Added Federation IV

[TheSeeker]

After some thought, I decided to add the Federation IV in dark brown to my collection. After ordering, it arrived in a couple weeks. I was hesitant on a brown hat, but now pleased that I took a chance. I really like the Federation, but my wife thinks it’s too high. I don’t agree, it’s overall well balanced in style. I am looking forward to wearing it as frequently as possible. This will be my last fedora, as the collection is a bit out of hand. I don’t have a favorite, I enjoy all of them. What I do wear regularly is a beater fedora that I paid $30 for. I never worry if it gets blown off, dirty, rained on. Of course nothing has ever happened to it. If I wore one of the nice fedoras, you can bet it would get ruined somehow. Fedoras are great hats. I am amazed that few people wear them.

 

[NorthmostAustralia]

Great write up I have recently bought one in Tawny fawn and will add a delux in dark brown. You are had pressed to find a tougher hat thank a Akubra I beat my Riverina for 14 years in heavy rain and heat and it has stood up well .

 

[Edward]

The Federation is an outstanding production line hat. I've owned six of them over twenty years - two dark brown DLX (the second a replacement 'for best', though the first after heavy wear still looks great and is still very presentable; I'll likely give the second a different bash), two regulars in Carbon grey (the second because the first got a couple of hefty divots munched into it by a carpet beetle. Not so noticeable, but sort of thing that bothers me), a DLX moonstone and a regular in Heritage Fawn. The first two were IIIs, the rest Mk IVs, though the difference really isn't much perceptible without looking so hard my eyes wobble.

I agree they're well balance in proportions, though some folks take a little getting used to them if they're more familiar with lower-crowned, 'modern' hats. I have others that are real favourites of mine now too (particularly a couple of very nice, high-crown fedoras from the Hat Centre on North London), but the Federation is very much the yardstick. Durable, practical hat that I can take out and wear. I have a few actual vintage pieces, but in truth I prefer newly-made as for me they're about daily wardrobe rather than collecting. I'd love to see a Federation Deluxe Plus, the Plus being the addition of a wind trolley (I don't really use them, but I love them as a visual detail), a slightly deeper ribbon, and a wide (1/3" - 1/2") brim binding.

I'm hoping now that HatsDirect have their own Wentworth Hat Company range they'll eventually add to their straws a hat with the shape and proportions of the Federation.