Detective style fedora

[ninman]

So I'm interested in buying a 50's style, detective, fedora, but I'm not sure which brand makes good ones. Can anyone recommend any to me?

Cheers.

 

[TheDane]

Search eBay and you'll find lots of fedoras from the 50s. I believe that more than half the hats you see here on TFL are bought there

 

[Edward]

If you're looking something in current production, Akubraare hard to beat. Also depends whether you want the sort of hat that was new in the fifities, or the sort of old, forties-style fedora many grizzled detectives would still have been wearing in the fifties...

 

[Blackthorn]

Akubra Stylemaster

 

[tommyK]

Ebay is your best hope. Nothing new is going to come close. Akubra's are too thick and stiff. You'll never get it to take a shape that looks anything like what you're looking for

 

[hatsRme]

Don't overlook the option of an Art-Lite felt from Vintage Silhouettes. In my opinion, that is about as close to a vintage felt as is available today. But I didn't see them on the site, so better ask Art!

 

[Gromulus]

Akubra Stylemaster

Ditto.

I have several custom hats, including several "works of Art", but if this is your first entry into the hat world, you may want to start a little "slower" (less expensive) until you figure out what works for you

Many of the decent hats available on ebay are not much less than a new Akubra. While many Akubra models are somewhat stiffer for use outdoors, the Stylemaster has a softer feel and (with it's slight taper and 2 1/2" brim) would give you the look you are after.

You can't go wrong with any Akubra.

 

[Knotten]

I would rather choose the Akubra Sydney, or Fedora, as it's called by Australian distributors. It's got the soft feel (softer than my Stylemaster and almost as soft as my vintage hats), and it's got a taller, 5 1/2 inch open crown you can shape to your liking.

 

[moontheloon]

if you are thinking of what I thought of when I read "50s style, detective" no Akubra will do

you will end up coming here and staring a thread saying something like ... this Akubra I got is great but ....

far too thick and stiff

great hats ... but in no way do they respond like the hats I think of when I think of styles worn in the 50s

take to hawking eBay ... these hats pop up and you will get one if you are persistent

 

[Frunobulax]

I would rather choose the Akubra Sydney, or Fedora, as it's called by Australian distributors. It's got the soft feel (softer than my Stylemaster and almost as soft as my vintage hats), and it's got a taller, 5 1/2 inch open crown you can shape to your liking.

if you are thinking of what I thought of when I read "50s style, detective" no Akubra will do

you will end up coming here and staring a thread saying something like ... this Akubra I got is great but ....

far too thick and stiff

great hats ... but in no way do they respond like the hats I think of when I think of styles worn in the 50s

take to hawking eBay ... these hats pop up and you will get one if you are persistent

While I agree with Moon, that opinion is born of mucho experience and also one that has quite a bit of bias built in due to that experience. My first open crown was an Akubra Fedora. I have to disagree with TommyK here. It is much softer than a Campdraft or (presumably) a Fed IV (never handled a Fed, just going on reviews here).

Yeah, my Akubra Fedora (Sydney) doesn't have quite the same look and feel as my vintage hats, but it's still a go-to lid. I like it's look, fit and feel. And the price is right, the risk is low when considering what you may or may not get from an eBay find. There is a certain amount of "pull and pray" when buying from eBay (unless you're buying from a Lounger!).

Like Gromulas opined, if this is your first time putting your toe in the water, jumping into the deep end can be risky. Others have, in the past, suggested Cappelleria Melegari for a new hat. They seem to be worth a look.

No offense to my Lounge Brethren, but I'm always leery of suggesting somebody jump right into a custom hat and, to a lesser extent, vintage.

 

[moontheloon]

While I agree with Moon, that opinion is born of mucho experience and also one that has quite a bit of bias built in due to that experience. My first open crown was an Akubra Fedora. I have to disagree with TommyK here. It is much softer than a Campdraft or (presumably) a Fed IV (never handled a Fed, just going on reviews here).

this falls right into that Akubra inconsistency category ... because both Fed IVs that I have owned were and are far more stiff than any of my Campdrafts aside from a Deluxe Silverbelly ... which is horribly stiff

 

[Knotten]

Admittedly, the photography isn't the best, but here's my Akubra Sydney next to my vintage Champ. The brim width, ribbon width and crown heights are identical. The Sydney has a slight taper. The Champ is also bashed higher.
I agree with Moon that nothing beats true vintage for the vintage look and feel. The felt on the Champ is incredible.
But for a starter, the Sydney ain't a bad choice.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

So I'm interested in buying a 50's style, detective, fedora, but I'm not sure which brand makes good ones. Can anyone recommend any to me?

Cheers.

