Hat(s?) : exclusivity vs diversity

[guillaumeb]

This topic might already have been discussed but I was wondering something about TFL members.

I have about 12 hats. I started with trilbies of various types and went for longer flat brims and medium height crowns. Now I have a specific custom fedora-style hat. I basically matured my style to the point where I knew exactly what I wanted. And now I exclusively wear this hat. And I don't what i'd do if I lost it. i would probably have it remade.

Now from what I read over here, some people mix styles and shapes. And I honestly do not understand how one can go from one style to another. I am having a hard time understanding how one can wear one hat one day and another one the following day. i mean it's not like we have different dressing styles... And it's not a judgement at all. Really, for me it's like flagrance. It defines you. And you dont change it everyday. It has become so personal...

But may be it should not. I don't know. Maybe I am too narrow minded. I mean can there be more than one perfect hats, not just for your head but for your tastes (material, shape, color, ribbon...) ?

Now that I think about it, I act the same with many things. I found the perfect wristwatch and the perfect shoes...

Somehow it's a bit scary

 

[Boomerang]

I read you loud and clear. I undertook hat-wearing with a very similar, find-the-perfect-singular-hat mindset. But I realized pretty quickly that a single hat didn't satisfy my needs.

First, my wardrobe is split into two distinct palettes. Yes, only two: black/grey and tan/taupe. So even if I wore a single style, I'd want two hats: one to go with my black/grey clothes, and one for my tan/taupe outfits.

Turns out, I alternate between 3 styles of hat, so all-in-all I NEED a total of six hats to cover the bases. Right now I have nine. The three oddities are my two "formal" hats (an all black fedora and a silver belly dress western), and my "knockaround" hat that usually doesn't leave the yard.

I am very surprised to find myself comfortable in more than one style of hat. I never thought I'd see myself in a dress western without some discomfort, but here I am wearing them at least a couple of days a week. So although I understand your frame of mind, I seem to have abandoned my version of it and drifted away. I blame my fellow Loungers.

 

[tropicalbob]

It's a great topic, and I can't specifically remember anyone else mentioning it. Looking at my hats, I'd have to say that my experience has been pretty much like yours. Once I got past the first few debacles, I've been pretty consistent with the Open Road and Stratoliner styles, with the exception of a few Akubra Fed IV's (which aren't that radically different). Even my straws, of which I have several, are in the OR or Stratoliner styles. I figure if it works for me, why change it?

 

[dkstott]

I'll regularly bounce between Fedora's or Flat Caps depending on my mood & the weather. So, there's no exclusivity associated with wearing my hats. I've got 3 Akubra Stylemaster's, a Stetson Chatham and a Roadster along with a few Bailey Litefelt Fedora's & probably a half dozen different flat caps.

All of my hat or cap wearing has been more related to my moods & function rather than styling choices.

 

[Scooterz]

But if we only needed one hat, there would be more room in the closets and our wives would be happy about that and fill all that available space with stuff that is much less cool than fedoras. Like shoes or something. I also try to argue that the things I buy can be resold when I am dead, therefore they retain value unlike say jewelry. Who knows what that stuff is actually worth or if the guy with the wierd one eye magnifying glass is switching out the stones in the back when you have it appraised or cleaned. Hats are a responsible investment. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

 

[BobHufford]

I have 16 distinct personalities and each one requires three or more hats.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This topic might already have been discussed but I was wondering something about TFL members.

I have about 12 hats. I started with trilbies of various types and went for longer flat brims and medium height crowns. Now I have a specific custom fedora-style hat. I basically matured my style to the point where I knew exactly what I wanted. And now I exclusively wear this hat. And I don't what i'd do if I lost it. i would probably have it remade.

Now from what I read over here, some people mix styles and shapes. And I honestly do not understand how one can go from one style to another. I am having a hard time understanding how one can wear one hat one day and another one the following day. i mean it's not like we have different dressing styles... And it's not a judgement at all. Really, for me it's like flagrance. It defines you. And you dont change it everyday. It has become so personal...

But may be it should not. I don't know. Maybe I am too narrow minded. I mean can there be more than one perfect hats, not just for your head but for your tastes (material, shape, color, ribbon...) ?

