The Thin Man and fedora's

[Blackjack]

I was watching one of my favorite Christmas presents this year, the "THIN MAN" box set of DVD's and I was looking at William Powells hat that he wore through most of the film. The film was made around 35 but the brim on his hat looks to be less than 2.5" Anyone got a good eye for these things that has this movie? I just love this series. The clothes, the humor, Merna Loy, and boy old WP really knew how to wear a suit!

 

[Harry Lime]

Great clothing and hat films.

The "Thin Man" series are great films for showcasing an evolution of men's style during the Golden Age. In the film you're talking about, the first, WP's hat is consistent with the age; light color, wide band, high crown, narrower brim. His hats and wardrobe evolve with the films as his character was very rich, a detective married to a society gal, he had the dough and the need for clothes. As you watch the series you'll notice all his clothes are impeccable and his hats are always perfect. The movies vary in quality but WP's style is always perfect. I suspect the majority, if not all, of his suits and hats in the movie are custom.

Harry Lime

 

[Blackjack]

I'll bet your right as far as the custom goes. All of his clothes look way to well tailored to be standard off the rack type suits. So what size brim are we talking about there 2 1/4? Less?? When did the brims start going up, in the forties? For some reason I keep picturing them getting smaller from the twenties on...

 

[Harry Lime]

It's all relative.

Specific measurements on brims, crowns , etc are not possible, particularly regarding custom hats. Generally speaking, crowns were higher in the thirties, bands were wider, and brims slightly shorter. Larger brims are more forties to early fifties. But, as with all things, there are exceptions. There were more hats and more hatters and better "hat fitters" in the day. Different faces required different brims and crowns (as they do today, but there are less hatters and more poor self-fitting hence the "I don't look good in hats" comments that abound.) As for WP's specifics, I have no idea. It doesn't appear he was a particularly large man, I would estimate 2 i/4 inches is a good guess (but it's just a guess.) By the time he was in "Song of the Thin Man" his crown was shorter, it's a dark hat, and he has more brim.

Harry Lime

 

[ChorusGirl]

Don't forget Myrna's hats!

I love those movies too... my roomie got me into them. But didn't Nora Charles have some of the craziest hats? They were wonderful!

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