What tickles you?

[High Pockets]

I just thought it was funny that on most of the dress hats offered by, (whatever you want to call them; internet retailers I guess), you find a cute little feather what-not tucked-in behind the bow,....but of the hundreds of wonderful photographs y'all have posted of your favorite hats,....narry a little tickler to be found.

Just this week, the UPS chariot arrived with my first fedora,....a rather inexpensive but nice Biltmore. Never having been a big fan of the feather, I promptly plucked the item in question and was wondering what some of you who seem to be very passionate about nice looking hats thought about the option.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Most of my new hats have feathers. But when the wind takes it away I never seem to replace them. Unless I find a nice Magpie feather laying around then I may stick it in my hat. Until the wind takes that one as well. What a vicious cycle.
Johnny

 

[FurFeltFedora]

Never been one for feathers. I prefer a slightly more "rugged" look (?). Same reason why I'm not a big fan of bound edges (on me anyway). Only one hat of mine had a feather and it got taken out right in the store

 

[Jauntyone]

I always put a feather in my hatband (except for thin-ribbons)! It lends a colorful note to a dark or formal hat, especially when worn with a dark suit.
I know Diazawaguy has a VS hat with a purple feather that is fantastic.

 

[High Pockets]

I think my distaste with the fuzzy little creations may stem from being traumatized back in the 70's by the multitude of Urban Cowboy crazed sheep, *I mean public*, who went on a rampage, buying millions of cruddy quality "cowboy" hats with enough feathers in the band to stuff a twin mattress!
Having grown up in parts of Texas and Oklahoma, and been around working hats all my life, I walked around for a year or so with a "deer in the headlight" look, simply amazed at all the silliness afoot.

I swore to myself then and there that I would never add a hat band that didn't come with the hat, (I've since changed my mind about that),...and to never add a feather to a hat.

So FFF, I don't blame you for removing it! However,......I have fallen in love with the fedora and want only to wear it with respect, and maybe if I do it correctly, will be able to spread the respect and love of such a fine hat. If a feather behind the bow is customary under certain conditions I will abide.

(after reading my last post I realized that this Biltmore is not my first fedora, I forgot about that little number in my avatar photo)

 

["Skeet" McD]

I just thought it was funny that on most of the dress hats offered by, (whatever you want to call them; internet retailers I guess), you find a cute little feather what-not tucked-in behind the bow,....but of the hundreds of wonderful photographs y'all have posted of your favorite hats,....narry a little tickler to be found.

Dear HP,
I used to think the same thing...and also wondered at it. But, just within the last month or 6 weeks, an old film on TCM showed...just what we're talking about here, so it really DID exist back in the day. Problem is...I can't for the life of me remember what film it was, and therefore no idea which decade. It was one of those "Oh! file that away: they really did do that" and that was it.

Sorry not to be able to be more explicit (you could hardly be less so, in fact)...but I'm sure one of our premier hat men here will chime in and give us all the benefit of some honest-to-goodness knowledge. So, until then: for what it's worth.

"Skeet"

 

[avedwards]

I always take feathers out of my hats but keep them just in case I change my mind one day.

Should my friend give me a feather from her parrot which I have asked for I will wear it because the bright green would clash so horribly with the grey of my hat that it might just look good. That makes little sense I know. :eusa_doh:

 

[High Pockets]

[QUOTE="Skeet" McD]Dear HP,
I used to think the same thing...and also wondered at it. But, just within the last month or 6 weeks, an old film on TCM showed...just what we're talking about here, so it really DID exist back in the day. Problem is...I can't for the life of me remember what film it was, and therefore no idea which decade.

"Skeet"[/QUOTE]

It's a shame you can't remember Skeet! I suppose I could keep tuning in to TCM. I watched two shows on it yesterday at the fire station, but didn't see any feathers.
Perhaps I'll just have to pour me a bourbon, hit the recliner and watch another one tonight.
See if I can't spot me a feather.

