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[bingebob]

Wow thanks for all the replies, you guys are all writing out the struggle going on inside my head.

I ordered my suits online and I was worried they wouldn't be quality and wouldn't fit. Luckily I'm a guy that can wear suits off a rack with tailoring only needed to bring the waist in on the trousers and the length of the leg.

At the wedding I went to I saw a kid (maybe early 20s) wearing a Walmart hipster fedora. I complemented him on his choice to wear a hat but reserved my need to poke fun at him.

To answer the other questions of my size. 6'3" 240lbs. And I'd be wearing the hat exclusively when I wear the 3 piece suits so it'd have to fit the occasion.

 

[bingebob]

And btw.

If I could live in Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal video world, I would.

 

[monbla256]

Wow thanks for all the replies, you guys are all writing out the struggle going on inside my head.

I ordered my suits online and I was worried they wouldn't be quality and wouldn't fit. Luckily I'm a guy that can wear suits off a rack with tailoring only needed to bring the waist in on the trousers and the length of the leg.

At the wedding I went to I saw a kid (maybe early 20s) wearing a Walmart hipster fedora. I complemented him on his choice to wear a hat but reserved my need to poke fun at him.

To answer the other questions of my size. 6'3" 240lbs. And I'd be wearing the hat exclusively when I wear the 3 piece suits so it'd have to fit the occasion.

You are as I thought, size wise and your suit does fit and look good on you. Remember, you are dressing in the year 2011 and NOT 1920/30 and as such following current mores is just fine. If you are able to get to a store with a selection of quality fur felt hats, ( maybe a trip to Boston might be in order for this) try on a variety with one of the suits ON and see how YOU feel you look. If this is not possible, take some time and look thru some of the on-line retailers wares available. My suggestion for a Squatter was based on MY personal 45+ yera experience, you need to work this one out for yourself Happy Hat Hunting

 

[Mulceber]

At the wedding I went to I saw a kid (maybe early 20s) wearing a Walmart hipster fedora. I complemented him on his choice to wear a hat but reserved my need to poke fun at him.

You showed more restraint than many of us would.

Out of curiosity, what's your hat size? If it's below 7 3/8, I'd definitely recommend looking on eBay, as they have a wealth of really nice fedoras in that size for a great price.

you need to work this one out for yourself Happy Hat Hunting

+1

 

[monbla256]

"I'm sorry, I just don't see it. Every time I see someone wearing an open road, a squatter or similar hat with dress wear, it looks like they're trying to mix and match casual and formal. That's fine, but not my taste."

Next week when I go to my bank in Ft. Worth, I'll be sure and tell my banker ( who's older than I) that his Custom tailored pinstripe suit, Black custom made Luchasse boots and Peter Bros. Shady Oaks hat are NOT DRESS attire

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

Looking at Bingebob's suit, I think he needs a fedora with a nice high crown, slight Hollywood brim tilted left, and an unbound 3 inch brim. The 3 inch brim is hopefully just right, or a little bit too big. It's easy enough to cut... A second option WITH THAT SUIT would be a homburg. The Homburg might make him look too much like the "heavy" in an old mob movie though, especially a dark one. In my opinion, the Federation IV in gray (either the darker Carbon gray, or Moonstone) would probably look decent enough for a first try.

$1,000,000.00
$0.02 at a time.

 

[job]

A Akubra Bogart in carbon grey will be a classy, versatile hat that will go with most anything. Not too big, not too small.

This one is black. Cheaper than a new Stetson.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I would think if you can just look at what everyone has given to you as advice, and think of what colors you like and go from there.

If I were starting out with no hats at all, knowing what I do, I would make my first hat choice buying new, an Akubra. I would also spend a while looking on eBay and even here on this site in the classifieds. The members here sell some very nice hats and can answer any questions for you.

 

[scottyrocks]

Honestly, in my experience, the crown should match the face. If you have a tall face, you should have a tall crown to make the face look shorter by comparison. If you have a short face, a short crown will make your face look taller. As you pointed out, he has a square face. Ergo, he should have a tall crown that is moderately square - not telescoping, but very little taper. I agree though that an Indiana Jones hat would not suit, but I would say that's because of the wide brim and the tight pinch, which wouldn't suit his features.

And at any rate, I don't think the squatter would be a good choice - its narrow ribbon and wide brim make it too casual for the dressy style bingebob is pursuing. -M

Pinches are completely adjustable. There are plenty of 'Indiana Jones hats' with wider pinches and top creases that are not center dents. The dimensional brim can be trimmed. Of course, that begs the idea of just getting a different hat. There are certainly lots of traditional fedoras that won't require you taking a scissor to the brim.

Here is hatsdirect.com's Akubra fedora line:
http://hatsdirect.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?group=Fedora+Hats

There are lots of opinions here about brim width and dimension, as well as crown height and taper, or lack thereof. What it boils down to for me is what I think looks good, first in a picture or in a store window, and then on my head. I've had a lot of hats that were just okay until I discovered I could purchase a straight-crowned, wide brimmed fedora, the dimensional cut being an extra attraction for me. As it turned out, I could only find my 'one true hat' on line, but I'd been the brick and mortar route many times, as well as mail order and ebay.

Decide what you like best in pictures, and then see if you can go somewhere to try some hats on. It'll save you a lot of anguish and money if you are looking for just the right look for yourself.

 

[VetPsychWars]

Many of the hats mentioned are appropriate. What it comes down now is his personal taste. What some of you have posted as "inappropriate" is clearly not based on historical pictures in other threads; you just don't like them for yourselves.

Tom

 

[Sam Craig]

Hi

Looking at Bingebob's suit, I think he needs a fedora with a nice high crown, slight Hollywood brim tilted left, and an unbound 3 inch brim. The 3 inch brim is hopefully just right, or a little bit too big. It's easy enough to cut... A second option WITH THAT SUIT would be a homburg. The Homburg might make him look too much like the "heavy" in an old mob movie though, especially a dark one. In my opinion, the Federation IV in gray (either the darker Carbon gray, or Moonstone) would probably look decent enough for a first try.

$1,000,000.00
$0.02 at a time.

You are on to something with the homburg suggestion.
A good fur felt homburg with a tall crown and wide brim always looks nice with a full on suit. They just tend to be hard to find or pricey.
Very dressy though.
Good suggestion!

Sam

 

[ejbhats]

Sorry, put this in the wrong spot. Content was moved.

 

[John in Covina]

I'm sorry, I just don't see it. Every time I see someone wearing an open road, a squatter or similar hat with dress wear, it looks like they're trying to mix and match casual and formal. That's fine, but not my taste.

A thin ribbon does lend to a country outdoors look, but pairing it with a suit is not a bad thing. (If you recall the open road paired with a suit and tie was the uniform for many in the Law enforcement field in Texas.)

Formal (such as a tuxedo with peak lapels) does not call for a thin ribbon fedora, but a suit is OK.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I am thinking, a thin ribbon on the right hat be it the right color makes some difference to how it may look with something more dressy or formal.

An example of this would be when I do wear a tux, I have my new Black Stetson Stratoliner, and will feel at ease wearing it with top coat, tux, etc.

 

[monbla256]

I am thinking, a thin ribbon on the right hat be it the right color makes some difference to how it may look with something more dressy or formal.

An example of this would be when I do wear a tux, I have my new Black Stetson Stratoliner, and will feel at ease wearing it with top coat, tux, etc.

And you would be CORRECTLY dressed as well as lookin' good