grade straw is The Excello. The snap brim is just over stingy, and the center dent and pinch front add wonderful character. Look for the Biltmore pin; it's attached to the dark and handsome ribbon trim.

If it's a Panama pork pie dress hat you're after, you simply can't do better than The Montecristi from Biltmore. Blocked to perfection, this made-in-Canada hat boasts a very stingy brim (as it should) and classic style. Back by demand this season is a ventilated summer hats, The Ventilated Panama might well be the warm weather hat you've been looking for. Points of interest include the open mesh crown (accentuated with a dark band trim and Biltmore crest pin) as well as a dimensional brim.

New this season is a shantung straw hat called The Abby Road. This fedora features open weave venting and a two inch snap brim. The grosgrain ribbon has is striking with its contrast overlay and the leather sweatband adds to the already high level of comfort. Another outstanding straw fedora is a Panama hat called The Vegas. It has a very stingy 1 1/2 inch upturned brim and is quite sleek with that narrow profile, pinch front and grosgrain trim with Biltmore pin. Both of these hats, by the way, are made in the USA as is The Studio, a stingy brim hat in shantung straw that looks really good and is priced to sell.