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Reviews

Read about the specific products Chapeau Noir uses and recommends.

January 18, 2010
3:13PM

Adopting A Fresh Bunker Mentality

When Chapeau Noir came across UK-based Bunker Mentality, his initial impression was that the line was geared towards a demographic younger than his early-40s age would allow.

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Happily, as Chapeau Noir was soon to learn, this could not be further from the truth because Bunker Mentality is a brand that is destined to become part of both his on and off-course clothing rota.

Chapeau Noir creating his Bunker Mentality at chapeaunoirgolf.com headquarters in the Bunker Bobble.

There is much to take in when considering Bunker Mentality, from bikini woman logo known as 'Stella', to the tongue-in-cheek graphic tees, the vibrant color offerings, and the skull and crossbones motifs.

In an effort to fully understand the Bunker Mentality range and its origins, Chapeau Noir turns to Robert Hart of Bunker Mentality.

Bunker came to being because I picked up a now defunct magazine called Bogey. Bogey was published by a company that published snowboarding mags as they spotted a crossing over of people from board sports to golf and back.

In one issue they wrote an article about how golf needed to change and come into the 21st Century and they focused on women not being aloud on some courses etc, etc, etc. For this they used a picture of a girl in a bikini with a golf club and I thought that we should use that image as a logo because we believed women should be allowed to play golf any where any time - even in a bikini and high heels - if they wanted.

So, we have always seen Stella as a very positive image and we like the idea that she walks the course in her bikini every time someone wears our shirts. This to part of our mentality and we hope it helps to change golf and make it more inclusive going forward and be believe she will help us create new traditions. 

It's interesting that because we often have an irreverent view of the great game people pick up on this first, but, we are very serious about the game and making it attractive to all comers and helping to grow the game.

- Robert Hart, Bunker Mentality

So, without further adieu (Adieu, Adieu, to you and you and you), and with no thanks to Canada Customs, Chapeau Noir dons Bunker Mentality...

Stella V-Neck Merino Jumper

First up, the Stella V-neck merino jumper in hot pink.

The Bunker Mentality Stella V-neck jumper in hot pink.

This jumper (sweater for us heathen North Americans) wraps you in soft, dreamy 100 percent merino wool warmth. Chapeau Noir was feeling flu-like chills on the day of this review, and the merino wool was a welcome cure.

The presence of a double cuffed waistband and sleeves add the sort of detail that Chapeau Noir greatly appreciates.

This garment is an absolute keeper as it is a great compliment to Chapeau Noir's existing wardrobe as I tend to favor the blacks and greys.

After all, everyone can use a splash of color!

Playa Loco Stripe Polo

The Playa Loco Stripe Polo is just that, a bit loco when taken on its own.

The Play Loco Stripe Polo from Bunker Mentality begs for the white pant.At first blush there seems to be so much going on with the Playa Loco Stripe that it may lead you to think that it cannot be appropriately and tastefully paired with anything.

However, whenever you are faced with a difficult fashion decision, it is always best to counter the bold with the simplistic, and in this case, a pure white pant, accessorized with the Bunker Mentality Stella Cast belt creates a confident statement.

Stella Cast Belt

Over the past four or five years, the belt has become the accessory through which a player can use a bit of bling make a fashion statement.

The Stella Cast beltThe Stella Cast belt is crafted from fine Italian leather that will stand the test of time. Be sure the Stella belt fits because this solid pewter buckle weighs a ton, and you really must prevent against any buckle sag!

For fitting purposes, please note that Chapeau Noir's waistline tops out at 33 inches. Select the small / medium size if you are of a similar dimension.

Kilo Club Pro Polo

As you may have gathered from the tone of the review to this point, Bunker Mentality demands that you take their range seriously due to the quality of the fabrics - all tested items are soft, even plush if you will, to the touch - and the timelessness of their designs.

The Kilo Club Pro Polo. Get your neon on!Shorter sleeve lengths are common to the aforementioned Loco Stripe Polo, and to the Kilo Club Pro, a polo that is a touch more fitted than the Loco while maintaining the Loco's much liked comfort and swingability factor.

All that said, Bunker Mentality is more than willing to show its sense of humour, which is where the Kilo Club Pro comes in. A neon Stella beckons from under neon club pro signage, allowing you to take Bunker Mentality from 'first tee to last orders' without issue. The long six-button placket creates exactly the right proportion for this polo.

Graphic T's, Bobble Hats & Cozy Sweatshirts

Puff Caddy, in the house!If you are anything like Chapeau Noir, the darkness that is winter does not prevent us the frequent occasion to wear a golf polo. There are times however, when only a only a t-shirt is desired. But where to turn?

Fear not, because Bunker Mentality has us covered with the Puff Caddy t-shirt, among many others.

