Going Civilian: The Hat-Part II

George Raft

     As we continue our discussion on hats, I would just like to throw in a little something about the materials for felt type hats. Traditionally, they have been made of fur, and today, the best quality ones are still made from fur. This doesn't mean they kill an animal though. They just need the fur to crush, so there's no harm done! Fur is the best quality, certainly better than wool felt, and it weathers better too. If you should purchase an older hat, it'll most likely be made of some type of fur. Rabbit fur is a common one. Fur also feels a lot nicer than wool; it's smoother while the wool has a more course feel to it. Generally a fur hat will be able to be shaped more than a wool one; they have a softer quality. Modern fur hats cost a lot more ($100-$250 typically) though, especially more than their wool counterparts (usually $35-$80), but sometimes you can find some nice deals. Scala has some decent fur felt hats (I've found them for as low as $40), but if you want a hat that lasts, Stetson is the place to go, especially vintage Stetsons. Other hats made by hat companies no longer business are typically of good quality too. 

     Other than that, just find your hat size; and I don't  mean small, medium or large. Find specific sizes, like a 7 1/4 or 59 cm. Sizing can vary from company to company, but it is still good to get your head measured, or just find a hat that fits and find out the size of the hat. It is also helpful to know what a small, medium or large is in actual measurements for a company's hat size. For instance, one company might size a large as a 7 1/4, while another may at a 7 3/8 or a 7 1/2. Now that there's been some talk on materials and sizes, let's get back to the hats themselves.

The Bowler/Derby

Ralph Fiennes in The Avengers 1998

     Another hat which has seemed to fall out of fashion is the bowler, also known as the derby. Once worn quite extensively by gentleman, it's popularity waned by the 1940s and haven't really been seen since the 1950s in the United States. Once a staple of a gentleman, it has now become more of a past icon. Typically in black, although also worn in colors such as brown or grey, it is also a more formal hat, and is business appropriate, as well as formal appropriate. Some were known as hard hats because they had steel in the top; this was originally because of the equestrian roots, as they had replaced top hats as the hat choice for horse riders. They have a very English feel to them, an other worldly, and are still elegant. Not everyone can pull off wearing one, but I feel that many can. They're a nice hat to own and certainly handy since they don't get in the way, especially if you have the hard top version. There are few things that say "gentleman" so instantly if worn correctly...if not, then perhaps a cockney accent is due with some very worn, oversized clothing.

Prince William (Left)

     I think a revival of this hat is due, and if one wants an alternative to a homburg for a more business type suit, this is the hat to go for. It has no indentation on the top unlike a homburg and the brim isn't as curled up either.It gives a nice simple look for a man, yet one that creates an atmosphere of business; perhaps that is due to its association with British bankers.

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers in Swing Time 1936

Brendan Coyle on the set of  Downton Abbey

Brendan Coyle in Downton Abbey

Brendan Coyle and Maria Doyle Kennedy in Downton Abbey

The reason I have included so many photos of the bowler is to get the different angles. The fedora is easier to get just by seeing a picture of it, but hats like the homburg or bowler can be more difficult to capture in one photo, especially since there are slight variations in style. While this may be true for photos, in person, people will be able to see your hat quite well. Comments may vary on it, but most people will at least find it interesting, as there aren't many who chose to wear this hat anymore since its fall into obscurity. 

The Boater/Skimmer

Maurice Chavalier

The boater hat, sometimes known as a skimmer, is a hat made from straw. It's primary use is for spring and summer wear, as the fur and felt hats become too hot for such weather. There was such a time when every man put away his felt hats and donned his boater. They seemed to be quite popular right into the 1940s as a regular summer hat, back when people also wore summer suits too. They are still a good investment for anyone looking for a cooler summer hat which can be worn with dressier clothing. In fact, the boater has the same level of formality of a homburg has, which means wearing one with a tuxedo is okay.

