First Time Hat Buyer Info Thread - A Compendeum of Advice

[alanfgag]

you can totally pull it off, Todd.
From there, it's only a half step to 2 3/4 and the open road.

 

[Tomasso]

Absolutely.

 

[Suppoko]

Yeah you can totally wear it, like you said just gotta get comfortable wearing them. After you get acclimated to wearing them you can work on taking them off in the house. My grandpa would smack me when I left it on

 

[Chinaski]

Spend enough time here, and low crowns with stingy brims will start to look a bit "anemic." (With no disrespect intended to Daizawaguy, GWD, and other stingy-wearin' brethren!) You will start to get used to taller crowns and wider brims as you wear them.

 

[Tomasso]

low crowns with stingy brims will start to look a bit "anemic."

Well, they bring out your face; kinda like short hair on a women.

 

[Chinaski]

Well, they bring out your face; kinda like short hair on a women.

Maybe that's my problem - my ugly mug!

 

[Pompidou]

You'll see more flaws in whatever you do than anyone else will. When I'm playing the piano, I'm always inclined to stop and restart, but nobody else even hears a mistake. Same with wearing hats, I think. You'll notice a million imperfections, but most everyone else will just say, "Nice hat." The stress will do you more harm than the brim size. If you see something you like, go for it.

 

[gpotski]

Go for the Akubra Stylemaster. Here's my Stylemaster. The brim is just about right.

 

[scottyrocks]

You look good in both. Keep in mind that its not just the brim width, but the shape of the crown that makes a hat look 'right' or 'wrong' to the most important person involved - the one wearing it.

 

[danofarlington]

I'm another hat newbie, and you probably get this a lot, but I am trying to figure out what hats work for me. So, I figure I'd throw in a few pictures and get your esteemed opinions.

My only "real" hat is a vintage Dobbs stingy (1 3/4" brim). I think I can pull it off but a wider brim may be better to balance out my big melon. Here is a quick pic of me with the stingy.

Today I tried on a lovely Akubra Stylemaster, and my immediate thought was the brim looked too big. I believe it is 2 1/2 inches. Perhaps I just need to get comfortable with wearing a larger brim. For reference, here is a picture of me in an older wool Dorfman Pacific fedora. It has a 2 1/2 inch brim (appx 4 1/2 inch bashed crown). I used to think it looked way too big on me, but the overall size has grown on me a bit.

What do you think - can I pull off a 2 1/2 inch brim? Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
-Todd

Yes, a 2 1/2 brim on you is fine. Most hats are not stingies, most are like the 2 1/2. You've got to get used to it yourself, though, to be comfortable in it. Sometimes people go for an article of clothing that they think is less conspicuous, so they won't be too "out there" on their first effort, perhaps you with a stingy brim. But the look of hats is a brim, which departs from other kinds of hats. The more you wear the 2 1/2 brim the more comfortable you will be. Don't stop looking for other 2 1/2s, or possibly 2 1/4s, either. You don't have to go exclusively stingy. On you I like the wider one better anyway.

 

[fmw]

Spend enough time here, and low crowns with stingy brims will start to look a bit "anemic." (With no disrespect intended to Daizawaguy, GWD, and other stingy-wearin' brethren!) You will start to get used to taller crowns and wider brims as you wear them.

Not for me. My tall crown fedora is on its way today to an Ebay buyer. It looked like a dunce cap to me. Short crowns for me. I came from the Western hat world. Very tall crowns and very wide brims. I don't like the look of tall crowns on any fedora. So, as usual, these things are a matter of personal preference. Wear what you like.

For the OP, the wider brim looks better on you from my preference.

 

[Akubra Man]

It looks fine to me.... enjoy it!

 

[Carnage]

Danny, that is a great shame I didn't catch it on EvilBay, I would have snapped that one up. I shall set about attempting to hunt one down now methinks.

Regards

 

[Jim2903]

Wider brims for me, at least 2 1/2 inches. A stingy on me looks like a cap on a toothpaste tube.

 

[LocktownDog]

Yep. My brown Stetson looks great with a lemon yellow shirt too.

 

[Bourne ID]

Really? Tan shoes with grey slacks, never black? That's good to know! As I look down, I seem to be making that mistake right now!!!
Love that 32 ford up there!

 

[Historyteach24]

I wear black shoes all the time with grey slacks I like the look

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

I like that Dobbs.

 

[CharlieB]

Both look good, variety is the spice of life!

 

[Bourne ID]

I'll bet they'd let us slide on the black shoes but never on the white ankle socks I put on in the dark this morning!!!!!!!!