Does this fedora look right on me?

[clossonrr]

Started my journey into fedoras a few months ago with a wool felt and have since upgraded to this beaver brand custom fur felt. I am new to these hats and am still finding myself self conscious and don't know if the fedora hats suit me. The hat is very nice, and you all look great in your hats.. It also doesn't help that My wife says this hat looks too tall on me. Is the crown too tall, or is something just not working for me? I am not looking for compliments just straight feedback. should i try something different? I am 6' tall and thin dunno if that messes with my wifes head or not.

 

[dhermann1]

Looks perfect. Maybe a little tilt would help. Add a splash of confidence. Easy way to get that confidence, go out and wear it around town for a while, and dig the reactions you get.

 

[cybergentleman]

I agree. Looks sharp.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

if anything you would suit a higher crown. Your wife's suggestion of it being too tall is just because she's not used to seeing you in such a hat.

bk

 

[Johnny J]

if anything you would suit a higher crown. Your wife's suggestion of it being too tall is just because she's not used to seeing you in such a hat.
bk

I agree, and also IMO the shape of your face lets you even pull off using a smaller brim, like 2 1/4 or even 2 inches. But this one looks fine on you.

 

[gtdean48]

The hat style & shape looks good on you. One thing that seems to throw off the picture a tad is the pinch isn't in line with the center of your face. It looks to be off to one side. When I crease open crowns, I use a paper clip to mark put on the ribbon directly in line with my nose so I get the pinch lined up. Should not be too hard to tweak that pinch to line up better....

 

[RBH]

Looks good on you.
If anything a slightly shorter brim might work.
Just wear it and soon you will not want to leave the house without one.

 

[jbucklin]

Looks good. My wife loves my hats with taller brims, but it did take her awhile to ge used to it. If you have access to Turner Classic Movies, get her to watch some films from the 30s and 40s. She'll fall in love with hats, I could almost guarantee it. Start with films starring Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Gary Cooper, William Powell. I think there are some threads on great hats in films here on the lounge. Most importantly, wear your hat(s) all the time---at home and while you're out.

On that particular hat you're wearing in the pics: you might try steaming the two side dents and then increase the size of them---almost down to the brim. I recently got a hat with that type of pinch and I immediately modified those dents. It looked like a forest ranger's hat when I first go it.

 

[mattface]

From the photo it looks like it might fit a bit loose at the sides. Chances are that will go away in time as the hat shrinks and conforms to your head better. I think it might look a bit better with a little bit of tilt, and maybe back on your head.

I also agree it looks like you might be able to pull off a narrower brim, which is great as vintage hats with narrower (than 2 1/2") are a lot easier to come by than the wider brims, and for that matter new hats are almost mostly narrower than 2 1/2". 2 or 2 1/4 would probably suit you, and I can't tell without seeing, but if you can pull off 1 3/4 then there are a lot of great 1960s "Mad Men era" hats that can be had for cheap. Chances are a hat like that would be easier for your wife to get used to since they are in fashion now. Also seeing as it's spring, a Milan straw might be a good gateway hat.

 

[mattface]

On that particular hat you're wearing in the pics: you might try steaming the two side dents and then increase the size of them---almost down to the brim. I recently got a hat with that type of pinch and I immediately modified those dents. It looked like a forest ranger's hat.

good point on the pinch! bring it in tighter in the front, and it'll give it a more classic look to go with the taller crown.

 

[Historyteach24]

I would agree that you could pull off a shorter brim but the crown height looks spot on for you. Give your wife time to adjust my wife loves my hats now and is better at matching my profile than I am.

 

[jbucklin]

I just reread your OP and noticed you have the same hat that I was talking about that I have-- the one that looked like a forest ranger hat. It's a Heritage C-Crown isn't it? and yours is Banker Grey. Is it really stiff? I also trimmed the brim down some. Very easy to do with a bound brim. Just use a sharp pair of scissors and cut , counter-clockwise, with the top of the crown facing you, right along the inner edge of the binding, letting it be a guide for the scissors. Get some 120 grit sandpaper and smooth it out by sanding in the same direction you cut with the scissors. Then finish it with 220 grit sandpaper and you''ll have a much better-proportioned hat I think. And lower those side dents! Here's mine after modifying it:

 

[jbucklin]

Here's a "before" shot:

 

[Yeps]

I think it looks great on you. It is a little 'new' looking, which will go away as you wear it and it really becomes yours.

 

[Aureliano]

If anything a slightly shorter brim might work.

Agree.

 

[Blackthorn]

It looks good on you, man. Wear it with confidence.

 

[daizawaguy]

From the undershot, it looks a little too large. Better to have it sit higher up at an angle. And as for the brim, well, I`m the odd one out here, but a size down would still suit you fine. I`m all for compliments, but I guess you will know if its too large if it sits low and has too much room to move about...or perhaps you are a long oval, and that explains the space at the sides. My frankness are not meant personally, only to help in your hat satisfaction...enjoy

 

[jbucklin]

If it's the same hat I have then it's stiff as a board and is not too unlike putting a large paint can on your noggin. I had to really beat the crap out of it, but it finally softened up and feels very good now. A reshaping of the pinch and a trimming of the brim makes this a near-perfect fedora!

 

[Vampyre Master]

any thoughts on size and shape of face = hat shape and height, any rules
V

 

[Yeps]

any thoughts on size and shape of face = hat shape and height, any rules
V

The general rule I have heard is to imagine a line at your eyes. Ignoring the brim, the basic silhouette should be symmetrical with the crown matching the basic proportions of your jawline.

Also, if you draw an imaginary curve/arch from the top of the hat down to the ends of your shoulders, it will show you about where the brim will look good.





Or just wear what you try on and feel good in.