Now that I think about it, I act the same with many things. I found the perfect wristwatch and the perfect shoes...

Somehow it's a bit scary

Well, I’m all over the hat map. First, there are levels of formality/casualness that dictate different hats. A homburg adds gravitas to a suit, and is really “required” with a dinner jacket/suit. I also want a more casual hat when doing yard work (I’m scared for Eric’s hats when he posts his yard work photos). Then I want diversity in colors to both match my clothing and to fit my mood for the day. I also like a nice stingy, but usually opt for wider brims. I’ll wear certain westerns as they offer more sun protection and I like the style. I also intentionally don’t crease all my hats the same as I prefer diversity.

I like long hair, velour, stiff, soft, and most any style. Why not embrace them all? For me it’s like a child who likes macaroni and cheese and won’t try anything else. I’m just not wired to be exclusive (except for a spouse). I don’t care for how I looked in the one derby I’ve owned, but I’d be willing to try again if the right hat came along.

I don’t think that it’s “wrong” to like one style and not diverge from it, but it’s not who I am.


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[DaveProc]

Well, I’m all over the hat map. First, there are levels of formality/casualness that dictate different hats. A homburg adds gravitas to a suit, and is really “required” with a dinner jacket/suit. I also want a more casual hat when doing yard work (I’m scared for Eric’s hats when he posts his yard work photos). Then I want diversity in colors to both match my clothing and to fit my mood for the day. I also like a nice stingy, but usually opt for wider brims. I’ll wear certain westerns as they offer more sun protection and I like the style. I also intentionally don’t crease all my hats the same as I prefer diversity.

I like long hair, velour, stiff, soft, and most any style. Why not embrace them all? For me it’s like a child who likes macaroni and cheese and won’t try anything else. I’m just not wired to be exclusive (except for a spouse). I don’t care for how I looked in the one derby I’ve owned, but I’d be willing to try again if the right hat came along.

I don’t think that it’s “wrong” to like one style and not diverge from it, but it’s not who I am.


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@deadlyhandsome I'm with you. I'm not a one style guy. I like a wide range of diversity, the only style I prescribe to is my own.

 

[Blare]

I don’t think that it’s “wrong” to like one style and not diverge from it, but it’s not who I am.

Bingo!


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[Rmccamey]

And, to be quiet honest, it is a fun and reasonably affordable hobby that often has some sort of history involved. I can spend a lot more when I go to the Harley shop or even the outlet mall shopping for clothes than I'll spend on a dozen nice vintage hats. I like a lot of different styles myself.

Well, I’m all over the hat map. First, there are levels of formality/casualness that dictate different hats. A homburg adds gravitas to a suit, and is really “required” with a dinner jacket/suit. I also want a more casual hat when doing yard work (I’m scared for Eric’s hats when he posts his yard work photos). Then I want diversity in colors to both match my clothing and to fit my mood for the day. I also like a nice stingy, but usually opt for wider brims. I’ll wear certain westerns as they offer more sun protection and I like the style. I also intentionally don’t crease all my hats the same as I prefer diversity.

I like long hair, velour, stiff, soft, and most any style. Why not embrace them all? For me it’s like a child who likes macaroni and cheese and won’t try anything else. I’m just not wired to be exclusive (except for a spouse). I don’t care for how I looked in the one derby I’ve owned, but I’d be willing to try again if the right hat came along.

I don’t think that it’s “wrong” to like one style and not diverge from it, but it’s not who I am.


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[jlee562]

I like lots of different profiles as the outfit dictates. Though after wearing 3" brims for a while, wearing my Optimo Dillinger felt a little like wearing a beanie!

 

[belfastboy]

I have 16 distinct personalities and each one requires three or more hats.

Thank you, I am going with this one!

 

[belfastboy]

And, to be quiet honest, it is a fun and reasonably affordable hobby that often has some sort of history involved. I can spend a lot more when I go to the Harley shop or even the outlet mall shopping for clothes than I'll spend on a dozen nice vintage hats. I like a lot of different styles myself.

