Rule of thumb for hat ribbons?

[Levallois]

Afternoon folks,

I've got a Bradford "35" silverbelly "open road" that I want to turn into a wide-brim fedora-style - 3-inches wide to be exact. It has a very thin matching-color ribbon on it - 1/2-inch. I'd like to put a wider, contrasting ribbon - maybe a medium to dark gray color but I'm not sure about the width? How does one determine the proper width? Does the wider brim demand a certain width ribbon? I'd appreciate any guidance. Thanks!

John

 

[Bird's One View]

I suspect this is largely an individual preference. I like a wide ribbon, but not too wide. "Too wide" for me is when the ribbon width approaches half the crown height of the hat. So, to me, around 1.75" looks good on a lot of hats. But I've certainly seen good looking hats with narrower ribbons.

 

[deanglen]

A pet theory I have on this involves ratios. If the brim is 1 1/2", a ribbon of greater width will probably not be as sucessful, i.e., I prefer a less than 1:1 ratio ribbon to brim or 1:2 more ideally, or less, on the case of an Open road which is traditionally 3/8" ribbon to 2 3/4" to 3" brim, which I think would be roughly 1:8 ratio. I know that stingies tend to shoot the ratio up to 2:1 or higher but then I've never been drawn to them.




dean

 

[Marcus Brody]

1.5" give or take, makes a good even width ribbon for a 3 inch brim hat. More important is the height of the hat. Do whatever looks best in your opinion.

 

[Gareth]

I am trying to get all the ribbons on my made to order hats to about 2 3/4 inch, if not 3 inches. If you look at those old time movies, 30s 40s, the ribbons were often very wide

 

[belfastboy]

I am trying to get all the ribbons on my made to order hats to about 2 3/4 inch, if not 3 inches. If you look at those old time movies, 30s 40s, the ribbons were often very wide

Vintage ribbon above 1 3/4" is very very hard to procure.

 

[Gareth]

Vintage ribbon above 1 3/4" is very very hard to procure.

to be fair the relevant hatmakers have all been able to source 70mm for me which is close enough, I also have built up my own stash of 3 inch ribbon, although I don't have a clue how to put it on the hat!!!

 

[belfastboy]

to be fair the relevant hatmakers have all been able to source 70mm for me which is close enough, I also have built up my own stash of 3 inch ribbon, although I don't have a clue how to put it on the hat!!!

Is it vintage grosgrain? I have 8000 yards of vintage but running low on anything 24 ligne and up.

 

[Gareth]

Is it vintage grosgrain? I have 8000 yards of vintage but running low on anything 24 ligne and up.

Well I can't compete with 8000 yards!! I have 2 or 3 yards only. It was billed as vintage but who knows? It is 3 inches wide.

 

[belfastboy]

Well I can't compete with 8000 yards!! I have 2 or 3 yards only. It was billed as vintage but who knows? It is 3 inches wide.

View attachment 631043

It is looking like Petersham ribbon as it appears to have the scalloped edges. Men's hatting ribbon has a straight woven edge. Both are called grosgrain but Petersham is generally used by milliners on hats for women. The woven edge is used on men's hats.

 

[Gareth]

Glad you told me that before I thought of wearing it!

 

[belfastboy]

Glad you told me that before I thought of wearing it!

Petersham is much more widely available in vintage as it is much more widely used by milliners. especially in the wider widths.