Looking for that first hat

[bd3]

Hi all. I'm new here and looking for my first Fedora. I have a question. I have been unable to locate any Fedoras locally. Do most of the online retailers run true to size? I need a 7 1/8. I've been hesitant to order online since I really can't try it on.


Thanks

Bill

 

[D.W. Suratt]

Welcome to the Lounge Bill. I think most of us here buy our fedoras online. Through various merchants and e-bay. The only size problems I've had is my Akurbas seemed to run a little large at first, but have shrunk down to fit nicely. Take your time and get some advice from the others here, look around the site and you should be able to make your first fedora purchase a good one.

 

[RBH]

Welcome to the Lounge bd3, you will find very useful information here.
Your best bet is to measure your head with a cloth tape measure and check what size you need to order.
Good luck and keep us updated!!

 

[KY Gentleman]

Hey Bill! Welcome to the Lounge.
It is tough to find a store that stocks good hats, but the good news is the on-line retailers are all a pretty good bunch and will work with you if you need size advice.
Check out the "new hat" thread and "what hat are you wearing today" thread to see how they look on someone, too.
Good to have another Kentuckian around here!

 

[retro50]

I also wear a 7 1/8. I have ordered an Akubra, Camptown, VS, and vintage Stetson online, and all fit fine. The VS decidedly better because it was sized with a conformer, but all in all, they are all good fits. No worries.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

If you get the actual measurement of your head, try to find a sizing chart for the manufacturer of the specific hat you want, such as on their website. There can be slight differences from time to time. Also, prepare yourself for an early error or two. You might have to exchange your first hat, or find that a different style would be better. It's part of the learning process, if it happens, and it's best to take it in stride.

 

[demian]

Bwahaha...if a perfectionist and connoisseur (as most everyone here), are you in for a ride!

Good advice from "not-Bogart" above...

Yes, some hats fit differently than others.

Modern Borsalino fit smaller than shown, for example.

My head is 23" measured, and yet I wore a 7 5/8" US !!

I truly pity poor Graham and Art when I came to them first...sigh..what a mess. "My head is this size, then I got a haircut, now it is this size, but I tried Borsalino and I am this size...etc..etc"

Also, you need to note if you are a standard oval, long oval, wide oval...important.

One can really lose themselves in it all, and there is much to learn in terms of style and color that will suit you. it is avery personal thing I have found. Far more than the average person would imagine...

It is fun and I find very interesting.
I have a tremendous respect for artisans.

Take time to do your research and visit as many hat shops as possible is my humble suggestion.

Have fun above all.

 

[NonEntity]

I know you said there are no retailers with fedoras in your local area, and I don't know what part of Kentucky you're in, but it would be worth a day trip to Louisville or Cincinatti or Nashville to try on a bunch of hats before you buy.

They don't even have to be the fedora style; in fact, I encourage you to try on a wide range of styles, as it's impossible to tell what might look good on your head by what it looks like on the shelf. You gotta try it on to tell. With experience, you'll figure out what brim width, crown height, and such that's more likely to flatter you

Measuring your head is important, but everyone has his own particulars when it comes to where on the head he likes to wear a hat and how tight or not he prefers the fit. Trying on a bunch of hats in person will answer those highly personal issues.

 

[bd3]

.

Thanks to all who have replied. I did find some Fedoras at Dillards this evening. Not much of a selection but I did get to try on a few. They were made by Stetson. I wore a 7 1/8 in the ones that had numbered sizes in them. In the ones that were just S, M, L, XL I wore a M. I really wanted a light gray. All Dillards have is either brown or black. I'll probably have to mail order one.

Thanks to all,

Bill

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I find Stetsons run pretty close to true on the numbered sizes, so makes sense. Did you see a style you liked at Dillards? In terms of brims, crown heights and shapes, etc. Stetson makes a great gray called Caribou for many of their models. Moonstone is probably what you'd want in an Akubra. Miller Hats also carries sp,e nice lighter grays, too.