 They're a bit more difficult to find now a days, but they can be purchased online for around $100-$175, the latter being a bit steep. There's a general store near me that orders them, so when I have a bit more money, I think I'll get one. I've wanted one for a while, and actually did own one from the 1900s or 1910s, but it wasn't very sturdy, so I gave it to a friend. It also had a different weave for the straw than most, as most look about the same, but there are some variations, they're just hard to find. Most of the variations that are to be found are in the brim and crown size, which I recommend to get a large brim, for more protection from the sun.

Fred Astaire

     Not only are boaters stylish, they are practical. They shield you from the sun and cool your head by letting air pass through  the hat, letting it breath. Although they are made of straw, they are very sturdy hats, and with the right care, will last a long time. The ribbons on them can represent school colors, match a tie or other article of clothing, or it can be more formal with a plain black band, as well as allowing it to go with most anything. Most have some sort of stripe variation, since they are spring and summer hats.

     As men have not only waned in wearing hats, they have waned in wearing summer dress as well, which has doubly contributed to the boater becoming obsolete, which is sad, because it's such a nice hat, and so practical. While there are other straw hats for warm weather, the boater is the most distinct and probably the best made. It's the only one of the bunch that can be worn with formalwear, as other summer hats are too casual, and also be worn with a suit.

Other Summer Hat Styles

1941 Hat Ad

While the boater may be the most prominent of summer hats, there are yet many other styles, most notably the panama hat. These are much more casual than a boater and suitable for wear with more casual outfits. Many variations of these exist, as well as dead on look alikes, as the styles haven't really changed for summer hats that much, with the exception of some newer ones with shorter crowns and brims, but look alikes to the ones in these ads aren't all that hard to find. The panama seems to have remained relatively unchanged altogether.

1949 Hat Ad

     

Panama Hat

The Top Hat

Fred Astaire

     One of the oldest hat styles that is still around, although very rarely worn, the top hat is the only appropriate head wear for morning or evening tails. It is also appropriate for 19th Century wear. Many modern top hats are made of felt, some fur felt, but the ideal top hat is made of either silk or beaver fur. Beaver fur is the older and requires more maintenance; silk was introduced with the collapsible opera hats, top hats that were made to be pressed down till flat, and then with a sturdy tap, pop back into shape. Doing this repeatedly will wrinkle the silk a little, but if one chooses to only do it when necessary, your hat should be fine. 

English Beaver Fur Top Hat

      Beaver fur top hats are very difficult to find, as nearly all of them are originals. They aren't really produced anymore, save for maybe one or two places, so this means that you'll have to pay a pretty penny, for one used in good condition, or one made new. They have a very excellent sheen, more so than their silk counterparts. They are also the correct top hat to wear with morning formal wear, unless one is to wear a grey fur felt top hat. 

Audrey Hepburn & Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady 1964

Jeremy Brett in My Fair Lady 1964

      The grey fur felt is a very nice choice, especially when clad in all grey, but can also work for charcoal. For an older look though, one should find a beaver fur look alike, which also exist.

     There are very nice silk top hats though, and the sheen is quite nice from them; I used to own one, but it was somewhat too small, so I sold it. The opera hats tend to be on the shorter side, however, there are taller ones that can be found. They are also still made, although rare, since most are handmade. The factories that used to produced them have closed down. They will also cost a pretty penny for both old and new, and there are some satin look alikes, but if you keep your eye out, you can find a well priced silk top hat. I know because I found mine for $90! 

This was mine; in nearly perfect condition! 

Frank Morgan

                                                                           The collapsible silk top hat is the ideal hat for evening tails, as it can not only be easily stored, but it also has a very nice sheen. Brushed beaver top hats are still appropriate, but much harder to find and at a higher maintenance to keep up. If you're up to purchasing one though, I'd expect the maintenance to not be very much of an issue. 

     Once the top hat was the staple piece of a gentleman's wardrobe, being the main hat for both day and evening wear, whether it be out and about doing business or a night out on the town. From a formal ball to simply going to work, men wore the top hat just about as often as men would later wear the fedora. The top hate gave way to other, less cumbersome hats that were easier to store or carry, but has remained in its place as the most formal hat a person could wear, even to this day. 

Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes

     Now that I've talked about the basics of hats, it's high time that you start looking for the hat(s) you want! I didn't cover every hat that there is, just the ones I thought were the main, and I haven't covered caps either(which I may in the future), but this should be enough information to get you pretty well started on your journey finding hats. The best places to look are at local antique and vintage shops, eBay, etsy, Ruby Lane various English clothing sites and makers and reenacting events where there are vendors. Stay tuned for more posts; I plan to talk about formal dress sometime soon, as well as shoes, shirts and shirt accessories. I'm sure all of you are probably sick of hearing about hats, so I'll save the article on caps for a little later; for now, I shall just leave, tipping my hat! If you have any comments or questions, feel free to comment here or on facebook! 

Going Civilian: The Hat-Part One

     Long has it been since men wore hats regularly, but there was such a time when it would be very odd to see a man out and about without one upon his head. It was kind of a  faux pas, such a a faux pas that even during The Great Depression, lines of unemployed men, some of whom didn't have full suits or ties, all still wore hats. Going outside or in a public place without a hat was considered improper, for both men and women, although some of the rules for each sex regarding hats are different(men remove their hats in church while women are supposed to keep them on, traditionally, for example).

     There are certain rules to hats, like tipping your hat to a woman, an elder or someone of respect, taking it off if in prolonged conversation with a woman, not setting it on a bed(which is more for it not getting sat on than bad luck), and many others. Perhaps I'll go into more detail sometime, but for now I think this is good enough, as I am going to focus on some of the types of hats themselves. A site that does offer some great hat etiquette advice is The Art of Manliness. They have several articles on the topic of hats, and sections in the book they sell, aptly named, "The Art of Manliness."

      One other thing that hasn't traditionally been a rule, but one that seems necessary to say, is that hats should be in plain colors. No patterns. Hats have traditionally been worn in black, brown, grey, tan off-white or some other plain color or shade variation. It isn't until the modern age that hats with patterns have gained popularity. It is best to stay away from a hat with a pattern. A hat should remain understated in some ways and attention grabbing in others. This excludes caps of course however, as they are not made to be elegant or mood invoking the same ways  a fedora, a bowler, trilby, or homburg are. These hats with patterns or ridiculous colors just don't evoke the same mood as the way they were meant to, which is a more conservative and elegant mood, which while being understated, is also attention grabbing and eye catching.

The Fedora

Adolphe Menjou

   

     The fedora is arguably the most well known of hats. It's iconic and was probably the most worn hat of its day. That's not to say that other hats were not worn by many, but the fedora seems to be the most common. There are different kinds, with different sizes for both brim and crown(the part that goes up to put it simply)and some different styles as well. Tear-drop tops or straight are the choices for the top shape. The difference being that the tear-drop looks like a tear-drop and the other is more of a straight groove.
     For all practical purposes, the wider brimmed ones are better, as they'll offer more protection from sun and bad weather. They're generally flexible, some even crushable. The fedora that is most common and simply looks best with a suit or more casual clothing, is the 1920s-1950s type of fedora, which has a taller crown and a wider brim. Brim width reached its peak in the 1940s, going from 2 1/4 to 3 inches in width. It isn't until the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s that the smaller brimmed, the stingy brim, is introduced as a norm. It seems we still haven't recovered quite fully as the most common fedora being sold today is the stingy brim, in all sorts of patterns and colors now too.
     Fedoras work well with most any suit, period and even modern, although period suits tends to look better, both with and without the hat than do modern suits.
     A fedora should be both reliable and good looking. They are meant to be functional hats that are elegant and even ad a bit of mystery. They have a certain mystique about them that other hats do not. Some of the best, if not the best, were made by Stetson. I have one made in the 1930s or 1940s, and it is excellent, even after 70 years or so. If you can find one in good condition, get it; unless it's ridiculously expensive. They are good hats that should last you a lifetime if you treat them well. They are weather resistant and wear well, each having a slightly unique shape to the wearer after decent use. The other nice thing is that the fedora can go with just about anyone, whether you're very elegant like the photo above, or sort of like the average Joe, like the photo below.

