he dressed above the sartorial curve,
an ambassador for designer hats and scarves--
the African American haberdasher
in his shop at Hallmark's exclusive Crown Center.
Proud owner of both Kangols and Stetsons,
an English derby was his prized possession.
"Try it on," he offered with singular intention
"and you, sir, will be a man of distinction."
He doffed his derby, looked me straight in the eye,
his eight-ball skull matched the cue ball of mine--
the African American haberdasher
in his shop at Hallmark's exclusive Crown Center.
"Even the gangstas in the twenties and thirties
wore hats and suits, nothin' torn or dirty--
why Al Capone wouldn't be shot dead
wearin' the saggy pants of rapper threads.
A man's not fully dressed till a hat's on his head,
that, my friend, is the standard of measure,"
he said in a voice as soft as calfskin leather.
For this sophisticated ebony gentleman
with features as fine as a polished mandolin
dress manifests the wardrobe within.
For him proper dress was a necessary pleasure
and his collection of hats his particular treasure,
the crown of his closet which without acquisition
would constitute a serious wardrobe malfunction.--
the African American haberdasher
in his shop at Hallmark's exclusive Crown Center.
"I only own four baseball caps but I rarely wear them,"
"Neither do I, so what are they for then?"
"They're for baseball games--
you wear a hat to fit the occasion--
a derby to church or maybe to shows equestrian."
He bemoaned the fact that modern dress
had rumpled into sloppiness.
Could he be related to Carroll's Mad Hatter?
Yet I had to admit he looked exceedingly dapper--
the African American haberdasher
in his shop at Hallmark's exclusive Crown Center.
We tipped our hats as I turned to go,
he winked slyly at me with a slight little bow,
"You gotta wear a hat to be the star of the show,
that's really the trademark of a man in the know."
said the African American haberdasher
in his shop at Hallmark's exclusive Crown Center.
I realized then what he was telling me,
why he emphasized especially
that a balding guy's head's not complete sans chapeau--
it's the masculine wig of the hairless male ego!