Selecting from this lot ensures you'll never be short of a conversation starter again!

If on the oft chance you find yourself in the proverbial dog house for taking one too many tee times, Bunker Mentality has you, or more specifically, your lady, covered.

Mrs. Chapeau Noir is currently enjoying the Who's Your Caddy sweatshirt in baby pink. Mrs. Chapeau Noir finds it to be the perfect weekend morning warmup, specifically when sitting down to catch up on a week's worth of Coronation Street on the CBC.

Bunker Mentality Bottom Line

At the end of the review, Chapeau Noir always takes a moment to evaluate a collection on the basis of how likely it is that he will actually wear the brand in question. As previously noted, Chapeau Noir did not at first believe Bunker Mentality would be a popular selection from a closet of well organized, if not itemized, candidates.

Mark Chapeau Noir down as a Bunker Mentality convert. Within the Bunker Mentality range Chapeau Noir is confident you will find items that appeal to your specific sensibilities. While there will always be days that you will stand in front of your closet not knowing what to wear, if you go Bunker Mentality you are sure to brighten your day.

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AuthorChapeau Noir | CommentPost a Comment | in , , , ,
December 4, 2009
8:42PM

Lela Designs for 2010

From The Desk of Mrs. Chapeau Noir

The sleeveless Vicky Ruffle in Raspberry. Click for gallery.On a daily basis, Mr. Chapeau Noir certainly works diligently here on chapeaunoirgolf.com to bring the gentlemen all the news and advice on what is fit to wear on the golf course direct to your desktop.

So intense is his devotion to the cause, there are days when Mr. Chapeau Noir disappears behind the French doors and into the golf shrine he calls an office for hours and hours on end, barely poking his head out to forage for fair trade coffee.

But ladies, I think it is only fair that we who put up with such single-mindedness should get first dibs on reviewing what we'll be finding on the ladies side of our pro shops come spring 2010.

After all, why should Mr. Chapeau Noir have all the fun! So speaking of fun, I was very excited to hear of the arrival of a package for me from Lela Designs, a company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Lela Designs was kind enough to send along two fantastic tops - one, the Vicky Ruffle, the other the Maka Polo. Of the two, the Maka Polo will quickly become an on-course favorite of mine, as I absolutely love its shape and feel born from its cotton / spandex blend, and the sleeve length is absolutely perfect.

The Vicky Ruffle is likely to suit me more as the top that I'd wear for a summer-night-out-with the girls, if only because the Vicky Ruffle tends to have a bit of a plunging neckline that I'd prefer to save for off-course outings! I love the ruffled collar - but doesn't every girl love some frills?

Lela Designs Maka Polo in Deep Lavender. Click for gallery.

Lela is big on what goes in to producing their lines, and the Maka Polo and Vicky Ruffle are no exceptions. The Maka Polo is 95 percent organic cotton, which provides the same comfort as regular cotton without the harmful chemicals - specifically, the 1/2 pound of pesticides that usually goes into making one t-shirt with regular cotton! As for the Vicky Ruffle, it's 92 percent recycled polyester.

Lela Designs really does go to great lengths to make sure they are paying attention to our planet by using everything from organic cotton to bamboo and recycled clear plastic pop bottles. Yet another reason to love Lela!

The Trish Skort goes superbly with both the Maka Polo and the Vicky Ruffle as the Malibu Plaid of the skort picks up the deep lavender and raspberry tones very nicely. With two buttoned back pockets and a decorative placket front left, the Trish Skort is super comfortable and looks great - but, and this is my only quibble, being petite and just under 5' 1'', I could use a bit less length.

This is nothing that a quick trip to the local tailor couldn't rectify however, so don't let a little extra material stand in your way!

The Trish Skort. Click for gallery.

Believe it or not there is even more to admire about Lela Designs, beyond the fit, the style, and the green approach to manufacturing. Lela Design also donates a portion of all sales to CAMFED (The Campaign for Female Education), which is a charity that educates women in Africa.

Founded in 1993 by supporting just 32 girls in rural Zimbabwe to start, as of 2005 CAMFED now supports more than 246,520 in programs of educational support in some of the poorest regions of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and Tanzania. These young women – now among them doctors, lawyers, teachers and businesswomen – are now sharing the benefits of their education with their communities. Alongside a vast network of volunteers in the communities where they work, CAMA members (graduated students of Camfed) supported more than 16,000 children to go to school through their own philanthropic initiatives.

You can find out more about by visiting www.camfed.org and help make a difference!

I know I will be putting these Lela Designs to plenty of use in the 2010 golf season - now I can't wait 'till spring, but perhaps I'll try to squeeze in a trip south before then!