When I was a golfer.....before the game gave up on me.....In season I would spend enough in a month to purchase two custom fedoras so switching to hat collection is cheap in comparison.

 

[bowlerman]

Diversity all the way for me. Variety is the spice of life...
Various colors and profiles and vintages seem not only to accommodate my fluctuating aesthetic, but provide an artistic, creative, and somewhat historical way to help get me through the day, or through the nine months of dark monochromatic grey winter in these parts.
In my experience, I’ve found that a perfect fit is far more valuable than a singular perfect style.
I also admire those who have a consistency to which they stick. It works for them.


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[guillaumeb]

Thanks for your replies !
I knew that was lots of people who like diversity !

I have never come to the point where I like several two hats equally. For me when you reach the top, it's hard putting a hat on to match my daily style when you know there is another one at home that you truly prefer. So instead I tend to coordinate my style around this hat (which is not too hard, given it's light tan/beige).
I do make one exception, in summertime, I have this panama which I customized myself and which suits better summer

But who knows, maybe time will change that

 

[GHT]

Whilst my choice of hat is primarily The Fedora, the reason that I have a selection is the same reason why I eat different meals each day. Variety is the spice of life.

 

[scottyrocks]

I grew up wanting hats.

It began in the 1960s. My Mom always had 'The 4:30 Movie' on the tube. At the time, most of those films were between 10 and 20 years old.

Just about all the men wore fedoras. I was fascinated by the general shape.

I was lucky to be able to have something at that time to put on my head. My brother and I used to share an old cowboy hat and an old fedora. My brother used to pull it all the way down on his head because it was too large for either of us, anyway.

I had had a small variety of hats in my teens. Mike Nesmith influenced me to get a green watch cap. 'Baretta' made me get a newsboy cap. Starsky made me get a black watch cap.

I also wore one or another cowboy hat a lot.

Then in 1981 'Raiders otLA' sealed it all up for me. That was the ideal shape and dimensionalness, as far as I was concerned. I bought a few hats in the '80s and wore them quite often.

Then in 2009 I joined this site and discovered the Abubra Federation IV. I now have 3 of those, and a Fed III.

Since then I have purchased a bunch more hats, but all of them are of the overall spirit, if not the exact look, of the IJ fedora.

And that is still what I wear, almost exclusively. My ideal fedora has a medium-tall straight sided crown, a tight pinch at the top, chiseled sides, and a 2 3/8 brim, although 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 still work for me. And no thin ribbons. Minimum for me is 1 1/2", and it's gotta be grosgrain.

But those are just my preferences. Some hats that I have collected over the years that don't fit those general dimensions will finally be put up for sale soon.

 

[M Hatman]

I have 16 distinct personalities and each one requires three or more hats.

Thank you, I am going with this one!

YES!!!!! Me too......at least 16 personalities........

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Having no personality & not being burdened with a collector's mindset I'm probably more in the exclusive club. I don't wear a hat everyday, only when the weather demands, so my choice of hat styles is first & foremost guided by practicality rather than fashion. I've always been more attracted to western & outback type hats anyway so I'm happier with them. I couldn't care less about matching a lid to my duds or vice versa. I also have difficulty spreading my love so I'm kinda relieved I only have a couple of hats on which to dote on.
Although variety can be stimulating in some things, when it comes to material objects, if I find a good'n & it serves it's purpose well I tend to stick with it & not look for alternatives. That said....I'm always on the quest for THE hat, the hat of all hats, the ONE but as I'm enjoying the journey I'd be pretty disappointed if I ever found it.

 

[Frunobulax]

I think there is a difference in wanting to feature a style and just appreciating your collection. For many Lounge members, a hat is a functional or fashionable choice. There are several of us, however, that have a lot of hats - more than needed for any sort of function or fashion - who wear them because they like the hats and appreciate the history. At least, for me. For my part, I enjoy rotating through my hats and pulling things out not worn in a while. I do have several that are more "go-tos" that get worn more often. But the others need love, too.

Not to mention, to be honest, I like to show off what I have to the FL members. So I wear and take pictures of them to share with my friends who also have my same interests.