Gene Kelly

     Everyone should have at least one fedora in their wardrobe, if not two. The colors that go with most everything are grey and brown. If you just want one, grey goes with most anything. Black should be avoided, since it's typically more formal and reserved for more formal hats; it isn't very often a black fedora is seen being donned by people of the past, although it was not completely unheard of. Cream, off-white and even white are a bit more elegant and give a much less casual vibe than a grey(unless it's light grey)or brown fedora. 

     The fedora is a classic hat that is able to be worn with much variety in one's wardrobe. The only clothes it isn't supposed to be worn with are formal clothes, but other than that, it can be worn with most anything and look good. This is probably the first hat you should get, unless your impression specifically calls for another hat, especially if it is pre-fedora. 

The Trilby

William Powell

      The trilby is a variation of the fedora. It's technically what the newer, 1960s-on stingy brims are. It doesn't have to be though, as pictured above. It can have a wider brim and taller crown, yet look different from the standard fedora. Although it is a fedora(and the British call fedoras trilbys), it has its own look and definitely stands out. It's very sharp and to the point. If you can find a good trilby in your size, I recommend getting one, unless doesn't go with your head or face shape. Trilbys are are also good hats for even the bad weather, although you may still want to use your fedora more often for this, since the brim will probably be wider.

The Pork Pie

Gene Hackman in The French Connection 1971

     One hat that has all but disappeared is the pork pie. There was a time when it wouldn't have been uncommon to see a man in one of these hats, but ever since the late 1960s, they have heavily fallen out of popularity. This may be because most men have a hard time pulling off wearing one or they think it just looks silly. And in a way it kind of does. I personally wouldn't recommend it to just any man, and I myself don't wear them. If you can get it right though, go ahead, the hat is in need of a revival. They're usually flat on the top, but not always, and typically have brims on the shorter side.

Buster Keaton

Note that the modern Pork Pie isn't very different from its predecessors.

The Homburg

     Most people seem to know this hat from The Godfather, so much so, that the homburg is also called a godfather hat. Homburgs have been around for a while, longer than the fedora, since the late 19th Century. Although the fedora started showing up on a small scale around that time, the homburg was in much more use. Another difference between the homburg and other more common hats is that it is more formal. It can be worn with a sharp suit or a tuxedo, so wearing one in light grey, grey or black is appropriate. There are many more colors though, and both the ribbon on the hat and around the edges is sometimes colored. They are a dressier option if one wants to wear something more than a fedora or trilby, and are definitely something that will catch people's eye. Most men just don't wear these much anymore, but they're not too hard to find. Sites like eBay sells many of them, although I'd opt for an original for quality at less cost. They're very nice hats that give a statement of elegance and refinement like few can.

. 

        There is a long overdue revival of hat regular hat wearing in general, but for many of these, they deserve to be worn again and taken out of the closets of yesteryear. One hat in particular, the bowler, or derby, definitely deserves some attention, along with the boater and many others. There may be variations on these hats, but the originals seem to be the peak of their elegance. Be sure stay tuned for more on hats, and if you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to comment here or on facebook! 

Going Civilian: What To Look For In A Suit

Rope 1948
Left To Right: John Dall, James Stewart, and Farley Granger

     Knowing what to look for in a suit is very important; if you know what measurements to look for and what materials, you can have the difference between having a well fitting suit of good quality that's comfortable or getting an ill fitting suit of poor quality that will leave you wishing you didn't buy it in the first place. 

     Now, as it has already been mentioned before, researching your impression is very important, but general knowledge on clothing is also very important. It helps a lot in making a decision, even with modern clothes. You should know your jacket sizes in general, like a 38S jacket, and a 32-30 trouser size for example. 38 is the size of the jacket, the chest, and the S is for Short, the sleeve length. R is for Regular, and L for Long. The 32-30 refers to a 32 waist(which, may vary depending on the rise of your trousers)and a 30 inseam, the length from the inside of your trouser from your crotch to where the trousers end. Those are the measurements you'll come across the most. Others that you will come across are the measurements in inches from shoulder to shoulder, armpit to armpit, sleeve length and even jacket length(although this last one tends to come into play a lot less, since most jackets are the same length, and some are even cut to be a bit shorter).

