So, I don't know how many of you are hat wearers but I've only recently taken an interest in them. I've always felt that I looked odd in a hat but last week I found one at Penney's that I really liked the style of and it went well with my gray peacoat. (see pic of my gorgeous girlfriend and I) I don't really know what style of hat this would be considered but now I'm looking into fedoras and pork pies. Any other hat wearers out there?
I am a big hat wearer I always have one on I used to manage a hat store we sold all baseball style caps but as I have gotten older (40) I too have taken interest in gentlemens hats, Ivy or News Boy, Fedora's, Derby's, Irish walking hats and such
Unless you want the Charlie Chaplin look, avoid the Bowler hat, aka Derby. Homburg's are pretty stylish I think and if I wore stylish hats instead of baseball caps and visors, I'd wear a Homburg mostly, a Fedora secondly. This from Wikipedia: In formality, the homburg ranks just below the top hat, and above hats such as the bowler or fedora. It is appropriate (often with a topcoat) with a stroller, or with black tie.
I would call it an ascot cap. When I dress to the nines, I will wear a homburg. I also wear a driving cap, and both are made by Dobbs. by the way, nice shave.
I have three fedoras that are now getting dusty... ...two felt fedoras and a panama straw. I like their looks, and they function well. But, their problems in use get more and more apparent. For example, no one has hat racks. Which pretty much means, when you get where you're going, you're carrying your hat around in one hand (it's bad form to wear a hat indoors). A few weeks ago, I got caught out in a heavy rain, and soaked my grey Stetson fedora. Now, that doesn't hurt it, but whatever shape it's in when it dries, is its new shape. In times when hats where much more common, it would be a simple matter to have it reblocked. Now, this is a mail order task, at some expense. Also, I ride a motorcycle to work most days it's not raining. If I take one of my fedoras to work, I lose one saddlebag to a hat. Either that, or I have to leave one of my hats at work. They're just not very convenient to wear very often. So, to solve that problem, I did a similar thing. I bought one of these, from Orvis: I really like it. It keeps the sun out of my eyes nicely, it takes very little room, is crushable, and won't lose its shape if it gets wet. With its much lower profile, I can wear it in the car (no crown). Of course, it is a driving cap, so it's designed for that purpose.
I stick to mostly wide-brimmed fedoras. A big head and large ears makes it hard to find hats that look good on me.
Bravo on the lady, very cute. I love hats, especially fedoras. Problem is I'm a young guy (25) and don't want an old man fedora or a cheap looking one. I went on a few hat forums and turns out this is the place to get hats. http://www.optimohats.com/ not cheap but not too bad. You'll get what you pay for and more I hear. Fedoras are the way to go for winter especially when they match your peacoat. I've actually had luck on Ebay buying a couple fedoras. Good Luck C. S. Budzi
I've got a black leather fedora that's collecting dust for the same reasons. I like it a lot, but it's such a pain to wear properly.
Thanks for all the tips and kind words, ya'll. I'm ready for the weather to get colder down here so I dress warm like that. We had a pretty good cold snap and then it goes right back into the 80's and 90's again. Mississippi: If you don't like the weather here, leave for 15 minutes, then come back and try again.
I have always worn hats and can't imagine being without them. I have worn a variety of driving caps or flat hats like yours over the years and still do, but now mostly fedoras and hats with a good wide brim. I have a big head and a ball cap looks like it is streched over a bowling ball on my head, plus they do nothing to protect your face and ears. The lite wool fedoras that you can buy from Orvis and many other places are great in my opinion and you really can't hurt them. They are warm in cool weather and offer protection for your eyes, ears and neck from the sun, and even wind if you tilt your head into the breeze and the rain you just shake off. I have one that has been all over hell and back with me that I have worn for about 20 years. One of my friends says it has that 50 mission crush now. I also have a buffalo wool felt Stetson that I have worn a lot lately particularly when I am fishing. The weather won't hurt it, but it is a hard felt hat not soft and has a wide brim. Stetson also makes one called the "Gun Club" that Cabela's sells and it is a very nice looking fedora with a little style to it. Will N
Just in the interest of accuracy, a bowler & derby are not the same thing - I believe a bowler has a flat brim, while a derby has a brim that curves up at the sides.
I don't usually wear a cap. But lately I've been wearing this hat http://www.natashascafe.com/html/sailorcap.html I just took my dads spare hat since he only wears his old one.
I these are considered caps... but I've been wearing this all summer. Very comfortable and inexpensive. http://www.hats.com/product.aspx?id=133709&utm_medium=pce&utm_source=googlebase
Now that I shave my head and cool weather is setting in, I'm wearing a beanie or watch cap. I'd like to wear nicer hats but I have a hard time finding one that looks good on me or goes with what I wear.