Lela Design Links

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AuthorChapeau Noir | CommentPost a Comment | in , , , , , ,
December 2, 2009
3:38PM

Sun Mountain Predicts Monsoon Season In 2010

As the old Scottish proverb goes, 'if there's 'nay rain, it's 'nay golf'.

Or something like that. But with that in mind, be sure to put the 2010 Sun Mountain Monsoon Jacket and Pant on your foul weather gear wish list, especially if you're of frugal Scottish heritage like Chapeau Noir.

Sun Mountain Monsoon Jacket, in white. Feel free to match your belt.

For a suggested retail price of just $85 for the full-zip Sun Mountain Monsoon jacket and $65 for the pant, you'll be ready to face the most Scottish of elements due to the Monsoon's guaranteed waterproof protection in comfortable, lined, microfiber.

While not of gortexian material, the Monsoon jacket and pant are not of gortexian price.

According to Sun Mountain President, Ed Kowachek, “With Sun Mountain’s top-of-the-line stretchable, breathable, waterproof RainFlex® [as seen in Chapeau Noir's coverage of President's Cup] at one end, and our emergency packable Provisional rainsuit at the other – the Monsoon fills a nice spot right in the middle.

The Monsoon Jacket is constructed with a windproof and waterproof microfiber shell with taped seams and Teflon® coating for guaranteed waterproof protection and taffeta lining for comfort. Mmmm, taffeta!

One of the big concerns when choosing any golf outerwear is what Chapeau Noir categorizes as 'swingability'. Over the years Chapeau Noir has donned many a rain suit, and sadly, most make you feel like you're swinging inside the ill-fitting blue tarpaulin your father used to use to protect the sail boat come fall, complete with bungee cord tiedowns.

Sun Mountain Monsoon pant.With 'swingability' in mind, the Monsoon offers shoulder gussets for ease of movement, and adjustable cuffs to keep the sleeves from touching your grip at address. For Chapeau Noir, the adjustable cuff is of high importance as I once knew a man who was deeply concerned over the length of his Bermuda shorts and how they tickled his kneecaps to the point of intense distraction!

Zippered side pockets, an external chest pocket, shock-cord waist, and locking zipper pulls that stay securely out of the way add to the Monsoon benefit package.

In other words, all your dangly bits are kept in order.

You can get your hands on a 2010 Monsoon Jacket now, as they have already arrived in golf shops now - just in time for the holidays. Huzzah! The Monsoon Jacket is available in sizes M – XXL in Black, Red/Black, Sport Navy/Black, White/Black and Port/Black and in size Small in Black, only.

As for the Monsoon Pant, they too are fully lined and coated microfiber and, like their northern cousin, are guaranteed protection from wind and rain.

Monsoon Pants come with a zippered fly with snap closure (here's hoping the snap closure on this Sun Mountain pant is better than the rain pant snaps Chapeau Noir has encountered elsewhere), elastic waist, zippered side pockets and lower legs, and a unique leg snap system that allows the pants to be shortened by 2-½ inches to fit a range of inseam sizes. Monsoon Pants are available now with a full-suggested retail of $65 in sizes M – XXL in Black only.

For the retailer nearest you, visit www.sunmountain.com or call 800-227-9224.

About Sun Mountain

In addition to outerwear, for over 25 years, Sun Mountain has been designing and manufacturing functional, high-quality, lightweight golf bags for the serious golfer. Sun Mountain is responsible for many industry firsts, including being the first to use backpacking technology to produce a lightweight nylon golf bag, and being the first to develop a stand bag with integral legs. The Sun Mountain Speed Cart® and the new ClubGlider® travel bag are leaders in their respective categories.

Sun Mountain is dedicated to finding the most innovative fabrics, the latest manufacturing processes, and the best designs to create a line of performance outerwear that includes rainsuits, windshirts, fleece and the RainFlex® collection. Sun Mountain is an officially licensed supplier of outerwear to the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Duramed Futures Tour, Nationwide Tour and was the official outerwear of the winning 2009 USA Presidents Cup Team.

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AuthorChapeau Noir | CommentPost a Comment | in , ,
October 22, 2009
7:24AM

The myjoys.com Dilemma - What's a Golf Shoe Hound To Do?

With the addition of the Footjoy Icon to myjoys.com, Chapeau Noir is once again spending countless hours trying to create 'the perfect shoe'. What is this 'perfect shoe' and how does one reach bipedal FootJoy nirvana?

Chapeau Noir loves the myjoys.com concept, but being a man of many trouser and shirt combinations, how is he to decide on just one pair? Or does he?

FootJoys wonderfully fun shoe customization tool.

If he restricts himself to one pair per season, he could build up a fine collection over the span of four years. A conservative plan. More aggressive to double that pace. Two pairs per season. Four pairs in just two years. That sounds more like it.

