Retail Dish: Nick Verreos Attends Opening of Goorin Bros. Los Angeles Hat Store in Larchmont Village

Hat Boy...

Chapeau Opening: Nick Verreos, Grand Opening Celebration of Goorin Bros. LA Store, Larchmont Village

Last Thursday, I was invited to the Grand Opening Celebration of the Goorin Bros. Hat Shop in the Larchmont Village district of Los Angeles. Goorin Bros. has been in the hat making business since 1895 by Cassel Goorin. It all began in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania but in 1949, Goorin moved out West to San Francisco where they have since been. My good friend, Drew Dallas Deardorff, who runs the Chicago Goorin Bros. shop, sent me an invitation (by MAIL!!! and it was GORG!) and so of course, I said "Si!".

Chicago Meets LA: Chicago Store Manager Drew Dallas Deardorff and Nick Verreos, Goorin Bros. Larchmont Hat Store Grand Opening Celebration

I reached into my "Hat Goodie Bin" and lo and behold, of course, I had SEVERAL Goorin chapeaus--an argyle printed Newsboy Cap and a green-and-yellow satin twill fedora from the Cassel Collection (named after its founder). I chose to bring the latter. As I arrived at the Grand Opening, I decided to actually NOT wear the hat (I know! What was I thinking?) and so I arrived, said "hello" to my friend Drew, and then a very stylin' gentleman approached me and complimented me on my "look"...

Front Of Store: Goorin Bros Hat Shot, Larchmont Vllage LA

Drew then introduced him as THE President of Goorin Bros., Ben Goorin--a 4th Generation Goorin I may add--so I confessed that I had actually brought my Goorin Fedora but left it in my car. Needless to say he said "Go Get It!!" I did. He approved. So now, I was really ready for the Grand Opening Party:

Le Hat Party: Inside View of Grand Opening Celebration of Goorin Bros. Hat Shop Larchmont Village LA

The party was in full swing with lots of young hat-wearing LA hipsters (God, I felt soooo OLD!!!) working their looks and enjoying the Svedka Vodka Open Bar, delicious hors d'oeuvres (my FAVE were the puffed cheese canapes!), and checking out all the Goorin hats of course.

I also said "hello" to Lindsay Pembroke (above, right), the Larchmont Store Manager --she was sooo sweet. I also was very happy to see my very good friend...

Johnny Lopez, editor and writer for TMZ and his own HILARIOUSLY witty Blog, as well as public relations cutie, Elissa Buchter of Bridge and Tunnel Communications (above left and right)

After getting one more Cheese Puff Pastry and making a photo-and-mental note of all the hats I LOVE--and that AMAZING chandelier in the store (above), I took my "vintage" Goorin fedora butt home...