help me get started

[breezer]

I'm a hat guy......never leave the house without one.......but I'm talking caps and wooly hats......I need a proper grown up man hat........but the rub is I have big head.....easily a 7 1/2, so I need some advice from the experts....Oh and I'm a tight scotsman so lets peg the budget at between $100 and £100.

So aside from the big head problem, my build is slender so my logic is that I should be looking for something with a smaller brim, something that won't emphasise my massive melon........ I'm all at sea when it comes to the names and styles. Is a trilby like a fedora? Colour wise.....I like brown, or green or black I guess. Oh and my stye is casual.......

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I'm a hat guy......never leave the house without one.......but I'm talking caps and wooly hats......I need a proper grown up man hat........but the rub is I have big head.....easily a 7 1/2, so I need some advice from the experts....Oh and I'm a tight scotsman so lets peg the budget at between $100 and £100.

So aside from the big head problem, my build is slender so my logic is that I should be looking for something with a smaller brim, something that won't emphasise my massive melon........ I'm all at sea when it comes to the names and styles. Is a trilby like a fedora? Colour wise.....I like brown, or green or black I guess. Oh and my stye is casual.......

7 1/2 US or 7 1/2 UK (60 or 61cm)?

It’s common for new-to brimmed hats wearers to start off with smaller proportions and if they stick with it they often, but not always, end up liking larger proportions. Hats are also practical and wider brims offer more protection.

As is often the case here, I’d recommend looking at the Akubra line. For me, I think the Campdraft and the Federation IV are the two nicest fedoras in the lineup. It might stretch your budget just a bit, but not much.

At prices lower than the Akubra fur felt offerings, cheaper hats really aren’t usually quality that will last and/or age well. Stay away from wool (this from the guy who started a thread on the merits of wool fedoras).

https://everythingaustralian.com.au/headwear/fedora.html

https://hatsdirect.com/collections/the-akubra-range-1

 

[deadlyhandsome]

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/guide-for-first-fedora-hat.100644/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/finally-ready-for-first-hat-fedora.63456/

lots of threads here too that might offer you some good advice.

Good luck

 

[breezer]

great start thanks!

 

[johnnycanuck]

With you living in Scotland and price point I would second the Akubra suggestion. They are not the fanciest hats on the market but they are a fair price, look good and can stand up to the elements - I am talking about rain. I don’t baby mine but I don’t abuse them either and my oldest is 18 years old and going strong. If this is your first brimmed hat, I always suggest a 2 1/2” (64mm) brim. It’s not to wide or to stingy a very middle of the road width most people look good in. If you want something right out of the box ready to go I would suggest the stylemaster.
https://hatsdirect.com/collections/the-akubra-range-1/products/stylemaster
if you want a little challenge you can go for an open crown that you shape yourself. Either the “Fedora” or “Federation” are both great choices. I would lean to the federation as it has more crown to work with and has the Indiana Jones look a lot of people love but if you style it right you can avoid that as well.
https://hatsdirect.com/collections/the-akubra-range-1/products/fedora
https://hatsdirect.com/collections/the-akubra-range-1/products/federation-iv-open-crown
thoes are my recommendations. Any more questions please feel free to ask.
here I am the other day in my Federation 16 years old now.

Johnny

 

[breezer]

thanks guys, I dig the Hampton and the Casablanca.....need to see if they are available in UK

 

[DaveProc]

I concur with Brent and Johnny, Akubra is a great choice!

 

[belfastboy]

thanks guys, I dig the Hampton and the Casablanca.....need to see if they are available in UK

Look online: Everything Australian & Hats Direct. I have used both to ship to Canada and the cost is very reasonable. So the UK should be similar.

 

[johnnycanuck]

thanks guys, I dig the Hampton and the Casablanca.....need to see if they are available in UK

Nice choices. Very modern style. They will look very Spader - Raymond Reddington from the Blacklist.
Let us know how it goes sourcing in the UK. I know in Canada between the currency conversion and import tax its still cheaper to buy them direct for Australia. But with VAT and all the other taxes and duties I don’t know about the uk.
Let us know how it goes
Johnny

 

[deadlyhandsome]

thanks guys, I dig the Hampton and the Casablanca.....need to see if they are available in UK

Style is a very personal thing. We like what we like. The two hats you mention have quite short brims and generally smaller proportions. They are what is referred to as “stingy brims,” and they have both a hipster and a rat pack/beatnik vibe. I own and wear similar hats; although, not frequently. The brims don’t offer much protection from sun or rain, and I just personally prefer taller less tapered crowns and wider brims. It’s all a matter of personal taste.

A nice middle ground hat is the Akubra Stylemaster. If you haven’t already, take some time to go through the What Hat Are You Wearing Today thread and see what hat styles and proportions you like. If you’re still leaning towards a stingy brim, check out the Show us Your Stingy Brims thread.

Good luck, and do share photos of whatever you decide to go with.

 

[breezer]

yeh I need a 'stingy brim'............but I think the Akubra is beyond the budget I'm afraid

 

[breezer]

so is Trilby a relevant name for a hat with a smaller brim?

 

[johnnycanuck]

I don’t usually recommend this as it can get expensive but check e-bay or local buy and sell groups.
The style you are looking at is a typical 1960’s fedora every manufacturer made from then on. Even at a common hat size of 7 1/2 (60cm) deals can be had in the vintage market.
Just search fedora and your hat size. Filter by pre-owned. Avoid wool, go for fur felt. Remember if the crown is a mangled it can be re-shaped easily.
hope that helps.
Johnny

 

[DaveProc]

I don’t usually recommend this as it can get expensive but check e-bay or local buy and sell groups.
The style you are looking at is a typical 1960’s fedora every manufacturer made from then on. Even at a common hat size of 7 1/2 (60cm) deals can be had in the vintage market.
Just search fedora and your hat size. Filter by pre-owned. Avoid wool, go for fur felt. Remember if the crown is a mangled it can be re-shaped easily.
hope that helps.
Johnny

I agree. 1950s-1970s stingy fur felt hats can be found on eBay for under your budget, with shipping.