Highschooler looking for a FEDORA ;)

[Slim]

Hello all!

I am currently a 16 year old high schooler looking for a fedora I can wear regularly to school.

I need advice on which hat I should get, and what kind of clothes to wear with it, including shoes too.

I've been looking at the http://www.thefedorastore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=3814

but I'm not sure if I should get it yet. Does it come with it's crease folded, or do I have to fold it myself?

It may be kind of weird for a high schooler to be into this kind of attire, but I've always been fascinated with the 1930's, and Frank Sinatra.

I look forward to posting on these forums!

 

[OldSkoolFrat]

Go with a wool one, saves you $$. Does your school have a dress code that prohibits hats? Find out. And you might want to get a "crusher" so you can stuff it in your locker.

And when you got to college, remember, Dean Martin did "The Sweatheart of Sigma Chi" but Frank did, "The Dream Girl of Pi Kappa Alpha."

Was thinking about one of these as a wool "beater"

http://bencrafthats.com/product.php?pid=54&subcname=Wool+Hats

 

[indycop]

If you want that style for a little more you can get a fur felt Jaxon Bogart from village hat shop.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Slim,
It looks like a good hat to start with, and I'm pretty sure it comes shaped as you see it in the photo.
OldSkoolFrat is right, though. If you'll be forced to store it in a tight space or your bag, you might want to look for a crushable. LiteFelt is the common term these days. E-mail the Fedora Store - this hat might be a crusher.
But if you can wear it in school, or know you can get it into your locker comfortably, it won't matter. Just a word to the wise; don't get it to wet.

If you are, as your name implies, slim... you'll have plenty of clothing choices to wear with a hat like the one you picked. For a vintage look, watch the Untouchables (Kevin Costner is more classic, Andy Garcia is a bit more casual), or Sea Biscuit, those sorts of of films as a guide. Then, try to locate a Salvation Army or second-hand store. Herringbone and houndstooth blazers look very vintage, and pants with cuffs.
Shoes... a pair of oxfords can go with just about anything, are pretty much made by every major shoe company, and don't have to cost very much to look good.

Good luck!

 

[fatwoul]

Welcome Slim. I'm nearly twice your age. You make me feel old.

I'd agree with OSF, about a cheaper wool felt, partly for the reason he gave, and partly because I remember what a rough place my school was, and kids there would have thought nothing of grabbing a hat and throwing it or something equally unpleasant. lol

do you know what size you are?

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Hi Slim! Welcome to the Lounge...

Always keep your eyes open on eBay too. I've found some great hats out there and often they are reasonably priced. Vintage age too! Many FL's are either buying or selling on eBay.

Welcome to the gang. Send some pictures when you get your wardrobe assembled, ok!

-dixon cannon

 

[Slim]

Thanks for all your fast and helpful replies.

My high school does allow hats during passing periods and during lunch. However, hats are not allowed during class, though some of my teachers don't care. Our school has no lockers, so if I were to take of my hat, I'd have to hold it or put it in my backpack, so a crushable one would be ideal.

Also, I'm not sure what my size is yet, but I will measure it soon, once I find my tape measure .

I am fairly slim, as my name implies (haha), and I am about 6 feet tall. I'm thinking about getting an overcoat or peacoat, but I'm not sure if it is ideal for school.

Also, can someone briefly describe the differences between hats (wool, felt, etc). I am truly "New in Town" with the hats.

and yes, I'll get take a picture when I've gotten my wardrobe ready!

 

[OldSkoolFrat]

As a former teacher, DO NOT get the overcoat. You will freak the School Admins. While I laud most attempts to freak out the Administration.... The overcoat is not the way to go.

Does your mom do any sewing? Use the tape measure she has to measure your head, measure several times and take the average. If you are mobile, in the old sense, try and go to a store that sells hats, even to a western wear store, and try on a few to get an idea of what size you are. And if still unsure, make sure you can return/exchange.

OSF

 

[RBH]

Welcome Slim, as you are a young man I would recomend the wool crusher as it will be better suited to the hazards of your classmates.
Then when you have a better idea of your likes and dislikes you can up the ante with a fur felt.
Good Luck and keep us posted!

 

[Dinerman]

As a former teacher, DO NOT get the overcoat. You will freak the School Admins. While I laud most attempts to freak out the Administration.... The overcoat is not the way to go.

Does your mom do any sewing? Use the tape measure she has to measure your head, measure several times and take the average. If you are mobile, in the old sense, try and go to a store that sells hats, even to a western wear store, and try on a few to get an idea of what size you are. And if still unsure, make sure you can return/exchange.

OSF

I wear an overcoat all the time to school, and no one gives me a second look, but that's because I slowly worked my way up to hat , suit and overcoat. All the teachers and administrators know me, or at least know of me, and that I'm just some vintage nut, not a threat.
I'd recommend not plunking big bucks down on something you're not sure about.. Try ebay- there's tons of deals to be had.

 

[ScionPI2005]

Hey Slim, welcome to the board!

It may be kind of weird for a high schooler to be into this kind of attire, but I've always been fascinated with the 1930's, and Frank Sinatra.

Don't worry about that; I was a highschooler who wore a fedora; at least in my senior year I did.

 

[ScionPI2005]

As a former teacher, DO NOT get the overcoat. You will freak the School Admins. While I laud most attempts to freak out the Administration.... The overcoat is not the way to go.

I chuckle inside as I read this; I wore a trenchcoat to my high school, along with my fedora. My teachers never freaked out; but its probably because they knew I was harmless. Now-a-days I can definitely see the need to be cautious about such things.

 

[dostacos]

you might also think about an 8 panel newsboy cap. A good one, that you can stuff in a back pack

 

[PapaSimone]

Don't forget the duckman!

Slim,
It looks like a good hat to start with, and I'm pretty sure it comes shaped as you see it in the photo.
OldSkoolFrat is right, though. If you'll be forced to store it in a tight space or your bag, you might want to look for a crushable. LiteFelt is the common term these days. E-mail the Fedora Store - this hat might be a crusher.
But if you can wear it in school, or know you can get it into your locker comfortably, it won't matter. Just a word to the wise; don't get it to wet.

If you are, as your name implies, slim... you'll have plenty of clothing choices to wear with a hat like the one you picked. For a vintage look, watch the Untouchables (Kevin Costner is more classic, Andy Garcia is a bit more casual), or Sea Biscuit, those sorts of of films as a guide. Then, try to locate a Salvation Army or second-hand store. Herringbone and houndstooth blazers look very vintage, and pants with cuffs.
Shoes... a pair of oxfords can go with just about anything, are pretty much made by every major shoe company, and don't have to cost very much to look good.

Good luck!

For those of us in Highschool in the 80's, Duckie from Pretty in Pink was the king of second hand cool!

 

[metropd]

Ebay, ebay, ebay!

fftopic: Duckie is my nickname at a sushi restraut. The manager loves Pretty in Pink so they named my signature roll the Duckimacki after that character.

 

[imoldfashioned]

For those of us in Highschool in the 80's, Duckie from Pretty in Pink was the king of second hand cool!

fftopic: I still love Duckie; it's a toss-up between Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink for my favorite John Hughes movie. I saw them both in the theater when they were first released back when I was in high school; jeez I feel old!

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I am fairly slim, as my name implies (haha), and I am about 6 feet tall. I'm thinking about getting an overcoat or peacoat, but I'm not sure if it is ideal for school.

Also, can someone briefly describe the differences between hats (wool, felt, etc). I am truly "New in Town" with the hats.

Since you have no locker, a pea coat is more managable. I have one in size 42 I'm trying to sell off cheap, if you're interested.

Basically, wool felt is the low end, rabbit fur felt is mid-range in price and quality, and beaver fur felt is the high end. Those are the main ones for fedoras. Use the search feature on this site to get more details... there is so much info here, it's nuts!

 

[Slim]

Hm, now I'm debating over a newsboy cap or a crushable wool fedora. I'm still leaning more on the fedora side. My head is pretty big, so I don't know if a newsboy cap would work well with my head.

Can someone recommend me some brands of crushable fedoras? I saw "SCALA" when searching on ebay.

As for the overcoat, I don't think I'll get it because it'll probably be too much of a hassle to bring to school.

Thanks for all of your inputs! I'm still a beginner at vintage style, so please bear with me

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I'd go with newsboy - more crushable, and you won't be as disappointed by a hat that's not exactly looking like the fedora you're no-double imagining in your mind, and it's a great vintage look with something like a pea coat as well. And if you're not getting the overcoat, you could get both hats and keep the fedora for weekends, evenings and non-school ocassions and not have to worry about having to crush it down and stow it.

 

[PapaSimone]

Dude! You live in San Francisco! The best way to discover your hat size and check out some amazing vintage stuff is to follow this 10 point plan for vintage success!

1. Take a friend and start at the corner of Stanyan of Haight and head East.
2. Pass McDonalds and the lure of Amoeba records (save a little cash) and the gnarly dude spare changing.
3. If you need a snack stop at Zona Rosa Burritos and get the Taco Zona Rosa. Lots of food for little cash (again you will need it, do drop a dollar in their tip jar though, nice folks)

4. Hand your wallet to your friend and tell them not to give it back to you until leave your next stop.... La Rosa. Amazingly beautiful vintage clothes and nice hats and way too expensive (see http://www.sfheart.com/vintage_secondhand.html). Ask the very nice staff to try on hats until you find a size and style you like. Check out what the staff is wearing. Ask them what they are wearing. People who love vintage love to talk about what they have on. Ask to try on a hat that is made out of fur felt. Try on something made out of wool. Hold the hats by the brims, not by the pinch and feel how the material feels. How heavy. Ask how old the hat is. See if a previous owners initials are on the sweat. Think about the previous owner for a second. How cool! Wearable art! Try on the caps. Thank the staff and leave. Tell your friend to keep hold of your wallet.

5. Tell another gnarly dude "no thanks" to what ever it was he just mumbled.
6. Cross the street, watch out for that guy in the pink leotard on the unicycle "Pink Man!" and enter Decades of Fashion. Remind your friend he/she has sworn to hold your wallet.
7. Repeat process of step 4. Try on lots! Touch the material.
8. Tell your friend to give you your wallet back...no seriously dude... give the wallet back!
9. Head down the block to the Goodwill. As Goodwills go, there is a lot of highly skilled competition among the upper haight hipsters for the treasures inside. Remember part of the trill of vintage is the hunt. Check out that jacket. Can you belived someone once wore, maybe loved that hideous jacket. Mel must have loved it. He stitched his name in it. Only $3 bucks! Consider wearing it ironically. Nothing cooler than making something new and cool again by wearing it out of context. Perhaps you'll be lucky and find the same thing you liked at La Rosa and it costs $7. Again coolness credit for finding it at the goodwill for just a couple bucks. Require your friend to buy a few things too and leave carrying your goodwill bag with pride. Notice on the street that the true hipsters are carrying the generic goodwill bags not the Aardvark or Wasteland bags from down the street (beautiful stuff there too though).

10.Head to a cafe and order coffee even if you don't like coffee. Find a seat outside. Slip into the bathroom and put on at least one "find" and wear it back to your seat. Don't just wear it, own it, you didn't just buy that hat, "This? No I've had it for years" Try not to think about the new item. Discuss school, other kids at school, girls, boys, talk about what you like, how messed up the world is right now and how you would change it. The fog is rolling in and it's getting cold. Finish up your drink. Bus it so that cute espresso jockey doesn't have to and wear the item back out.
When you get home, slip out of your find, stick it in your back pack so nobody makes a dumb comment about your find. Don't pull it out again until your alone again and then decide it you like it. If you like it. Wear it!

Hm, now I'm debating over a newsboy cap or a crushable wool fedora. I'm still leaning more on the fedora side. My head is pretty big, so I don't know if a newsboy cap would work well with my head.

Can someone recommend me some brands of crushable fedoras? I saw "SCALA" when searching on ebay.

As for the overcoat, I don't think I'll get it because it'll probably be too much of a hassle to bring to school.

Thanks for all of your inputs! I'm still a beginner at vintage style, so please bear with me