The snap brim homburg

[Feraud]

I was under the impression the term "snap brim homburg" is a misnomer. My thinking was a Homburg is a stiff hat with a pencil rolled brim pointing upwards.
Mr Rover was kind enough to allow me to browse an issue of Apparel Arts when I came across this page.

Note the description used on this hat.

Check out the "pudding basin"!

 

[scotrace]

That's an education. Thanks for showing it off!

 

[bolthead]

Cool....

I wonder if that can be done to any Homburg?

 

[Fletch]

It could, if you didn't mind a lot of patient steaming and smoothing, ending up with an incongruous look front-to-back.

The homburg in the 30s was a symbol of a certain kind of formal dignity that was still very much alive. It would have been a typical upper crust college boy move to kid that image by turning the stiff front of dad's old hat into a shallow curve.

(Before you think, "oh gimme a break," consider that upper crust college boys in the 30s had to keep their kidding verrry subtle indeed.)

Today the homburg's meaning has been lost. Steaming out the front would just ruin a classic look.

When did the Pudding Basin become known as the teardrop?
And when did pudding ever come in a basin?

 

[Feraud]

The homburg in the 30s was a symbol of a certain kind of formal dignity that was still very much alive. It would have been a typical upper crust college boy move to kid that image by turning the stiff front of dad's old hat into a shallow curve.

I have reevaluated my opinions on the homburg as a "strictly formal" piece of headwear.

Based on my very limited reading, there were homburgs for different occasions, including informal, sporting events, town events.
No where is the homburg described as being used for formal functions. There was no mention of this as the hat of lawyers, bankers, etc.

Note-
The Black Homburg - Correct for wear with dinner jacket at the semi-formal event, indoor sports at night and town wear.

The Rough Felt Homburg Hat -is correct for town wear with rough suitings or with a spectators sports kit not "country".

The Silk Bound Homburg -is a very dressy hat; it substitutes for the derby as a semi-formal hat for town wear.

I only noted the Silk Top Hat and the Folding Opera Hat of dull merino cloth was noted for formal day and evening/informal wear.

 

[Fletch]

Mmmmmnnnnyah...So you say, sah. So you say. But I remain skeptical.
It would seem to me that rough felt would make a rathah Bad Homburg. < chortle >

 

[Flitcraft]

That's interesting, Feraud.... I was watching Topper the other night and thought Cosmo Topper was putting on a Homburg, which of course fit his "Banker" character, but then he turned down the front of the brim, more like a fedora, so I thought I must be mistaken, because a Homburg brim is always too stiff for that....

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I have several homburgs. Only one has a snap brim. It is a brown Stetson "Standard Quality" with a 2" brim. It is so shapable, without steam or water, that I presently have it molded as a "pork pie," but in three minutes or less it could be a homburg, again.

 

[bolthead]

That's remarkable....

I have several homburgs. Only one has a snap brim. It is a brown Stetson "Standard Quality" with a 2" brim. It is so shapable, without steam or water, that I presently have it molded as a "pork pie," but in three minutes or less it could be a homburg, again.

I'd love to see that done. :eusa_clap

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

My fuzzy Stetson from the 1920s...



It's so soft it can be pretty much any shape.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Here is my own 40s Stetson snap:

 

[Mr. 'H']

It IS a Homburg!

 

[dhermann1]

FASKinatin'!

I'd like to see what it says about top hats.

 

[Feraud]

I'd like to see what it says about top hats.

The Silk Top Hat - For formal day wear with morning coats and for the very formal evening affairs when the tailcoat is worn.

The Folding Opera Hat of dull merino cloth -correct for either formal or informal evening affairs that are purely social ones.

 

[Naphtali]

I refer you to "Sabrina" (1954). Humphrey Bogart wore a Homburg that Audrey Hepburn fashioned as a snap brim. The act was symbolic of Bogart's liberation.

 

[dhermann1]

The Silk Top Hat - For formal day wear with morning coats and for the very formal evening affairs when the tailcoat is worn.

The Folding Opera Hat of dull merino cloth -correct for either formal or informal evening affairs that are purely social ones.

What about a felt top hat, gret or black?

 

[carter]

The Stetson in my avatar is a Homburg. I generally wear it as a snap brim and it looks great.

 

[Feraud]

What about a felt top hat, gret or black?

No info noted. I did not spend as much time with the material as I would have liked.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Tony, I like your "Fuzzy." I've always avoided them till now, but that does look good!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It is possible to turn my Featherweight Dunn & Co. Homburg into a snap-brim style. Will try to get pics. it's a fawn brown colour. Pretty informal, i'd say. The felt is what you'd expect from a homburg, just much softer.

bk