AMAZING Vintage Photos of Fedoras

[Marc Chevalier]

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A Fedora Lounge exclusive – you won’t see these anywhere else (until now).


The photos below were taken from 1916 to 1921 by Clement Kieffer, Jr., a pioneer in the store window display field. Mr. Kieffer played a very active part in professionalizing a type of work that never been taken seriously in America. He was a co-founder and Executive Committee chairman of the “International Association of Display Men.”


Clement Kieffer designed the window displays for WEED, arguably the most prestigious men’s haberdasher in Buffalo, New York. Mr. Kieffer took photos of nearly every one of his displays from 1916 to 1921. He pasted these photos in a book, which is now in my hands.


Take a look at the incredible variety of hats. There are a surprisingly large number of fedoras for such an early date. Note the many, many types of “messy” dents and bashes. Some very light colors, and a lot of expensive velours. Great golf/driving caps. You’ll even see a few porkpies and a straw hat with a colorful paisley puggaree band. Who would have thought it?


For photos of suits and overcoats, click on these links:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=21549

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?p=365557

 

[Marc Chevalier]

 

[Marc Chevalier]

 

[Marc Chevalier]

 

[RBH]

Wow Marc, those are just too cool!
Thanks!

 

[jake_fink]

Fantastic! Glad I stopped by today.

 

[Anders]

Now that is a lot of interesting hats. Thanks for posting them!

I'm surprised at the number of hats sporting that "cattleman with small dents" sort of bash. I never really considered that an everyday vintage style.

 

[Wesne]

Wow.

 

[AlanC]

Thanks for posting those. Quite overwhelming.

 

[Fredthecat]

Great photos,

Thanks for sharing.....where's my Buck Rogers Past-o-Ray machine when I need it??

 

[nulty]

An Amazing Archival piece..

where did you run across that book?

Know anyone who's ever owned a hat from that store?

 

[BegintheBeguine]

Hats for the whole grown-up male community? Way too many!
Truly amazing, thanks for sharing, Marc Chevalier.

 

[Colby Jack]

Those are wonderful images...
CJ

 

[scotrace]

Look at the white(?) hat at about 9:00... I've never seen a hat dented like that. Mashed in with a small dent at the sides, no pinch. And it looks great!

Thanks Marc.

Edit: There are a lot of them like that!

 

[Rick Blaine]

Stunning!

Stunning in both breadth & depth. I dunno about ya'll, but it makes me wanna buy, buy, buy!

 

[Fletch]

Astonishing.

Particularly so to see hat styles we associate with later eras - the snapbrim, the cattleman, the somewhat regrettable "belter" - skulking about amidst the bowlers and boaters. I even see one front pinch! (the straw at center left under the Japanese lanterns in picture number 16).

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Very cool! And from my hometown too! I bet my great-grandfather shopped there.

Oh, and Scotrace, take a look at the bash of the hat on my avatar!

 

[geckoheart]

Great pics. Thanks!

 

[barrowjh]

Yup - some different bashes there, and so many of those strange side dents, and note that most are not symetrical (don't appear to be). Felt must have been soft, maybe 'bashed' as set up for display. I also note that a lot of the center creases are almost pinched together front to back. I wonder if they all came out of the box open-crowned.

 

[BJBAmerica]

Fantastic pics......Also noticed all of the walking sticks displayed along with the hats......Posh, I like!!!

Thanks for the post!! :eusa_clap