles Wadsworth — August 8, 2009 @ 11:38 am

I `hae ma doots`, as my scottish nanny would have said, about Fry. I strongly suspect his chappishness is a pose desgined to appeal to the sort of people he sercetly sneers at. In short, fundamentally unsound.

Comment by Brigadier-General Charles Wadsworth — August 8, 2009 @ 11:45 am

Thrash the blighter myself if I didn`t think he`d enjoy it!
Apologies for errors in previous telegram – Secretarial Agency sent me some damn girlie instead of the usual young man in frock coat. What will they think of next?

Comment by Brigadier Basra Bertie Ranfurleigh — August 13, 2009 @ 5:47 pm

Sir,

I am appalled at the ridiculous opinions of Mr Fry regarding Panama hats. A Panama hat would of course be entirely unsuitable for Mr Fry whose ideas of exotic travel prior to his career as a small screen luvie would have been a weekend in Orpington. The Panama is for the Imperialists amongst us. A Panama goes with linen suits, fly whisks, steamers, cabin trunks and coolies.

Boaters are for buggers but Panamas are not for poofs. Please let him retire to the comfort of his tight Moroccan houseboy and let us near no more from this charlatan.

Brigadier Basra Bertie Ranfurleigh

Comment by Jean of Richmond — August 16, 2009 @ 3:01 am

Perhaps one of the female persuasion shouldn’t pipe in on a chaps’ forum, but in case any of you are interested in the perspective of the fairer sex… Just for novelty’s sake.

In our eyes, men’s hats range from laughable to sensible to dashing. It’s not the kind of hat, however, that renders the verdict, but rather the combination of head and hat (and overall costume), not to mention the exact angle of the hat as worn.

A backwards baseball cap is the only exception to the rule. It will always look dorky. Always. No matter what. Just in case any chap thinks he can pull it off: don’t delude yourself. Don’t ever wear a backwards baseball cap. All right. Back to Panama hats.

Panama hats look handsome on most men. Just the right blend of jaunty, pretentious, and practical. We like that.

Comment by Stafford Vere — August 22, 2009 @ 1:04 pm

Mrs Alec Tweedie put it best in her excellent “My table-cloths; a few reminiscences” (1916):

“Always hating himself in a panama hat, he felt, as he expected, a bounder.”

Source: Google Books

Comment by A. Charles King — August 22, 2009 @ 10:08 pm

Well, well, well. The Fry backlash begins here, eh? The Panama is of course de rigueur at any cricket match in the northern hemisphere, to protect a chap’s (balding?) head from the rays, but otherwise one feels it supererogatory.

Comment by Hon. Arthur Midgley — August 23, 2009 @ 2:23 pm

Sirs.

How, may one ask, can a man who dresses as a tramp criticise any garb – be it headwear or any other mode of dress? Perhaps an over-indulgence in buggery and an over-inflated sense of self importance have had an effect on Mr fry’s grey matter.

May I suggest Mr Fry learn how to knot a tie correctly before spilling forth such bile. The swine ruined a damned fine edition of ones favourite periodical by vomiting such utter tripe.

The bugger is also in need of a haircut.

Comment by Stuart — August 24, 2009 @ 10:33 am

Dear Chaps,

I seem to remember Mr Fry causing similar controversy many years age when he derided the word ‘plinth’, only now is society beginning to accept the merits of this view.

Should sartorial elegance stand still? No. Indeed, I read that the very future of the authentic Jipijapa is under threat thanks to the industrious Chinese, what then? Surely Mr Fry is at least correct to prompt such a debate.

Finally, I would remind you that SJF is a man ‘of the green and yellow’ and anyone who manages to carve a life for himself beyond the boundaries of the A11 is alright in my book and deserves a little more respect from us all.

“Keep you a troshin” Mr Fry!

Pingback by Off topic. « What’s up at Ravens March. — August 25, 2009 @ 8:01 pm

[...] an oversight through a plug. I bought a Panama hat over the summer, and despite the nasty things Stephen Fry says about them I’m very pleased with mine. I didn’t spend a mint on it, either, and for the [...]

Comment by Antipodean Chap — September 8, 2009 @ 8:33 am

Steady on, Chaps, so the man doesn’t like panama hats, bully for him. Can’t say I agree with his opinion, but damned if I’m going to act like a blasted foreigner about it, getting all excitable and upset.
That the beggar is a bugger is immaterial.

Comment by sandra742 — September 9, 2009 @ 3:24 pm

Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. Cheers! Sandra. R.

Comment by Stuart — September 10, 2009 @ 9:50 am

How awful, I hope riding in to such flotsam didn’t cause you any injury or interrupt your watersport.
Is the Blog a Middle Eastern breed?
I knew a girl once who had a peculiar fondness for a Puli which was often tethered to a post when ‘tending its flock’. One day, after one to many Sherries, she determined to uproot the stake and toss away in a noble effort to liberate the poor beast, a gesture that Joy Adamson herself would have been proud of. Unfortunately the stake landed in a nearby dyke and the Puli, true to its nature, went dashing after it only to suffer a very sudden and boggy death. So, just goes to show doesn’t it.

Comment by Brig Basra Bertie — September 15, 2009 @ 4:17 pm

No sir, the Blog is a corruption of the Chinese for a brogue and I can only assume that the fragrant Miss Sandra had come across this footwear which had been lost overboard from an oriental gentleman’s steam yacht.

Comment by Dr. George E Elwell — September 17, 2009 @ 7:29 pm

Although I am happy for each and every chap to be his own; I must express my disappointment at Mr. Fry’s view on ‘The Panama’ and hope that this does not imply a generally more ‘un-chap-esque’ direction for his future. Mine gives me great pleasure, whilst also allowing me to avoid more unsightly sun protection.

Elwell.

Comment by stuart — September 18, 2009 @ 5:41 pm

Well, I don’t see why she needs to start bringing footwear in to it.

Comment by Mr Christopher Hacking-Cough — November 19, 2009 @ 7:15 pm

I do remember some years ago watching an (ahem) One Day International Cricket match (I know..sorry..I was desperate!), when the camera man tranfered his attention from the play to someone in the crowd. Usually when this happens the induvidual concerned turns out to be a delightful young lady, but on this occasion it was none other than Mr Fry….in a Panama Hat.

Comment by Ms. Elizabeth Oldroyd — December 14, 2009 @ 9:15 am

Given this vehement rejection of the Panama Hat I was quite shocked to come across an old advert of Mr. Fry for Panama Cigars wearing a stunning suit and, yes, a Panama Hat. I wonder if this is the exception or the cause of this odious reaction to the hat in question.

Comment by Dearne Grange — January 23, 2010 @ 2:12 pm

I have also found oneself aplomb of suitable headwear whilst visiting the outer reaches of the Empire. Compatriates have often suggested a multitude of Hatters in ‘Sydney’, only for me to be heavily dismayed with the quality of service. Much like Hardy once said; ‘I’ll be writing about this’; or words to that effect.

Perhaps if Fry could reveal a requisite alternative to the undisputed class and practicality of a good Panama, he should let us in.

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Stephen Fry Hates Panama Hats

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