Accidental fedora fan

[AndyR]

Hello folks,

Been lurking a while and figured I'd share my tale. Even though I've been known for wearing odd hats since my youth (even fir), I had no intention of wearing a fedora. Recently, I was helping my 93 year old aunt go through some things as she has finally decided to move out of her home and in with relatives. She wanted me to pull some old hat boxes out of a closet.

Hmmm, suddenly I started thinking about my grandfather's old fedoras and I hoped for the best. After finding 3 boxes of hats that were my grandmother's (my sister loves them), there it was...a Stetson box!

Although there was no Stetson inside, there was the attached Morrison Hats-Famous Fifteen fedora, in 'very' good condition...and it fits! It was sitting on that shelf for about 50 years, just waiting for me.

About the bash as I found it...I'd describe it as more of a smash! LOL! I took some steam to it and did a nice center dent and two tight pinches. I love this shape the most, but there wasn't enough clearance for me, so I compromised and did this somewhat loose teardrop. I say loose in that the creases are not pinched/folded really tightly, which I don't like that much.

I was a little concerned about wearing it and needing to replace the sweatband at some point and thought about hanging it up and getting a new one like it to wear, but the more I considered the situation, the more I realized I needed to go vintage, even if it ends up needing work. How wonderful to be able to wear my grandfather's hat.

Andy

 

[Frunobulax]

Wear it. And think of your grandpa. And wear it every time you go over to see grandma.

And if it shows too much wear, get it refurbed.

But wear it.

 

[AndyR]

Thank you for the input. Yeah, life is too short to save like that. Better to wear it and enjoy. My grandma is gone too, but my dad and aunt sure get a kick out of seeing me wear it.

Andy

 

[Feraud]

That is a very nice looking fedora. Wear it and enjoy it. Your grandmother will love seeing it on you.
It can be refurbished if necessary. I hope you get another 50 years out of it.

 

[hatophile]

Nice hat. That's one a real fedora lover could hope to find in grandpa's closet.

 

[hatsRme]

Nice hat. That's one a real fedora lover could hope to find in grandpa's closet.

Exactly!

 

[javadave61]

Thanks for sharing this story. I got a touch emotional when I saw your grandfather's hat.

There's so much more history in a hat than in any other piece of clothing, at least in my opinion. As I enter middle age and see the generation ahead of me starting to pass on, these sentimental things have more meaning to me. My sons get a chuckle at me wearing hats. But part of me knows that one day after my funeral is over and the fried chicken is eaten, they'll go back to the house, dig through my closet, and they'll ask, "Can I have one of dad's hats?" And they'll wear it out of the house. And their kids will chuckle.

Today's hats are tomorrow's legacy.

 

[Big Man]

That's a great story. Thanks for sharing it with us, and congratulations for finding your grandfather's hat after all those years. Wear it often and think of him.

 

[GregNYC]

I agree, wear it and enjoy it. Today's retail hats don't match up anyway! You've got a great one there!

 

[AndyR]

Feroud, hatophile, hatsRme, Big Man, GregNYC,

Thank you all very much! It certainly was a great closet find. I feel good when I wear it and when it does need work, at least I have a really good local place to take it to (Optimo, Chicago). I wouldn't feel good about shipping it out to anyone. Thanks for reinforcing my decision to wear it. Oh and now I'm thinking about getting a Panama for summer. I had one years ago, but it fell apart.

Andy

 

[AndyR]

Javadave,

I know exactly what you mean. I also have my grandfather's old Elgin Railroad Pocket Watch that works well. As great as it is, there's still something a bit more special about the hat. I can still remember him sitting on the front porch wearing a fedora.

Good words David, much appreciated.

Andy

 

[Lean'n'mean]

What a great story ! nice looking hat too & I like the way you've creased it.................................. not too disimilar to the 'famous' hat worn by Tom Hardy in 'Lawless'

 

[AndyR]

Thanks L&M. I really enjoyed shaping it. I never saw that movie so I went and searched for some images and yes, it does indeed look like that hat. Same color, ribbon, high crown and pinches. The only thing is, I'm a brim up kind of guy. I hope I won't be ostracized for that. LOL!

Andy

 

[Rick Blaine]

Thanks for sharing this story. I got a touch emotional when I saw your grandfather's hat.

There's so much more history in a hat than in any other piece of clothing, at least in my opinion. As I enter middle age and see the generation ahead of me starting to pass on, these sentimental things have more meaning to me. My sons get a chuckle at me wearing hats. But part of me knows that one day after my funeral is over and the fried chicken is eaten, they'll go back to the house, dig through my closet, and they'll ask, "Can I have one of dad's hats?" And they'll wear it out of the house. And their kids will chuckle.

Today's hats are tomorrow's legacy.

:thumb:

 

[hatophile]

Feroud, hatophile, hatsRme, Big Man, GregNYC,

Thank you all very much! It certainly was a great closet find. I feel good when I wear it and when it does need work, at least I have a really good local place to take it to (Optimo, Chicago). I wouldn't feel good about shipping it out to anyone. Thanks for reinforcing my decision to wear it. Oh and now I'm thinking about getting a Panama for summer. I had one years ago, but it fell apart.

Andy

Optimo will do a great job for you.

 

[KingAndrew]

And if you're looking for a Panama, Optimo can fix you up with a great one. It won't be cheap, but it will be very nice. I love the one I got there.

The Optimo Milans are also excellent hats for summertime.

 

[AndyR]

I'll bet they could make me happy! Yeah, I was about to tell hatophile that it will be pretty dangerous going in there.

Andy

 

[dhermann1]

Wonderful story! Welcome to the club!

 

[AndyR]

Thanks so much! The club is going to cost me money though.

Andy

 

[AMGbullitt]

Congrats wear it in good health!!