Goorin Bros. Hat Shop

Another jewel in the Glamour Crown of Boston is the Goorin Bros. Hat Shop located on Newbury St and in Harvard Square. Created in 1895, the shop is like stepping back in time, with leather tufted wing-back chairs, decanters and vintage sherry glasses, retro vanities, intricately carved wooden bars, and of course, hats everywhere. This shop is geared towards men, with a few (very few) styles for ladies–like the brown cloche which reminded me of something a “sensible” lady might wear. Fedoras, newsboy caps, chauffeur caps… and the shopkeeper, Matt, was so warm and friendly I nearly sat down and made myself at home. We had a long conversation about hats, which led to conversation about famed hat designer Stephen Jones, which led to Matt’s adoration of Dita Von Teese. Matt was thrilled to find out I wore Dita’s purple fedora on the runway for Stephen Jones Hat Show at the Peabody Essex Museum. He was also intrigued when I told him how Dita had gotten such a fabulous burlesque show: it is burlesque tradition that the older dancers pass their signature shows onto a worthy successor. In this case, Catherine Delish passed on her “champagne glass” and “bird in a cage” shows to Dita.
How do I know this?
Because I performed burlesque with Miss Delish for many years in Los Angeles back in the 90’s, and I was thrilled to see her shows memorialized in their highest form with Dita, who is the epitome of glamour, even when taking off her clothes. (Hey, at least she keeps on her custom Louboutins.)
My new friend, Matt, then told me Jazz musicians do the same thing, which I was happy to learn. He next told me that the shop has the occasional special event, namely an arm wrestling event where everyone wears handlebar mustaches and wrestles. Now I do look dashing in a mustache, but I am much better at leg wrestling, so if they decide to add that to their roster, you may find me there one evening.
So, if you’re looking for a fun evening out with your man, drag him over two the Goorin Bros. for his own show-stopping hat so you’re not stealing ALL his thunder. And if you can’t get your man into a hat, well, you might get him in there for an enticing wrestle–what man can resist?