Gray on brown.

[Packin' Heat]

I recently acquired my first vintage fedora, and it's light gray, 1940's. What I wanted to ask is if it would look weird worn with darker brown suits. I am planning on getting a brown fedora in the near future, but until it comes I'd like to know what colors it's okay to wear my gray fedora with.

P.

 

[davidraphael]

I guess it all depends on the tone.

I recently wore a grey newsboy with brown Bavarian jacket, black&tan pants and brown Campers and it looked good.

However, I also wore a pale blue shirt to reflect the fact that the grey newsboy had a bluish hue to it. This extra colour united the whole look. So, you might need an element extra to draw the whole thing together.

 

[Packin' Heat]

I have some ties with gray in them (although my collection being comprised of postwar 40's, most of them are on the colorful side). Then there's an option of wearing a gray, striped dress shirt.

 

[Yeps]

I would say it probably looks better than a brown hat would. Matching your hat to your suit is generally a bit bizzare looking (except black for formal attire).

Put up some pics, let us see this hat.

 

[Packin' Heat]

These are from eBay:

The hat is currently at the tailors for repairing of its inner lining. It will be finished this week. Being a old-style hat, it's very malleable, and I've since reshaped it to make the crown have a much greater slant toward the peak (which consequently gave it a tear drop c-crown as opposed to the bash it came with).

 

[BanjoMerlin]

I recently acquired my first vintage fedora, and it's light gray, 1940's. What I wanted to ask is if it would look weird worn with darker brown suits. I am planning on getting a brown fedora in the near future, but until it comes I'd like to know what colors it's okay to wear my gray fedora with.

P.

I wear light gray with just about anything. Same with light tan. Since the hats don't have a strong color component they seem to sort of just blend in with whatever I'm wearing, it is hard to tell what color the hat really is. The medium and darker shades don't seem to be as versitile.

The big thing is to look in the mirror. If it looks bad to you then don't do it, you'll be too self-conscious to make it happen.

 

[Packin' Heat]

I wear light gray with just about anything. Same with light tan. Since the hats don't have a strong color component they seem to sort of just blend in with whatever I'm wearing, it is hard to tell what color the hat really is. The medium and darker shades don't seem to be as versitile.

The big thing is to look in the mirror. If it looks bad to you then don't do it, you'll be too self-conscious to make it happen.

The reason I got a light gray fedora is specifically because I thought it would look good with everything (though especially with my black suits). According to my pop (he and I have had numerous disagreements about style), though, one shouldn't match gray with brown in any way, but I tried on the hat with my brown suit before I took it to the tailor and it looks dandy enough to me.

 

[BanjoMerlin]

The reason I got a light gray fedora is specifically because I thought it would look good with everything (though especially with my black suits). According to my pop (he and I have had numerous disagreements about style), though, one shouldn't match gray with brown in any way, but I tried on the hat with my brown suit before I took it to the tailor and it looks dandy enough to me.

There are lots of "rules" that in my opinion should be ignored if it works for you.

A lot of discussion here about whether one can "pull it off." If you like the look you don't have to "pull if off."

 

[AlanC]

There's certainly no problem with a light to mid gray with a brown suit.

Nor is there a problem with brown shoes and gray trousers.

 

[Torpedo]

Here is a great recent example of the grey and brown combo tastefully done, from fellow lounger Mario:

Does it work? You bet it does.

 

[DRB]

A good Jedi always uses their instincts Luke

 

[theinterchange]

Here is a great recent example of the grey and brown combo tastefully done, from fellow lounger Mario:



Does it work? You bet it does.

To me, it's rare for grey and brown to actually look that good together... it has to be put together thoughtfully, not something just thrown on.

Mario has done that in this photo. :eusa_clap

Randy

 

[hatophile]

To me, it's rare for grey and brown to actually look that good together... it has to be put together thoughtfully, not something just thrown on.

Mario has done that in this photo. :eusa_clap

Randy

I second that. Then again, Mario is always sharp...

 

[theinterchange]

I second that. Then again, Mario is always sharp...

ain't that the truth?!

 

[Not-Bogart13]

To me, it's rare for grey and brown to actually look that good together... it has to be put together thoughtfully, not something just thrown on.

Mario has done that in this photo. :eusa_clap

Randy

Agreed. I think one of the keys is finding a way to (in some cases literally) tie it all together. It looks to me like Mario has a touch of light gray in his actual tie! I have found that accessories often make tough combinations work, so do not underestimate the value of a well chosen tie and/or pocket square.

Also, the hat's ribbon color can be a factor. So, keep that in mind.

 

[BanjoMerlin]

Mario is breaking so many "rules" in that photo that he has ventured into "style" - bravo!

 

[Richard Warren]

Nice looking hat. Ought to go good with just about anything.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

That gray is on the brown side...

That gray is on the brown side so I see no reason at all why it wouldn't go with a brown suit.

I have all three basic grays. The bluish gray goes with blue and black suits well. I have the whitish gray, ditto above. And I have the brownish gray like yours and also some darker that go with brown suits perfectly.

Seems to me that gray hats were far more common than other colors anyway, probably because they do go with anything.

 

[Packin' Heat]

There's certainly no problem with a light to mid gray with a brown suit.

Nor is there a problem with brown shoes and gray trousers.

If one could could steal style, then I fear I would mug Mario.