Good News For Sellers, Bad For Buyers.

[Katt in Hat]

Running idea up flagpole; lets see if it burns.

I have noted that others here have commented on the rising prices of hats of late. I believe that the current Bull market is due to many factors but two strike me as being very influential.

1. The picture of the soon to be sentenced felon; Jack Abramoff, in his magnificent black fedora.
2. The film, Brokeback Mount. (sure to be causing a spurt), in Western head-gear.

Pardon my feeble puns...:drum:

 

[Snrbfshn]

Maybe so, but...

The current surge is founded in a tide that began rising some time ago, though most notably over past 5 to 6 months, to my view. The
Abramoff pix did push a wave; "Brokeback" won't cause much of a ripple as a hat movie.

The larger, primary influences are celebrity and counterculture.

Secondary is niche communities (of which this is one, as is horse-people), the only places one finds personal commitment, as well as the keepers of the heritage.

 

[John in Covina]

You go back to what you know.

I believe that there is a pick up in fedora and other dress hat sales because for some of us, we are old enough to recall "when fedoras ruled the earth" and "all men wore hats." Now as reasonably well doing adults the time has come to emulate what we remember, so it is in a way a life growth programmed nostalgia factor.

And any time something looks as good as a fedora comes as a raising trend others may jump on the band wagon. Strange thing is with the number of movies and shows that have influenced me, I still think a portion of how an ideal man dresses was influenced by the b&w TV Superman series, great hats and suits.

Best wishes,

 

[jeboat]

Nostalgia

I think we are experiencing a nostalgic mood of our wanting to anchor ourselves to something firm, solid and familiar. I am sure that most of our fathers and grandfathers wore hats daily, I know mine did. Neither ever went anywhere without a hat atop their heads.

Moreover, the "baby boomer" effect is taking hold more and more so it is natural for the more affluent to emulate our parents. Besides all that, fashion is cyclic, and I hope to God that the days of dressing like a slob are soon to be history.

jeboat:cool2: :cool2: :cool2:

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I think that in a small way we are responsible, those of us that wear our hats every day. I do get the odd stare every once in a while, but at least once a week a twenty-something will come up and say "cool hat, wear did you get it?" Racing though my mind at that moment is, "it's great that he has genuine interest, but should I tell him about my favorite thrift stores, Ebay, flea markets? What if he's my hat size?" If I'm feeling generous that day I may spill the beans, but I do use the "it was my grandfathers" reply more often than not.

 

[jake_fink]

People who like hats...

... buy too many. It's like any other collectible. Don't count on seeing more people wearing hats, just more "I won it!" posts here among the regulars.


Now if you saw hat shops opening all over the place, that would be something!

 

[Fedora]

Moreover, the "baby boomer" effect is taking hold more and more so it is natural for the more affluent to emulate our parents. Besides all that, fashion is cyclic, and I hope to God that the days of dressing like a slob are soon to be history.

I agree with you totally. While there are times and places to wear athetic shoes and the garb that goes with that, I have always felt this stuff was being worn in the wrong place, and for the wrong occasion. And what is more undignified on a grown man, than wearing a pair of pants sagging to the knees, with the drawers showing? When I first saw this, (I was at a local carnival with my small children), I almost fell down from laughing. I thought it was one of the clowns employed by the carnival. When I started seeing this emulated by young people, I never understood it at all. I mean, it looks very comical to my generation. I rationalized it by thinking, well, at least it would be hard to run from the police, as the sagging pants could become close to the restraints that are put on horses, to keep them from wandering too far. Fedora

 

[GA Wildlifer]

Your hat reminds me of my father...

... (or grandfather) is the most common response I get since beginning to wear a fedora. Most people seem to like the nostalgia, but I don't think I will be able to go to the local hat shop and get a free clean and block like my grandfather could.

GA Wildlifer

 

[Twitch]

You know I got to say that seeing The Aviator last year got me thinking about 35 years ago when my pal and I tried wearing fedoras but were too young and either early or late in the fashion. Being into aviation anyhow I looked at several books with Howard Hughes' pictures and noted that he flew his planes with fedoras on. That's got to be a rebel statement in itself. So here I am.:fedora: