Hollywood brim

[kaosharper1]

Seeing Bart's hat on the "Hats Today" thread reminded me that I've never been able to get the hang of the Hollywood swoop or brim or whatever we call it. I always end up with the other side being too low and it looks goofy.

Maybe it requires a specific width of brim, or maybe a certain amount of snap.

Can anyone give a tutorial on how to do it properly? Aside from Bart I've seen Douglas do great ones.

Maybe I'm just clutzy, but I'd appreciate some advice, and I'm sure there are others who would as well.

 

[Fletch]

FT who don't know, it's the style associated with (but not exclusive to) Johnny Depp:

It looks as tho it needs a wide, fairly flat brim to start, with just a subtle snap downwards (as against an equally subtle snap upwards). Might be tricky if your hat is blocked differently, or of a stiff felt.

I'd love to know who makes Johnny's hats.

 

[Feraud]

Fedora + man + panache = Hollywood Brim.

 

[Fletch]

Couldn't have said it better.

Just don't try substituting élan or sprezzatura for panache. That's like putting Canadian whisky in a manhattan. People who notice such things will notice.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Also known as the Capone brim, from that famous mug shot of his: http://ataxpro.us/db4/00377/ataxpro.us/_uimages/al-capone-mugshot-4.jpg


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[suitedcboy]

Hollywood brim is hard to distinguish from thrown on the parcel shelf behind back seat and sat in the sun brim.

That hat Depp is wearing is one sharp hat, I would like to know who his hatter is also.

 

[Spatterdash]

Actually, I've thought about contacting Johnny's agent just to suggest Art and a couple of our other hatters.

 

[zetwal]

I don't know if Fletch and Kaosharper are talking about the same thing or not. But as far as the JD picture above goes ...

It looks to me that the brim in the photo isn't really snapped down. Just leave the brim up. And rather than snapping it down in the front or on the side, just put a slight downward pinch to level the brim behind the left eye. It's really very easy to create that shape. It can happen unplanned while lifting a hat by the brim (as suggested above), or you can do it intentionally.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Off the set, Johnny Depp tends to wear vintage hats, both fedoras and straws; his felt hats are usually vintage Borsalinos. Depp likes his hats one size too big, and well-worn with a bit of staining and/or fraying here and there.


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[zetwal]

Johnny Depp wears vintage hats, both fedoras and straws; his felt hats are usually vintage Borsalinos.[/COLOR]

It's funny you should say that Marc! Even as I wrote my comments I picked up an old Borsalino and got the brim (and crown) to look just like that in two seconds. Really nothing to it.

 

[jimmy the lid]

A 1940 ad for the Stetson Playboy:

Cheers,
JtL

 

[hatted]

It's kinda funny that Depp what sport a style known as "Hollywood Stars" given that he seems to hate the whole Hollywood lifestyle.

 

[hatted]

Sorry about me broken English!

 

[Matt Deckard]

not wanting to be part of the Hollywood lifestyle is part of the Hollywood lifestyle. If they said I came to the party to have fun and not out of obligation they wouldn't be interesting or invited.

 

[hatted]

Ha!:eusa_clap

 

[Warbaby]

Just don't try substituting élan or sprezzatura for panache. That's like putting Canadian whisky in a manhattan. People who notice such things will notice.

That definitely goes in my notable quotes file. Might even use it for a sig someday (with your permission).

 

[Chinaski]

That definitely goes in my notable quotes file. Might even use it for a sig someday (with your permission).

I got a kick out of that one too, Fletch. You, sir, are one witty wordsmith!

 

[kaosharper1]

How's it done?

Back to the topic at hand, how do you do it?

I know Depp has used it, but I've seen it in many movies from the Golden Era. Mitchum used it in "Out of the Past" and in a more recent film, "The Changeling" I saw John Malkevich sport one. And of course, Douglas does it with great elan. I'm not interested in looking like Depp, I just want to know how to do the brim.

Does it take a wide brim with lots of snap? A small brim with little snap? How's it done?

Thanks.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

How's it done?

I'll answer your question with another question: "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" Seriously, it takes a lot of practice to achieve the shape that's just right for you.


The Hollywood/Capone brim looks best with medium to wide brims. It can be done with brims that have "snap" ... or with thick, brushed felt brims that are malleable and easily hold a shape.


Below is a brushed felt fedora from the 1920s:

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[zetwal]

Back to the topic at hand, how do you do it?

Why not give us a picture of EXACTLY what it is you're trying to reproduce? If it's a specific hat FORM it can be done easily. If it's a human QUALITY such as charisma or elan or panache you're after that's another matter entirely!