     Modern measurements are somewhat different from traditional tailoring. Each era has slight variations, however, in more recent years, the differences have become more drastic: 

   At first glance, there are noticeable differences, but it can be a little hard to see the differences in the trousers and vest. 

          The red is the jacket, the blue the vest, and the yellow the trousers. The suit on the left has stronger shoulders, fuller legs, a higher waist, a higher set vest, and an overall neater look. The vest is also fully covering the shirt and is over the trousers, not exposing even a belt buckle. Also note that the jacket on the right is slightly shorter. Although the one on the right is supposed to have a relaxed look, a modern suit will generally be less comfortable than a traditionally cut one; the one on the left has more room for the legs and the groin, and while the cut is made to look close, it moves with the body. Older suits are also typically made of better, more breathable materials. In general, it'll give a nicer look and be more practical, as they were made for function as well as looks.

     This is because traditionally cut suits are made around what is called the Golden Ratio, the point around the waist/navel, which is based around the proportions of the human body.

     More modern suits are based on the physical halfway point. Typically older jackets are based on a proportionality that is generally considered to be the most attractive, as it does not lend to there being too much or too little on top half or bottom. The longer jacket with trousers that hug the hips rather than sit at the waist creates a disproportionate look, so when you're looking for suits and you should find one you're unsure of or you've found a modern suit, just remember to try to find something that is more flattering to the body. Even for finding a suit for a regular occasion, one based on the Golden Ratio is preferable. One should seek to avoid modern cuts if possible.

     Some other details to look for in a suit would be cuffs(not only are they more period, but they distribute the weight of the trousers lending to less wrinkling; as a side note, formal trousers are not cuffed, as it is a sign of their formality), pleats(done properly, they can look really nice, as well as help prevent wrinkling), wider legs, higher trouser waists, buttons made from horn or bone, and materials made from wool, cotton, linen or other non-synthetics. The lapels are generally wider and peaked(pointed, like the three in the very top picture), sometimes medium, but they won't be thin unless you go for a modern suit, or one from the late 1950s to late 1960s.

     Another note on older suits, is that they tend to be heavier. It has to do with the cloth per yard. A suit being heavier doesn't necessarily mean it is hotter or more uncomfortable though. If anything, the weight lends to comfort, and the drape of the garment, making it so that you won't have to iron your clothes quite as often as well. Pre-War(World War II) suits tend to use 17-21 ounces of cloth per yard, whereas Post-War suits tend to use 14-16. Further and further along, the cloth per yard becomes less, till you get to modern day with only 10-12 ounces of cloth per yard as a norm. In comparison, summer weighted suits usually use about 8, sometimes less. Heavier weighted suits have the advantage of being able to resist wear and tear better as well as make it feel like you're wearing actual clothing. They also don't require as much maintenance.

     Whatever your choices, always remember you can use your clothing for modern settings, not just costumes or period events. A nicely cut suit looks good, and older ones tend to look a lot better than modern. You'll be sure to be noticed in a positive way and stand out amongst others who will look much duller in comparison.

     All in all, you should be ready to find yourself a good suit with this and my previous posts on what to look for and what to do. I'm sure you'll be able to find something grand, and maybe you'll start building a wardrobe even! For more of that though, stay tuned for future posts on hats, shoes, overcoats, shirts, ties and other accessories! 

Going Civilian: What To Research And Where to Look

     

     So now that you know a few places to start looking, you'll begin your process of weeding through suits to find the one(s) that will best fit your impression.