What it really comes down to for most of us however, is the all-mighty budget. After all, we're not all as well heeled (!) as Ian Poulter.

If we were, we could simply stumble into the garage to find box upon box upon box of fully customized FootJoys. Certainly, if money were no object, we'd go to town on myjoys.com, spending countless hours and thousands of dollars configuring every possible trouser / shirt / shoe combination possible. Sadly, for the great majority of us, this is not an option.

Either Chapeau Noir has to discover some yet untapped magic in the eight years he has remaining before he is Champions Tour eligible, or he has to buckle down and decide on what myjoys.com configuration works best for him.

Chapeau Noir regrets to inform his readership that even with all the vibrant customizations offered by myjoys.com engine, he has on more than one occasion configured his shoe of choice but has not placed an order. (1)

Loyal reader Paul S. of British Columbia, Canada, recently emailed Chapeau Noir expressing similar concerns. Paul S. adds,

"I find with alot of the choices they have is that they are too bright with a lot of the colors. I like the more toned down but subdued, dressy, classy combinations of colors that are easy to co-ordinate."

A very thoughtful man is this Paul S.

Resisting the urge to go for that daring splash of color on myjoys.com is the most important piece of advice Chapeau Noir can provide, and is also the most difficult for us to follow.

This advice likely runs contrary to every notion the FootJoy team had when creating the myjoys.com concept, but unless you really need to create your shoe in the glorious colors of your alma mater or to represent the professional sporting team from your geographic location, staying neutral without settling for a stock shoe is recommended.

After an entire evening of deliberation, Chapeau Noir has finally narrowed it down. Here are the two choices:

Chapeau Noir's FJ ICON Asymmetrical, with ECL black smooth base, Pearl Lizard 460 saddle for that exotic touch, CNG monogram (not shown) for ego boost. This choice provides a more formal option for rounds played in a black trouser.

Chapeau Noir's Lowpro, customized in patriotic Canadian colors using the darkest red available. A decidedly sportier model for hot, 36 hole, walk-and-carry days.

A Note for Canadian myjoy.ca Users

For Canadian readers, it is important to note a glaring deficiency on the Canadian version of the site, myjoys.ca.

While our American friends are able to immediately add their customized shoe to their shopping carts, and quickly delivered to your door, up north of the border we must either email our configured shoe to a local retailer, or print off our custom options and drive them to our local shop to have them place the order for us.

Really FootJoy? Really? I hear they have the full internets in The Great White North. Hopefully, the full-on web supply chain can be connected soon. Chapeau Noir feels your conversion rates would increase dramatically in Canada once this is fixed.

Share Your Joy!

Please feel free to use the comments section to tell us about your myjoy experience, and your myjoy choice(s)! Chapeau Noir always loves to see what combinations are in play!

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AuthorChapeau Noir | Comment1 Comment | in , ,
October 16, 2009
6:56PM

Autumn Brings Lower Temperatures, But Lower Prices?

From fall colors to frost delays, autumn is the time of year when we suddenly discover our games as we try to squeeze in a quick nine before darkness falls.

Autumn can also be the time of year to don your best bargain hunting cap and head to your local big box or country club pro shop as merchants attempt to unload remaining stock to make room for what's next.

The J. Lindeberg Brantley Fieldsensor polo.

It was with this thought in mind that I slipped in to my local golf-world-o-ramma to have a tour around the sale racks.

Many an item was spied and tried, including a majestic Dunning Tour Stretch jacket. My excitement grew when I realized I pulled this item from the 50 percent off rack!

Hang on a minute, do not be too quick with that credit card, Chapeau Noir.

A check of the original retail price reveals $595 CDN. Chapeau Noir, he of quick, Google-like memory, recalls seeing this item on the Dunning web site for $250 USD. With the Canadian dollar nearly at par with the American greenback, this 50% off deal only brings the item inline with suggested retail.

Boooooo! Happy Halloween to any unfortunate consumer roped in by this pricing nightmare.

At the end of the days hunt, Chapeau Noir only came away with one new item, that of a J. Lindeberg Brantley Fieldsensor polo from what Chapeau Noir seems to recall from a season not resembling that of the current, marked down by 60 percent from $130 CDN. Ah well, one must remember that the bitter taste of poor quality lingers far longer than the initial sweetness of a cheap price.

Besides, Chapeau Noir has always admired the four chest level faux pocket snaps on this garment. Intimidating yet classy, as if politely demanding that your playing partner give you that three-footer.

The intimidation factor. Subtle, very subtle.

While not a deal to write home about, the Brantley is a fine compliment to Chapeau Noir's wardrobe, one that will certainly be enjoyed, as Chapeau Noir always loves the athletic Euro-fit of J. Lindeberg.

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AuthorChapeau Noir | Comment1 Comment | in ,
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