We might need a bit of clarification on some points. I see that you are in the UK which might cause you to prefer a style from that location - such as a trilby rather than the fedoras which people in the USA would have worn during that time. Time and location are critical to achieving a correct look.

Maybe you could take a moment to gather a few images to convey your mental concept of what you want and we can assist with a more informed opinion regarding a supplier.

Aside from the style of the basic hat and the creasing there is the specific material and properties of it. Soft or stiff? How high of a quality/cost expectation?

There are a lot of considerations, but the more specific the input, the better the output.

Fed

 

[Frunobulax]

this falls right into that Akubra inconsistency category ... because both Fed IVs that I have owned were and are far more stiff than any of my Campdrafts aside from a Deluxe Silverbelly ... which is horribly stiff

The only folks I know of with a Sydney/Fedora are Knotten and myself. We have both indicated they are a softer hat. I think this may be intentional on Akubra's part, as this hat is a "city hat" as opposed to the CDs, at least. However, my CD and my Fedora are my only experiences with Akubras, so YMMV. And you have handled more Akubras than me.

We might need a bit of clarification on some points. I see that you are in the UK which might cause you to prefer a style from that location - such as a trilby rather than the fedoras which people in the USA would have worn during that time. Time and location are critical to achieving a correct look.

Maybe you could take a moment to gather a few images to convey your mental concept of what you want and we can assist with a more informed opinion regarding a supplier.

Aside from the style of the basic hat and the creasing there is the specific material and properties of it. Soft or stiff? How high of a quality/cost expectation?

There are a lot of considerations, but the more specific the input, the better the output.

Fed

Now you just take your thoughtful logic and sensible analysis and get outta here! That kind of thinking is uncalled for.

 

[Bob Roberts]

this falls right into that Akubra inconsistency category ... because both Fed IVs that I have owned were and are far more stiff than any of my Campdrafts aside from a Deluxe Silverbelly ... which is horribly stiff

My Imperial Fed is the stiffest hat I own.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Admittedly, the photography isn't the best, but here's my Akubra Sydney next to my vintage Champ. The brim width, ribbon width and crown heights are identical. The Sydney has a slight taper. The Champ is also bashed higher.
I agree with Moon that nothing beats true vintage for the vintage look and feel. The felt on the Champ is incredible.
But for a starter, the Sydney ain't a bad choice.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Especially in that color.

 

[Bob Roberts]

We might need a bit of clarification on some points. I see that you are in the UK which might cause you to prefer a style from that location - such as a trilby rather than the fedoras which people in the USA would have worn during that time. Time and location are critical to achieving a correct look.

Maybe you could take a moment to gather a few images to convey your mental concept of what you want and we can assist with a more informed opinion regarding a supplier.

Aside from the style of the basic hat and the creasing there is the specific material and properties of it. Soft or stiff? How high of a quality/cost expectation?

There are a lot of considerations, but the more specific the input, the better the output.

Fed

Yes. Tru. Are you trying to look like an American detective or an English Inspector...?

 

[ninman]

We might need a bit of clarification on some points. I see that you are in the UK which might cause you to prefer a style from that location - such as a trilby rather than the fedoras which people in the USA would have worn during that time. Time and location are critical to achieving a correct look.

Maybe you could take a moment to gather a few images to convey your mental concept of what you want and we can assist with a more informed opinion regarding a supplier.

Aside from the style of the basic hat and the creasing there is the specific material and properties of it. Soft or stiff? How high of a quality/cost expectation?

There are a lot of considerations, but the more specific the input, the better the output.

Fed

Yes sorry, I meant American detective, a bit like this.

 

[moontheloon]

Yes sorry, I meant American detective, a bit like this.

... so you're looking for a fedora ?...

ya don't say....



not sure what a detective has to do with any of this ... but probably any fur felt hat with a 2 1/2" brim and anywhere from 5 1/2 to 5 3/4" open crown with a 2" ribbon or so sounds like it would do the trick for you

any simple search of any hat shop on the planet would probably come up fruitful

everyone here will beg you to get an Akubra like they have stock in the company ... may not be a bad idea in reality though

 

[ninman]

... so you're looking for a fedora ?...

ya don't say....



not sure what a detective has to do with any of this ... but probably any fur felt hat with a 2 1/2" brim and anywhere from 5 1/4 to 5 1/2" open crown with a 2" ribbon or so sounds like it would do the trick for you

any simple search of any hat shop on the planet would probably come up fruitful

Yes, but I'm looking for that style of fedora, and a good one. For example, would a Stetson do the job?

The detective is just to give an idea, but it's what a typical American gentleman would have worn with a suit, that kind of Fedora.