The definitive 40's fedora? Which is it?

[Borsig]

Janis Carter. She was from NC. Or at least died there. She was attractive for a blonde

 

[T Jones]

Squatter

Janis Carter. She was from NC. Or at least died there. She was attractive for a blonde

That she was...

 

[Qvist]

Probably a silly question, but what would be typical dimensions of 40´s fedora? How high crown and how wide brim (inches)?

 

[jlee562]

Probably a silly question, but what would be typical dimensions of 40´s fedora? How high crown and how wide brim (inches)?

My non-expert opinion, I'd say 5 1/2" open crown and 2 1/2" brim. The whippet is a good choice for a 40's fedora.

 

[alanfgag]

A few from 1940s... which is the definitive one?

 

[gtdean48]

I vote this one...

 

[T Jones]

'40's fedora


These get my vote...

But, I guess it was the wider brimmed fedoras of the 1940's noir films that stuck out to me the most...

Glenn Ford 1947


Alan Ladd 1942


Robert Mitchum 1947

 

[barrowjh]

A word of caution about the Glenn Ford pics posted - notice he has the hat really high on his head. In fact, above his forehead altogether. A shorter crown is no problem when you are not really wearing the hat. Actors with hollywood faces - they wanted the hat pushed up to show off the face. That is a problem when trying to judge hat-wearing from movies - look at the extras instead of the star. The extras are more likely to be wearing a hat 'normal' instead of showing off their hollywood face. Same with the Alan Ladd and the Robert Mitchum pics - worn higher on the forehead than I ever wear a hat. I have trouble with shorter crowns, especially if the back is raked down sharp; my noggin is touching the liner in the crown, think HOT (as in sweat, not as in really desirable). If you go with a shorter crown you may have to adjust the rake front-to-back to avoid 'topping out.'

 

[Michaelshane]

A word of caution about the Glenn Ford pics posted - notice he has the hat really high on his head. In fact, above his forehead altogether. A shorter crown is no problem when you are not really wearing the hat. Actors with hollywood faces - they wanted the hat pushed up to show off the face. That is a problem when trying to judge hat-wearing from movies - look at the extras instead of the star. The extras are more likely to be wearing a hat 'normal' instead of showing off their hollywood face. Same with the Alan Ladd and the Robert Mitchum pics - worn higher
on the forehead than I ever wear a hat. I have trouble with shorter crowns, especially if the back is raked down sharp; my noggin is touching the liner in the crown, think HOT (as in sweat, not as in really desirable). If you go with a shorter crown you may have to adjust the rake front-to-back to avoid 'topping out.'

That is exactly how I wear my hats.More on the back of my head.Most comfortable to me.

 

[T Jones]

40's fedora

A word of caution about the Glenn Ford pics posted - notice he has the hat really high on his head. In fact, above his forehead altogether. A shorter crown is no problem when you are not really wearing the hat. Actors with hollywood faces - they wanted the hat pushed up to show off the face. That is a problem when trying to judge hat-wearing from movies - look at the extras instead of the star. The extras are more likely to be wearing a hat 'normal' instead of showing off their hollywood face. Same with the Alan Ladd and the Robert Mitchum pics - worn higher on the forehead than I ever wear a hat. I have trouble with shorter crowns, especially if the back is raked down sharp; my noggin is touching the liner in the crown, think HOT (as in sweat, not as in really desirable). If you go with a shorter crown you may have to adjust the rake front-to-back to avoid 'topping out.'

...and all that's probably true. I won't argue your point there. But it's also true that it's the Hollywood Stars, as well as the music pop culture now, who influenced fashion and trends, (and it was the Stars that movie goers were paying attention to rather than to the extras). Harrison Ford for example had a tremendous influence on reviving interest in the fedora...Sometimes I wonder if these Stars used to wear smaller sized hats in order to get the right position and the right tilt on the head...I tried wearing mine with a tilt on the head the way they did but my ears always get in the way. Although it does work well with my smaller size 7 Open Road.

 

[barrowjh]

Yes, easier to tilt a smaller hat than to monkey with one that wants to come down on your ears. For a movie scene or a still shot they could have temporarily stuffed the sweatband with paper to help it ride high.

 

[Qvist]

A word of caution about the Glenn Ford pics posted - notice he has the hat really high on his head. In fact, above his forehead altogether. A shorter crown is no problem when you are not really wearing the hat. Actors with hollywood faces - they wanted the hat pushed up to show off the face. That is a problem when trying to judge hat-wearing from movies - look at the extras instead of the star. The extras are more likely to be wearing a hat 'normal' instead of showing off their hollywood face. Same with the Alan Ladd and the Robert Mitchum pics - worn higher on the forehead than I ever wear a hat. I have trouble with shorter crowns, especially if the back is raked down sharp; my noggin is touching the liner in the crown, think HOT (as in sweat, not as in really desirable). If you go with a shorter crown you may have to adjust the rake front-to-back to avoid 'topping out.'

I see what you mean:

Edit: picture dosn´t seem to show...