     The first thing that you should be doing is research; if you're looking for something for a 1920s impression, start looking at pictures of the era, ads, style guides, movies, and anything else from the era you seek to emulate. Photographs will give very good examples, while ads have color usually. Something that photographs will have, especially of ordinary people, is realism, whereas an ad, or style guide will show an ideal image. The difference between ideal images of the past and ideal images of the present though, is that the former are achievable and the latter often are not; one can go out and purchase a period suit, shoes, hat, etc. and look exactly like someone on an old ad, however, that is not the case with modern airbrushing and the ultra expensive clothing that is shown in modern ads, so there is no need to fret!

     Be wary of some of the more modern style guides on vintage/period fashion, as I've seen some sites that get facts completely wrong. British style sites seem to be the best, such as Gentleman's Gazette, which offers very good period examples and has very well written articles. A good American/international forum is The Fedora Lounge, but you'll need to create a profile for it. It's got a lot of people who show their impressions and clothing, and a lot of advice and suggestions as to where to go and purchase clothing.

     Anyway, after your research, you can start looking around, either in local antique/vintage shops or online. Some other great places than eBay are Etsy, Ruby Lane, and Darcy Clothing. The first three sell just about everything, whatever sellers put up, and the last, Darcy Clothing, makes a lot shirts, hats, gloves and other accessories for period impressions. They are very high quality and predominately made in England, if not all. Some stuff can be a bit pricy, but the quality is old world quality, so getting some of the stuff is about the same as getting an original piece of clothing.

     Your best bet for getting what you want for your impression is to get an original pice/set of clothing, get a reproduction/look-alike or just have something made. The least expensive options are the first two, as having clothing made is very pricy. Be careful of reproductions, make sure that it actually looks period, and that the materials aren't cheap. Synthetic materials are a terrible substitute for an original piece made of real materials. Often more modern substitutes are made improperly and are uncomfortable. Synthetics aren't made to be real clothing. Original clothing was made to be worn often rather than special occasion. Although original clothing will cost more, it's worth it in the long run, both for durability and for being authentic. The good modern substitutes that do exist will almost always come from Britain, and while they'll be well made, they'll usually cost a close price to an original. Sometimes getting a few new items is better, like the old starched shirt collars, since the new ones won't be stained, for example.

     Now that you know what to do(research and study your impression), where to look and some of what to look for, you'll be well on your way to finding period clothing and maybe even some newly made quality clothing and accessories. As long as you keep looking and are patient and picky, you'll be sure to get what you need for your impression! 

Net Neutrality & The Effort To End It

     Once again, net neutrality is being threatened, and by none other than businesses(AT&T)who would like to charge Google and Yahoo! additional tolls for reliable service and blocking other services not sponsored by AT&T, Verizon and other communication companies.
     This is not the first time these companies have tried to gain control of the internet, and obviously they have failed to do so, however, they are making new efforts to do so, and in those efforts, might succeed.
     Should they succeed, the cost of internet use will go from being free, to having charges for the individual user.
     Personally, I am skeptical about these companies actually gaining this much control; I think it will be a very hard battle to fight, as the public is very much against this, and this is an issue the public usually fights tooth and nail against. If they do gain this control, then there will be an incredible outrage, and there's no telling what the public will do.
     It will be interesting to see where this will go, and I hope that these companies do not gain the control they seek, as they already make enough money as it is, without having to make billions more.

Hacking & Your Information

     In times past, , even just 15 years ago, acquiring someone's personal information was something that was usually reserved for detectives and investigators on the private level. Regular people have generally not had the access(and well, the initiative)to find out personal information about their fellow man. While it has actually been easy to find some personal information, like phone calls, duration of those calls, purchase records, and even social security numbers, it has been made all the easier to a greater number of people thanks to the internet and your online identity.

     Gaining your information is easier than ever it seems, as is infecting your computers with malware and viruses. One doesn't even have to be a hacker in order to just look around and find information about people, but for the people who can hack, so much more information can be obtained.

     Once upon a time people were able to go completely off the grid, with no information being on them, but now that's nearly impossible with all the paperwork, website passwords and other things that we fill out or do, so our identities can be more easily traced.

