What sort of fedora would suit me?

[FedoraFan112390]

Given my face shape/size, would I be better off with a larger brimmed fedora? Stingy brimmed?

Also, I'm rusty at this - at how many inches does a Fedora's brim go from being stingy brimmed to a full brim? What are the brim sizes of Bogie's fedora in Casablanca, and Indy's fedora, for reference?

What sort of clothes should I wear with it? I don't have much money to afford a suit right now.

 

[TheDane]

The different Indy hats had directionally cut brim (longer than wide). I believe the Casablanca hat was 2-3/8", but I'm not 100% sure.

A fedora can be worn with most outfits. Shirt and jeans go great with a fedora - just like a tux

Find a hat store close to your home and try some different styles. It's all about how you feel in a specific style or hat - not what we think would make you feel fine

 

[Frunobulax]

There are many threads on here with discussions of proper pairings of clothes with fedoras. While there is some disagreement, the sum of it seems (to me) to be that you can wear them with anything - just wear them with confidence.

As far as what looks right on you for the shape of your face, The Dane is right. Get thee to a hat shop if one is nearby and try on a variety. If one is not near you, at least hit a vintage clothier or some estate sales and try to find some different crown heights and brim widths so you can get an idea. Or do what I do, tell yourself you look good in everything!

A stingy is normally considered 2" or less, though, to answer one question.

 

[hatophile]

Check out the What Hat are You Wearing? thread. You'll see all kind of pairings with suits, ties, oxford shirts, jeans, t-shirts, etc. Find a style and make it your own. Agree with Ole and Jim above, go to a hat store and try on many different styles and see what you like and how they look on you.

 

[Frunobulax]

I just noticed you're in Brooklyn. Bencraft should be able to help you out!

 

[Rogera]

Oh to live near a hat store. The best advice is go try on as many hats as possible. If you are near Bencfaft you are near a treasure trove of hats and advice. Take advantage of it!

 

[JackieMatra]

The hats that Harrison Ford wore as Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" were a size 58 cm with a "dimensional" brim that was 2.75" wide at the front and back and 2.625" wide at the sides with an "open" crown height of 5.5". This is known with certainty as at least two of these hats are owned by collectors.
The exact dimensions of hats worn by Humphrey Bogart in "Casablanca" and other films is not definitely known, however, estimates of the brim width of his "Casablanca" hat are usually in the 2.375"-2.5" range. The "fedoras" that he wore in his various films almost all seem to have brims with widths in the 2.375"-2.625" range, with "open" crown heights of about 5.75"-6". They often appear to be lower in height because they usually are quite deeply creased on top.

 

[Benzadmiral]

FedoraFan,

As you're in NY, you have quite a choice of things to wear, since you have 4 seasons. (I myself have two: January, and a summer that makes tropical tree frogs run for the A/C controls.) So you can wear long-sleeved shirts, jackets, coats, etc., with your hat during the winter and early spring; long-sleeved shirts and sport jackets in spring and fall; khakis and collared shirts of some kind in summer, when you'd probably want a straw hat anyway.

I'm of the opinion that a stingy-brimmed hat, 2 1/8" or less, looks odd with a heavy coat -- it's as if the coat dwarfs the hat. So maybe stingy-brims with a shirt or light jacket, wider brims like the Indiana Jones style with heavier outerwear like a topcoat. Again, that's just my notion and may not work for you. People in the late Fifties/early Sixties wore topcoats with stingy-brimmed hats, which were the fashion then, and seemed to have no problem with the combination.

Yes, go check out Bencraft Hatters. The pics we've seen here make it look like a visit to Disneyland for a hat lover!

 

[Bob Roberts]

Given my face shape/size, would I be better off with a larger brimmed fedora? Stingy brimmed?

Also, I'm rusty at this - at how many inches does a Fedora's brim go from being stingy brimmed to a full brim? What are the brim sizes of Bogie's fedora in Casablanca, and Indy's fedora, for reference?

What sort of clothes should I wear with it? I don't have much money to afford a suit right now.

What kind of clothes? Why shorts and sandals ONLY! (inside joke.)

 

[JackieMatra]

Yes, go check out Bencraft Hatters. The pics we've seen here make it look like a visit to Disneyland for a hat lover!

Their Wiilamsburg store, near the bridge, seems to have the larger selection of hats, judging from my few telephone conversations with them, unless it's just wide-brimmed black fedoras that you're interested in.

 

[RJR]

The choices and advice at Bencraft will be really helpful.

 

[moontheloon]

Given my face shape/size, would I be better off with a larger brimmed fedora? Stingy brimmed?

Also, I'm rusty at this - at how many inches does a Fedora's brim go from being stingy brimmed to a full brim? What are the brim sizes of Bogie's fedora in Casablanca, and Indy's fedora, for reference?

What sort of clothes should I wear with it? I don't have much money to afford a suit right now.

bro ... you are in Brooklyn !!

get over to Williamsburg and go to Bencraft ... tell Robert , Tony sent ya

... but seriously ... get there and try on all brands, all crown heights and brim widths, with all ribbon widths

the guys there are great and you will leave happy ... let me know when you are going and maybe I'll meet ya there and encourage you to spend way more than you planned on spending

all a man needs is one good hat ............ or 60

did I say that ?

 

[hatophile]

bro ... you are in Brooklyn !!

get over to Williamsburg and go to Bencraft ... tell Robert , Tony sent ya

... but seriously ... get there and try on all brands, all crown heights and brim widths, with all ribbon widths

the guys there are great and you will leave happy ... let me know when you are going and maybe I'll meet ya there and encourage you to spend way more than you planned on spending

all a man needs is one good hat ............ or 60

did I say that ?

Yeah, and then post some pictures!!!!

 

[EstherWeis]

I think you could pull off all sorts of styles.

Like said before, go and try our all sorts of hats. You would be surprised what you can pull off!

 

[Rogera]

Yeah, and then post some pictures!!!!

Yeah!

 

[Bob Roberts]

bro ... you are in Brooklyn !!

get over to Williamsburg and go to Bencraft ... tell Robert , Tony sent ya

... but seriously ... get there and try on all brands, all crown heights and brim widths, with all ribbon widths

the guys there are great and you will leave happy ... let me know when you are going and maybe I'll meet ya there and encourage you to spend way more than you planned on spending

all a man needs is one good hat ............ or 60

did I say that ?

"Beware the Pusherman!"

 

[FedoraFan112390]

Thanks for all the replies. Thing is, I've looked at their prices, Bencraft that is, they're quite steep. I want a very Indiana Jones-esque fedora, but I guess I'll have to shop vintage.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Thanks for all the replies. Thing is, I've looked at their prices, Bencraft that is, they're quite steep. I want a very Indiana Jones-esque fedora, but I guess I'll have to shop vintage.

That's a good start. If you tell us your budget maybe some of us can help?

 

[Rogera]

You're headed for aFed IV

 

[Frunobulax]

You're headed for aFed IV

Probably, yeah. For price vs. quality, the Akubras can't be beat. No telling what a vintage may run, unless you get a good deal. Which is still possible, but tough.