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The Black Hat Brigade

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,825
My take:
I have to ask. Does the hat make the man or the man make the hat?
There are times black is the only perfect choice to wear no matter the style and they go with everything if you coordinate well.
If you don’t like black hats i suggest you are missing something special in wearing hats and to reflect on the question posed.
I love black hats. In a hurry....grab black.
B
 

Silverstreak

New in Town
Messages
20
I don't mind black hats, but I don't go out of my way looking for them either. I'm pale, so black tends to look bad on me anyway. I much prefer grey or brown as I look better in earth tones.

Plus where I live, black hats connote old school gangsters and the orthodox Jewish community. I'm neither, so I tend to stick to other colors.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
My take:
I have to ask. Does the hat make the man or the man make the hat?
There are times black is the only perfect choice to wear no matter the style and they go with everything if you coordinate well.
If you don’t like black hats i suggest you are missing something special in wearing hats and to reflect on the question posed.
I love black hats. In a hurry....grab black.
B



I do like my black fedoras, but it isn’t my favorite color. I’ll buy less than perfect hats in other colors, but for me to add another black fedora to my collection it has to really be something special. I’d go for a vintage OR or a CD in black in a heartbeat. Better yet, one of Steve’s seal velours!


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Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
What about not quite black fedoras? I find the “near blacks” to be a better choice when not attending a funeral or an even that requires black.

This is a Tonak in “iron.”

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I was going for the 1920s vibe with a tall crown and a shorter than my normal brim. While you like the style, I don’t feel any compunction to duplicate it exactly; hence the blue metal ribbon.



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tropicalbob

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
miami, fl
I don't know if it's true, but I remember reading that, prior to WWII, many of the hats that seemed to be black were actually dark navy blue, particularly in evening-wear hats. Anyone know if this is true? Anyway, there's nothing that looks as good with a black leather jacket (non-biker) as a black fedora. I sometimes pair my old black leather Sears car-coat with my black Fed IV and feel very Boris Badinov.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
I don't know if it's true, but I remember reading that, prior to WWII, many of the hats that seemed to be black were actually dark navy blue, particularly in evening-wear hats. Anyone know if this is true? Anyway, there's nothing that looks as good with a black leather jacket (non-biker) as a black fedora. I sometimes pair my old black leather Sears car-coat with my black Fed IV and feel very Boris Badinov.

I know that when electric lights were becoming standard at the turn of the century some dinner suits (tuxedos) were made in midnight blue as it was reported it looked blacker than black in the electric lighting. I don’t know about blue fedoras. I have ran into many dark blue homburgs, but fewer fedoras.

Aside from formal attire, I rarely wear black (I also rarely wear formal attire). Not a conscious decision, I just don’t buy garments in that color. I have several black homburgs and a few black fedoras, but for me they’re niche hats and not a grab-and-go option. We all have our preferences.




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Messages
17,466
Location
Maryland
I don't know if it's true, but I remember reading that, prior to WWII, many of the hats that seemed to be black were actually dark navy blue, particularly in evening-wear hats. Anyone know if this is true? Anyway, there's nothing that looks as good with a black leather jacket (non-biker) as a black fedora. I sometimes pair my old black leather Sears car-coat with my black Fed IV and feel very Boris Badinov.
They were black.
 
Messages
17,466
Location
Maryland
If I told you that this was navy blue, would you believe me?
View attachment 165585
The paper label in the hat usual had a felt color designation. Black (see language / company code) was by far (nothing was close) the most common color for Stiff and Soft Felt Hats. For example Mayser used "1" for Black / Schwarz "Farbe/Color 1". I wonder why the used "1"?

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6070660475_a5497dcebe_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
Looking at what has survived, its apparent that black hats outnumbered all others by a large margin. Was this because people preferred black or was it a case of the Model T where you could have it in any color you wanted as long as it was black?

People also used to wear black frock coats, stiff detachable collars, and one piece underwear: I don’t venerate things because they’re they way it used to be.

With black fedoras, I think it’s something you can warm to once you see them done right.


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crawlinkingsnake

A-List Customer
Messages
419
Location
West Virginia
I don't mind black hats, but I don't go out of my way looking for them either. I'm pale, so black tends to look bad on me anyway. I much prefer grey or brown as I look better in earth tones.

Plus where I live, black hats connote old school gangsters and the orthodox Jewish community. I'm neither, so I tend to stick to other colors.

hmmmmm, good thought Streak. I'd tend to agree but gotta say I've had trouble warming up to black. But when you mention "old school gangster", hey I'm kinda liking that thought. Also saw a mention of Bing Cherry with Periwinkle ribbon... now there's another thought also! Might have to check into something along that line. :rolleyes:
 
Messages
17,466
Location
Maryland
Looking at what has survived, its apparent that black hats outnumbered all others by a large margin. Was this because people preferred black or was it a case of the Model T where you could have it in any color you wanted as long as it was black?

People also used to wear black frock coats, stiff detachable collars, and one piece underwear: I don’t venerate things because they’re they way it used to be.

With black fedoras, I think it’s something you can warm to once you see them done right.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
There was a resistance against other than black hats by the English and American Felt Hat Industries. They also resisted European Style Soft Felt Dress Hat styles and there was more color die knowledge by main land European Felt Hat Companies regarding Soft Felts.
 
Messages
18,379
Location
Nederland
Looking at what has survived, its apparent that black hats outnumbered all others by a large margin. Was this because people preferred black or was it a case of the Model T where you could have it in any color you wanted as long as it was black?

People also used to wear black frock coats, stiff detachable collars, and one piece underwear: I don’t venerate things because they’re they way it used to be.

With black fedoras, I think it’s something you can warm to once you see them done right.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
There was actually a good practical reason for this as well. Back then all the heating was done by either coal or wood, industry was right in the middle of towns and airpollution was rife. A lighter coloured suit or hat probably wouldn't last you an hour. Black clothign and black hats make a lot more sense in those conditions. Brushing off clothing was done for far more good reason than today: you were likely covered in soot if you had been outside for any significant period of time.
 
My take:
I have to ask. Does the hat make the man or the man make the hat?
There are times black is the only perfect choice to wear no matter the style and they go with everything if you coordinate well.
If you don’t like black hats i suggest you are missing something special in wearing hats and to reflect on the question posed.
I love black hats. In a hurry....grab black.
B
YES!!!! I too have several black hats AND I wear them with, well...anything and everything!
M
 
There was actually a good practical reason for this as well. Back then all the heating was done by either coal or wood, industry was right in the middle of towns and airpollution was rife. A lighter coloured suit or hat probably wouldn't last you an hour. Black clothign and black hats make a lot more sense in those conditions. Brushing off clothing was done for far more good reason than today: you were likely covered in soot if you had been outside for any significant period of time.
Or inside too really, wood and coal stoves and fireplaces...tallow candles, manufactured gas and kerosene lamps and fixtures....lots of sooty and greasy things EVERYWHERE!!
M
PS Here is a quick black hat contribution......a Mayser.....which I wore this past Saturday while out and about......grey ribbon gives a nice contrast!
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