Hats Renamed or Associated with fictional characters.

[johnnycanuck]

I was looking up Porkpie Hats (Pork Pie if you prefer) and could not find a lot online. Then I discovered the “Breaking Bad” character is now famous for wearing a black one. So now its called a Heisenberg and labeled as such by a lot of online business . http://www.goorin.com/heisenberg-hat Smart for business if it increases sales.
I have also noticed the same kind of association between the classic Fez and Doctor who.
A resurgence of the Deerstalker being called a Sherlock hat, I am guessing the British TV show was something to do with the renewed interest in the headwear.
Tell us what you think about these kinds of associations. What kind of associations have you come across in your travels? Has this made the headwear easier to find and buy? Or just created a lot of cheap versions making the good stuff harder to find? Let us know what you think.
Johnny

 

[fedoracentric]

My guess is that in most cases the re-naming won't last long except in a few cases (a deerstalker being called a "Sherlock Holmes" hat or a derby being a "Charlie Chaplin" hat seem like long-term names). Give it a few more years and no one will remember the "Heisenberg hat."

After all, we've seen the trend on ebay. Years ago every fedora was a "Mobster" or "Godfather" hat. Then they were all "Indy Jones" hats. Then "Michael Jackson" hats. Today many are "Pharrell" hats. None of those stick for very long.

 

[Matt Deckard]

The newsboy called the "Gatsby".

 

[tonyb]

Among certain segments of the population, any Homburg is a "Godfather" hat. It's been -- what? -- more than 40 years since that film came out, so for some folks, anyway, the name stuck.

 

[bowlerman]

My bank teller saw me in my OR 25 today, and commented that she liked it but was really impressed with the "Breaking Bad" hat I was wearing the last time I went in. Never having seen the show, I had to ask her what it looked like. She could only tell me it was black. I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to 5 or 6...

Johnnycanuck-- now that I've followed your link I'm doubly confused, as I don't own any pork pies!

 

[Haversack]

(Wah) Is it perhaps stating the obvious to note that both Fedora and Trilby are names of fictional characters?

 

[tonyb]

(Wah) Is it perhaps stating the obvious to note that both Fedora and Trilby are names of fictional characters?

This is certainly the place to insert that reminder.

 

[T Jones]

Tom Hardy's "Lawless" hat...

 

[Edward]

The newsboy called the "Gatsby".

I see that a lot in hatshops in the UK; always wodnered about it. It'd been forever since I saw the 70s version (I cannot stand Robert Redford in anything), did they put him in one of those in that? I don't recall Gatsby's headwear being much referenced in the book, but I've only read it eight times.

Among certain segments of the population, any Homburg is a "Godfather" hat. It's been -- what? -- more than 40 years since that film came out, so for some folks, anyway, the name stuck.

Yes, I see them sold that way on eBay all the time.

(Wah) Is it perhaps stating the obvious to note that both Fedora and Trilby are names of fictional characters?

Bravo, that's the first place my head went too. Those have certainly stuck!

 

[KingAndrew]

Yes, Redford wore a newsboy cap in the 1970s Gatsby film, hence the association of the character with that hat.

It's hard to believe both Godfather and Indiana Jones have been with us for so long...

And it seems funny about the Fez and Dr. Who, since the 4th Doctor wore a brown fedora regularly and the 5th wore a panama much of the time, but Matt Smith only wore the Fez the one time that I know of.

Jughead from Archie comics also seems very strongly associated with his distinctive headwear. And although Napoleon Bonaparte is anything but fictional, he has totally dominated public perception of the bicorne hat. Abe Lincoln's association with the stovepipe-style top hat is also overwhelming.

 

[KingAndrew]

We might want to add the Disney version of Davy Crockett, with his coon-skin cap that was such a fad back in the 1950s.

 

[The Good]

Yes, Redford wore a newsboy cap in the 1970s Gatsby film, hence the association of the character with that hat.

It's hard to believe both Godfather and Indiana Jones have been with us for so long...

And it seems funny about the Fez and Dr. Who, since the 4th Doctor wore a brown fedora regularly and the 5th wore a panama much of the time, but Matt Smith only wore the Fez the one time that I know of.

Jughead from Archie comics also seems very strongly associated with his distinctive headwear. And although Napoleon Bonaparte is anything but fictional, he has totally dominated public perception of the bicorne hat. Abe Lincoln's association with the stovepipe-style top hat is also overwhelming.

I understand what you mean. I think The Godfather and the Indiana Jones are important exceptions, in the case of hats getting named after movies. Those two were very big productions with very positive reception, so I think it's natural that these movies would stick in the public memory longer. The quality of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Godfather are reasons as to why people would associate a brown (or any) fedora or a grey (or any) homburg with one specific character. I remember looking at eBay a few years ago, and seeing those films' names being thrown around a little more than is common now. At this point, it is more like Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, or sometimes Downton Abbey showing up next to hats or even suits, coats, and ties.

 

[fedoracentric]

I think that as a 'hat name" Indiana Jones fails in that most people don't think of Indiana Jones as a *particular* hat. A Homburg as a "godfather hat" is well identified. So is the top hat as a "Lincoln hat." But people generally aren't cognizant of a particular hat style as being the "Indiana Jones" hat. We can see that in the "how do people react to your hat" thread where we see many of us wearing any sort of hat that ends up being called an Indy hat even though it looks NOTHING like the proper Indy hat!

 

[redhawks2]

I think that as a 'hat name" Indiana Jones fails in that most people don't think of Indiana Jones as a *particular* hat. A Homburg as a "godfather hat" is well identified. So is the top hat as a "Lincoln hat." But people generally aren't cognizant of a particular hat style as being the "Indiana Jones" hat. We can see that in the "how do people react to your hat" thread where we see many of us wearing any sort of hat that ends up being called an Indy hat even though it looks NOTHING like the proper Indy hat!

I just finished season 5 of Downton Abbey and the fedoras being worn were totally misshapen, especially the brims. Totally out of character with the emphasis put on the clothing! Only one character wore a decent brown fedora that looked very close to the Indy hat in the crown but the brim was too narrow.

 

[tommyK]

You're right, Redhawk. When you have a valet dressing you, your hat should be shaped perfectly