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To Feather or Not to Feather?

Messages
10,847
Location
vancouver, canada
A question to the forum: Do you place hat feathers in your fedora? I prefer to add a feather to the band in my hats except for my Akubra CD with the thin ribbon. I order feathers from Caliqo on Ebay and change them from time to time as a way of personalizing my fedoras.
What is your preference?
 
Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
Not at all, I am tickled by talk of feathers. It's just nice to revive existing threads when possible. Then we bring the wisdom of our forefathers into the conversation, along with new discussion.
 

Quetzal

One of the Regulars
Messages
147
Location
United States
Ah, Feathering, or "Pluming." to those of you who say "Aye" instead of "Yes." A practice that dates back to the days long before Modern Soft-Felt Pinched Hats (or "Fedoras"; not really a fan of the word) were worn, probably before the idea of a suit. In fact, non-Westerners put feathers in their headgear. In Guatemala, the quetzal's feather would have been, and still is, a prized item, by the Indians and Spanish. However, they would have been found on the ground rather than hunted (what kind of a monster would hunt them, anyway?).

Going back to hats, feathering seemed to have died during the days of Beau Brummel, when clothing became "practical" and much sleeker (in comparison to previous fashions; I dare you to keep your hands warm with extendable lace sleeves instead of gloves). Feathers didn't really experience a resurgence until the Interbellum, and the later Interbellum for "sporting" hats at that.

Of course, some communities continued to wear feathers, such as parts of Austria, Germany, and similar regions. For the most part, feathers became common in the Post-War Period, and were seen on the majority of hats made in the 1960s and the 1970s. Yes, good felt hats were made in the 1970s. Besides some of the velour and tweed hats (some of which are pretty nice), plenty of felt hats were made, but still had stingy brims like those made in the 1950s and the 1960s.

If you are going for a "period" look (excluding the later 1950s to the early 1980s), then nix on the feathers, unless if your hat is going to be worn with a sporting suit, such as a corduroy suit (no, they are not a late 1960s phenomenon) or an action-back suit. Or perhaps a sport coat. If you're indifferent to period fashions and just want to do what you want (within sartorial reasons, of course), then I'd suggest wearing the feather when a suit or coat is worn. It looks a bit off with casual (again, our definition) clothes.

Some hats look better that others with feathering. My Telescope Hat looks strange with one. A stiff-brim looks fine (in fact, I think "Tuxedo" hats were made with them; I found a squished Midnight-Blue Stiff-Brim at a Flea Market, and it had the remains of green, red, and blue feathers), and a hat with a taller pinched crown. I've always thought that they add a bit of panache to straw hats, excluding Sennits. Feathers don't seems to agree with Telescope Crowns.

-Quetzal
 
Messages
10,847
Location
vancouver, canada
Thank you for the links. I am obviously not doing it right as I was not able to find these links using the "search" function. I thought it strange there was no previous thread on feathers.
 
Messages
15,083
Location
Buffalo, NY
The forum search tool is not very useful. Better to do a Google search in your browser... put in a few words and add "The Fedora Lounge." It generally makes quick work of hunting 15,000 threads and a half million posts.
 

Bob Roberts

I'll Lock Up
Messages
11,201
Location
milford ct
Not at all, I am tickled by talk of feathers. It's just nice to revive existing threads when possible. Then we bring the wisdom of our forefathers into the conversation, along with new discussion.

Tickled? Feathers? Intentional? Thx for sharing your reasoning. Was actually hoping to hear your opinion the easy way, without having to do a search.
 

G MAN

One of the Regulars
Messages
208
Location
Nobleton Ontario
I could never put one on my own hat, but I do like the look of a feather on other people's hats, reminds me of an older look but I don't know if it was ever popular, I have seen many old photos of men in hats but didn't notice any with feathers.
 

tommyK

One Too Many
Messages
1,789
Location
Berwick, PA
14645853-269c-4118-9dc3-5079d4469ff4_zpso16fg8r1.jpg
My niece found a cardinal feather last summer and I put it in my Open Road. but normally feathers aren't for me
 

tropicalbob

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
miami, fl
I agree with what Quetzel said above about the panache of feathers, particularly on straw hats. It'll be a feather in your cap, as the saying goes. It's even nicer when it's personalized, as with Tommyk's. Why not?
 

Benzadmiral

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,815
Location
The Swamp
The only hat I've ever left a feather on was my 1960s-era Resistol Kitten Finish:

KF_Resistol_05.JPG

Darned if I know why. Other hats I bought new in the 1990s came with feathers, and I discarded 'em right away. But it just seems right on the KF. Possibly because the feather is not very bright, and doesn't contrast with the hat very much.
 

Joao Encarnado

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,776
Location
Portugal
I do have to say that some feathers go nice. Overdoing it with hatbands made with feathers is in my point of view wrong but some people seem to like them. All hats I got with hatbands made of feathers were promptly removed. Gave those to my sister that seemed to like them not in hats. Some of my hats kept their feathers others not.
 

Hat Dandy

One of the Regulars
Messages
239
Location
Maple, ON
Most of my hats have the feather removed. However, a modern Whippet I have looks great with the feather it came with it. I left it in as a result.
 
Messages
12,017
Location
East of Los Angeles
Generally speaking, I don't care for hats with feathers. However, I have seen some hats that looked good with a feather or two, i.e. just the right feather(s) on just the right hat on just the right wearer, so I wouldn't rule it out completely. It's really nothing more than a matter of personal taste.
 

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