 

[Torpedo]

Hello,

A little late into the discussion... most of the good advice has been given already.

If inside your budget, go for a fur felt hat, and in a measured size (that is, from a manufacturer/model with 7, 7 1/8, etc, sizes, not S, M, stc, sizes. Not only are the former "truer", besides that, the latter method goes usually with lesser quality hats.

It is better for you to try some styles before you order, in order to evaluate how do you feel with different brim widths, crown shapes and heights. If you buy new hats, you can normally send them back for an exchange if you "miss", but you would pay for the post expenses.

If you let us know about your budget, and about the kind of hat you like, surely more advice will be served.

Regards!

 

[Wil Tam]

eBay has some great deals

Welcome Bill

I'm Bill too or Wil actually, I'm new here also, but not so new to fedoras, been in love with them ever since I reclaimed my grandfathers during the renovation of the old apartment [found it in a hat box in the back of the storage closet] ... it was a brown Bond Executive sized 7 1/8 & it fit me perfectly!

I recently needed to have it renovated because the sweat band deteriorated & was looking online for a place near me to do the work when I found this place... anyway that's another story entirely... but the point is that after I tried on my grandfathers hat I was hooked and needed more, so far I have 15 in my collection, 5 which I rotate daily depending on the suit of the day, gray is neutral and goes with just about everything in my wardrobe.

So gray is a great start for a first hat, I found the majority of my hats on eBay, for much less than if you bought from a retailer, plus I only go for vintage, they just made them better back then, heck my grandfathers lid is over 80 years old, and the felt is as soft as butter but tough as new denim, it's weathered & has a lot of history under it's brim, I was informed that my grandfather was a bit of a hell-raiser back in the heydays.

You can't go wrong checking out eBay, type in 'vintage fedoras' then go from there, definitely measure your head with a cloth tape measure or if you don't have that use a piece of cord then measure that conventionally, right above the ears and an inch above your brow, I measure a tad below 23" and a 7 1/8 fits me perfectly ... also always ask the seller questions IE; size, condition, does it smell bad & does it have moth nibbles ... I only go for ones that have pictures of the hats inside & out. Brands to peruse Dobbs, Stetson, Knox, Borsalino, Lee... just to name a few of my favorites.

Good Luck and happy hunting!

[my 2 cents or more like a quarter....

also as an incentive I just won a NWT jet black Borsalino sized 7 1/8, mint condition, circa 1950 for [wait for it....]





a mere $9.99 plus shipping & insurance of $8.90! and that was pure luck on the part that nobody bid on it so I got it on the first & only bid! Auction ran for 7 days but seems like everyone overlooked it... which is odd for these. man I was palpitating during the last 10 seconds of the auction thinking that some sniper was going to grab it from me since my max bid was only $25.00

 

[NonEntity]

Wow, Wil, a Borsa for ten bucks! Wish I'd seen it--I'm a 7 1/8, too. Please post pics.

Bill, just as well you passed on Dillards because they did not have a gray Stetson. I was in Dillards just the other day and looked at the hats. The best Stetsons are nowhere what they used to be, and those at Dillards are low-end Stetsons not worth having at any price.

Just hold your horses, follow the advice given, and you'll be glad you did.

 

[bd3]

.

Thank you all so much. I've gained quite a bit of knowledge from perusing the forums here.

Kentucky Gentleman, I'm in east central Kentucky. So far in Lexington the only place I have found that even has Fedoras is the aforementioned Dillards.

Wil, My suits are Blue, Gray, and Charcoal which is the reason I wanted a light gray one. I have a Navy Blue wool top coat as well which it would match perfectly. Now my rain coat is a brownish color so not too sure about it.

I have decided that I do want a hat with a lining in it. Some of them at Dillards did not have one. I guess thats why they were only $48.00. The nicer Stetson was $70.00 and was lined. Unfortunetly I don't remember which Stetson it was. I was only trying them on to make sure of the size I'd need.



Anyhow thanks again to everyone.

Bill