 

["Skeet" McD]

It's a shame you can't remember Skeet! I suppose I could keep tuning in to TCM. I watched two shows on it yesterday at the fire station, but didn't see any feathers.
Perhaps I'll just have to pour me a bourbon, hit the recliner and watch another one tonight.
See if I can't spot me a feather.

Ain't it the truth! And I tend to record 'em, then watch 'em when I can...so it didn't necessarily have to be broadcast during that period . Additionally...while there is some repetition on TCM, there's not a lot...and what there is is on a pretty long leash. I'll keep combing the memory banks, though...and hey: there are worse things to do with your evenings! Make it a double....

"Skeet"

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

I always put a feather in my hatband (except for thin-ribbons)! It lends a colorful note to a dark or formal hat, especially when worn with a dark suit.
I know Diazawaguy has a VS hat with a purple feather that is fantastic.

Jauntyone, my dad wore hats in the 50's through the 80's, like the ones in your post. Especially the one in the lower left, probably Stetsons. They usually had a feather.

 

[Goose.]

The Akubra Hampton came with plumage that I plucked.
A friend gave me a small feather that seems to go well with my Dark Brown Fed IV. Other than that one, I don't wear them though I have a few around for a rainy day.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=809074&postcount=25

 

[KeyGrip]

I keep my band empty so I can fill it with things I find. Sprigs of barley or wheat, flowers, and even feathers; though I prefer to use feathers from domesicated birds.

 

[Jabos]

Hey High Pockets-welcome from another Okie. Don't know if you are in the Tulsa area but if so you might try The Brothers Hat Shop. I know they carry several brands including Biltmore. I dropped in there in the Spring and they said they have mostly straws in the summer. Nice folks there, just north of downtown.

I'm trying to get the folks in the OKC area in the swing of the fedora, but I'm not having much success. Anyway, welcome to the lounge. I'd PM you but you must have 15 posts before you get PM availability. Post a pic of that new hat, will ya?

Oh, to keep this on topic, no feathers for me please.

 

[daizawaguy]

I know Diazawaguy has a VS hat with a purple feather that is fantastic.[/QUOTE]

Glad you like it, all credit to Art though!

[IMG]http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll134/daizawaguy/NikonJune2009004-1.jpg

 

[daizawaguy]

Oh, to keep this on topic, no feathers for me please.

Just a matter of time before you get convinced Jabos...never say never!!!

 

[donCarlos]

You say feather, I think of this lol :



Ever wondered how it would look if you hit a hen while riding on a motorcycle in your cowboy hat?

 

[Blackthorn]

I hate seeing feathers in fedoras. I don't remember seeing any men wearing feathers in their hats when I was a kid in the fifties. For that matter, my avatar is a pic of my dad taken in 1947, and I doubt he'd have been caught dead with a feather in his hat. I'll be pulling them out of all my fedoras.

 

[High Pockets]

I'm trying to get the folks in the OKC area in the swing of the fedora, but I'm not having much success.

Thanks for the Tulsa tip,....and I'll do my best to help you out right here in the City! I work downtown and live out by McLoud.

 

[Dinerman]

Feathers in fedoras were done in the day, it's not just a modern thing.

I've found original feathers in the bands of late '40s/ early '50s casual hats, soft, earth toned hats with self-felt bands. The feathers, however are much different from the flashy ones found in modern hats. Decent sized, yes, but more naturally colored, blending in more with the coloration of the hat.

Feathers seemed to be popular as well in hat from the early '60s, though they were typically much smaller than modern ones. Ones I've seen were typically one color.

 

[Jauntyone]

Feathers in fedoras were done in the day, it's not just a modern thing.

I've found original feathers in the bands of late '40s/ early '50s casual hats, soft, earth toned hats with self-felt bands. The feathers, however are much different from the flashy ones found in modern hats. Decent sized, yes, but more naturally colored, blending in more with the coloration of the hat.

Feathers seemed to be popular as well in hat from the early '60s, though they were typically much smaller than modern ones. Ones I've seen were typically one color.

I've noticed that it's nowadays impossible to find the smaller, more dicreet feathers that were typical in the 60s and before. If anyone knows of a good source, please let me know!