"To pinch or not to pinch," that is the question.

[Wolfmanjack]

As a result of some very helpful advice from my Fedora Lounge colleagues in another thread What hat(s) would you wear with this topcoat?, I was prompted to dig into the back of my closet for a grey Dobbs homburg I'd bought on impulse and never worn. I think this will look great with the vintage polo coat that was the subject of that thread.

This grey Dobbs Homburg is a very nice looking hat and in addition, I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve discovered recently that it actually has some historical significance, being associated with one of my political and sartorial heroes, Harry Truman. An exact clone of my hat is among his treasured belongings and political memorabilia in the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site museum collections. This is my and H.S.T.?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Homburg:

I've avoided wearing a homburg because it seemed so in-your-face anachronistic; but now that I've become an old codger, I think it's more appropriate. I'm going to start wearing it for daytime in the city with a business suit and topcoat.

At present, my homburg is shaped just like Harry's, but I like to change the shape considerably. I'm going to put the teapot on the stove, get the steam going, and go to it! First, I'm planning put much more of a 'dip' in the front of the brim; I don't favor the ?¢‚ǨÀúLeo Gorcey look.?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢

I'm also planning create a pinch-front crown, to make it look a bit more conventional. This is where I need some help from the Fedora Lounge experts: If I make a pinch-front, can I undo it? I'm not sure which way I want it; I'd like to try both styles. How would I go about removing the pinch, recognizing that my only equipment is a teapot and a steam iron?

 

[Biltmore Bob]

Looks to me more like a center dent stingy brim instead of a Homburg. Is it real stiff? Looks soft from the photo. I'd wear it as is and snap the brim down in front.

 

[fedoralover]

BB is correct that's not a Homburg. Homburgs's have a rolled edge. This is a good pic of a Homburg.

http://cgi.ebay.com/STETSON-BLACK-H...8245161357QQcategoryZ2998QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

fedoralover

 

[Wolfmanjack]

Looks to me more like a center dent stingy brim instead of a Homburg. Is it real stiff? Looks soft from the photo. I'd wear it as is and snap the brim down in front.

My homburg has more of a roll to the brim than the one in the photo, which is HST's so called 'homburg' at the museum. Mine has a 2+inch brim and is quite stiff.

 

[Wolfmanjack]

BB is correct that's not a Homburg. Homburgs's have a rolled edge. This is a good pic of a Homburg.

fedoralover

The photo of HST's so-called 'homburg' came from this site: http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/hstr/image/obj/fedora_exb_HSTR22059.html

Perhaps the feds just got it wrong; wouldn't be the first time. If anyone wants to contact them to correct their error, you would start here: http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/hstr/

 

[photobyalan]

That hat looks like it has a welted edge on the brim. If I'm not mistaken, a Homburg needs to have a bound edge that curls up; at least that's how both of mine are.

 

[Harry Lime]

Homburg Mania.

Looks to me more like a center dent stingy brim instead of a Homburg. Is it real stiff? Looks soft from the photo. I'd wear it as is and snap the brim down in front.

Fedoralover, are you a homburg lover as well? Just curious. It seems as if there has been keen interest in homburgs lately, perhaps a natural extension of all the new (and older-but-stylish again) fedora wearers cropping up.

An interesting homburg example. In DePalma's "The Untouchables" Elliot Ness is approached with a bribe by an unscrupulous 1st Ward aldrman played by the late Del Close (of "Second City" fame.) Del plays a scummy guy, but is well turned out in a homburg with a pinch in it. It almost looks like a western hat of the style favored by a few of the characters in "Deadwood." It's a pretty cool looking hat and a nice example of how to wear a homburg with a pinch.

Related story; when Del Close died he willed his skull to a Chicago Theatre company to be used in future productions of "Hamlet." They still have it.

Harry Lime

 

[Andykev]

It incorrect, sir.

That hat does NOT look vintage, nor is it a Homburg. Someone at the HST museum needs to do some homework.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Homurgs are starting to appeal to me.

I picked up a cheap (gasp!) wool homburg to see if I got used to the style, and it is growing on me. There's a pinchfront in the movie Dark City, worn by Keifer Sutherland. I like that one. Anybody familiar with it, and know who might make a close approximation?

 

[MattC]

Truman museum a little confused

An earlier thread pointed out that the Truman museum labeled an "open road" style hat made by Lee that HST wore after being president a "homburg." Probably they think homburg describes any fedora. Its a little galling, since Truman sold hats at one point, so he doubtless knew the difference.

 

[Wolfmanjack]

It came pinched, but I unpinched it. Maybe I'll try pinched again.

Joseph, So would you say it is safe for me to make a pinch in a stiff homburg and be confident that I could 'unpinch' it, if I grow to dislike it with a pinch. Bear in mind that my high-tech hat blocking equipment consists of a simple kitchen teapot.

 

[Wolfmanjack]

By the way Joseph, I think your homburg makes quite an elegant presentation together with your business suit. Thanks to your inspiration, I'm determined to go to work on a similar ensemble. Because of our climate here, I'll add a topcoat (but likely not the polo coat).