Can Anyone Pull Off a Wide-brim Fedora?

[Rabbit]

How do you know if you can pull off a wide brim in these days of stingy hats?

Just try it, and use your own eyes to judge proportions and silhouette. You may never want to wear stingies (2" and narrower) again...
Just be aware that every 1/8" makes quite a difference. Some folks around here prefer the 2 1/8"-2 1/4" range for dress hats, others perhaps 2 3/8"-2 1/2", and so on up to the 2 3/4" full brims.
Non-stingy brims are somewhat comparable to double-pleated trousers... Wear them once - chances are you will never want to switch back (to flat fronts, in the case of suit pants I mean).

 

[BR Gordon]

Just try it, and use your own eyes to judge proportions and silhouette. You may never want to wear stingies (2" and narrower) again...
Just be aware that every 1/8" makes quite a difference. Some folks around here prefer the 2 1/8"-2 1/4" range for dress hats, others perhaps 2 3/8"-2 1/2", and so on up to the 2 3/4" full brims.
Non-stingy brims are somewhat comparable to double-pleated trousers... Wear them once - chances are you will never want to switch back (to flat fronts, in the case of suit pants I mean).

The one caveat that I would add to Rabbits comments is, give yourself a little time to adjust to a wider brim. Don't just put one on and make a judgement. Wear it for a while give your brain time to adjust to a new look.

 

[seabass]

Say, Che, what's the meaning of this colorful expression?

(BUTT-CHEEKS)
Rabbit
Just a deep center crease But with a ultra stingy brim ....

I have had this hat 32 years & it was used then. I think i traded a steering wheel for it from a old MontyCarlo .
Yea it sound's sterotypical to me but true...in my case
But when i would Cut the brim to 2'' on a old vintage Fur-Felt hat back then the crease was the same,,but a much taller crown.
Man i cut some great hats back then ... if i only knew better..
even then late 70's early 80's I was in the wrong time zone per the way i dressed by a good 30 years

Hey lets start a vintage stingy thread !

 

[CircuitRider]

Most of mine are in the 2 1/2 inch range, a few stingies, plus my "Parson's hat" in my Avatar in a class of its own.

 

[Rabbit]

Che, the stingy in your pic is... a daring style.
I think I need glasses; I can't see the brim.

The one caveat that I would add to Rabbits comments is, give yourself a little time to adjust to a wider brim. Don't just put one on and make a judgement. Wear it for a while give your brain time to adjust to a new look.

Good point, BR.

Study proportions carefully, without hurrying.

 

[seabass]

Che, the stingy in your pic is... a daring style.
I think I need glasses; I can't see the brim.

Rabbit i wore this in 1978-1980 & it was a old hat then....LOL
& it was my Newest Most Modern Style Hat back then.....lol

 

[Rick Blaine]

The only person not able to pull off a wide brim fedora doesn't have a head.

:arated:

...puts me in mind of an old post here, to paraphrase-


Q: At what age can someone wear a fedora?

A: As soon as the fontanel closes.

 

[Chuck Naill]

Since I now use fedora's everyday, I am noticeing that I get compliments regardless of which hat I wear from 2-3". As someone else wisely said, hats have a function. With that in mind, I have better use for a wide brim for sun and rain protection.

Additionally, I like an extra full cut on my caps for the same reasons.

 

[Dick Ireland]

Easing Into It

Thanks for the advice, guys. I needed a brown hat anyway, so when I saw a nice looking one with a 2 1/8" brim on ebay last week I went for it. I figure I can get used to that before I go wider.

 

[Chief000731]

bushman-3 1/4" for me.

I pull it off by grasping the brim with my hands.

 

[danofarlington]

Wide brims are great. I love my wide brims, which I define as anything wider than 2 1/2, although I like my 2 1/2s as well.

Your guiding light though I think has to be, how do you look in the brims of various widths? Trying them on ought to tell you whether you can pull them off. If you think if looks good, wear it.

The wide brims on Chief000731 and KC Capellor are good, very good. KC, the wide brims beat the pants off the stingies in your case. Wide brims, you look like a movie producer. Stingies are less salutary to you IMHO.

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

I started out with stingy brims and went on to 2 1/2", 2 3/4" and even 2 7/8" brims. After that I started to develop a love for the 30's style fedoras with their shorter brims and taller crowns. My favored brim width is now at 2 1/8" or 2 1/4". It's a rather nasty coincidence that those lovely 20's/30's fedoras are so hard to find these days.

I recently fell in love with the '30s style hats, too. I'm having Parker at Falcon Park Hattery make me one that is 5 3/4" open crown, 2 1/8" brim. Debating on moving that up another 1/8". My limit is 2 1/2.

 

[nice hat dude!]

I know this has probably been said a thousand times so one more won't hurt,if you like the look of a wide brimmed hat on your head it's your head and you should be allowed to cover it in any fashion you like, I'm not a fan of Stingies but that's not to say they don't look good on other folks.Also if you think yourself that it looks like a costume then that's probably how you'll feel by wearing a wider brim.Again if it's you worrying about other peoples perceptions of what looks like a costume and what doesn't please read the signature on the bottom of the page.

 

[Historyteach24]

Best example I have is where I started. This is my first vintage felt I found a 2 inch brim

THis is my custom made 2 1/2 brim

I think most would agree with my huskier build and fuller face the bigger brim is better

 

[Dixon Cannon]

This is my widest, and my most favorite - my Borsalino, Alessandria ≈

-dixon cannon

 

[Dixon Cannon]

I always thought our old friend 'dalex' was the perfect example of a wide brim, worn well ≈

-dixon cannon

 

[randooch]

I think most would agree with my huskier build and fuller face the bigger brim is better

There you have it. Quite correct.

 

[John in Covina]

Grab an Akubra Squatter it's got a pretty wide brim. I have just loved mine.

 

[earl]

I like a wider brim, never less than 2 1/2 inches for me. Bought a lovely dove grey one recently at Hatman Jack's in Wichita. It was 2 3/4. When I pointed it out to try it on, the venerable Hatman said that it wouldn't work on me. Then when I put it on, he said, yeah that works better on you than I thought. Earl

 

[lolly_loisides]

Who can pull off a wide brim Fedora? All of these gents (Sydney Australia 1934).