     While it is not as possible to go completely off the grid or protect your identity as well, people can still take precautions and control what information they put online about themselves. It's pretty interesting to see what people can do, and it will be even more interesting to see what measures governments and individuals take in order to protect the individual's information, or the information of a business even. Maybe governments will become even more invasive, and be worse than the individual hacker, if they are not already. Who knows, only time will tell.

Free Operating Systems

     Apple recently announced that the OS X would be free for now on, making it so that operating systems for computers everywhere will most likely start to be free. It's a very prudent decision, because it will encourage people to buy their products more, making them seem innovative and that they think of the customer before themselves, that they care.

     This is really great news actually, and hopefully companies will stop trying to make profit off of some technology that should be free, like educational tech or knowledge. People shouldn't have to pay for that, they should have access to knowledge. Apple, by making a business decision, so that they could make more money overall, has made things a step or few closer to being more free, which may ultimately backfire on them, or they may find a way to make it work for them.

     I think this is really great stuff, and hopefully more companies will follow, with not just making their operating systems free, but other features as well, to compete.

The Marvel of Search Engines

     It used to be that in order to look something up, someone would have to actually go look in a book, public records, telephone or other various old world means for finding information they sought to find. Now though, at the touch of our fingertips, we have search engines such as Google and Bing.

     Just think about that; how amazing it is to just be able to search for anything on a screen, and travel all around the world, with a wealth of information and the ability to gain vast amounts of knowledge just sitting at a computer.

     People in the past would have hardly been able to imagine something such as this, since such a marvel would require great technology. If such a marvel were to exist, surely it would be used to be further man's knowledge and betterment, and advance society as a whole, right?

     Well, maybe not to the extent of what our predecessors would have expected, but search engines are used quite a bit for knowledge and education, but also a great deal for entertainment; probably mostly.

     Google seems to be the most used search engine, with Bing as sort of an internet joke; not saying it's bad, for I haven't used it very much, but Google is definitely king and will remain so for a very long time it seems.

     Whatever the future holds for searching for things, I don't know, but I'm not sure how it can get much more sophisticated than Google, unless it's installed in the human brain itself.

iPhones, Profit & Consumerism: A Look At Business In The Past & Now

   
   

A little while ago, the iPhone sold 9 million, a considerable amount, especially in comparison with the business of yesteryear, when audiences where smaller and production wasn't on quite a grand scale as it is now.

   
  I think it's really great that we now have the capacity to produce so much, but it seems to be at a cost which is negative sometimes; it really seems more about making money than it does serving the customer. iPhones are expensive, and they come out so often with a new version, even if it doesn't have much difference. Not only that, they constantly change the accessories, even the chargers, which is just another way of making more money it seems. The price itself seems a bit high, since it doesn't cost nearly as much to make the products, in factories overseas by people who are underpaid and overworked.

     Now don't get me wrong, I actually like that Apple products are simple and easy to use, and I like what they do with them a lot, but this is just part of an overall problem, and it's the consumerism that's taken hold in our society. Companies seek to make maximum profits, with a 30% profit no longer being acceptable as it was for businesses long ago, 300% and even 3000% profits are sought after. Those just being examples though.

     The problem is that it's become normal for companies to put out a cheaper product, charge much more than what it costs to make, and then replace it shortly after, with a public that buys those products up. I don't think most people buy into all the ads(propaganda), but there are a lot who do; so many people have to have the latest and newest of whatever product is being sold, no matter what the cost. Frugality is a trait rarely seen these days I think.

     I believe this should extend to other areas of life as well; living within one's means, not just with buying, which includes antiques and vintage items, but also living space and time management. The world is so fast paced now, and people can tend to make little to no time to themselves, to relax. Everything has to be done immediately, and instant gratification is the norm, if not becoming the norm.

     Overall, what I'm trying to say is to be careful and not spend too much; I think our culture has become too materialistic, when it already could have been less, and I myself am guilty of materialism sometimes. Perhaps something will change in our culture, but I think not; I think that we will continue to be more materialistic, and that companies will continue to turn out products for more than what they are worth; and we will still buy them.