CBS Evening News

[Peacoat]

There was an article at the end of the news tonight about hats making a comeback. Particularly mentioned was the fedora and its wearing by musicians and actors over the past several years. Reminded me of my first fedora, given to me by "Fingers" Taylor, Jimmy Buffet's harmonica player. He gave me the hat back in the 70s so I would have something to hide behind when I played onstage (I was just starting out, and those stage and spotlights were really bright). Wore it for quite a while and then sort of lost track of it through the various moves over the years. Was interested to see that the mainstream press is finally taking note of what many of us have known for years: Properly worn, fedoras are cool.

 

[DougC]

Great story--Fingers is a great musician.

 

[Mr E Train]

Link to video

And naturally, it's all itty bitty brims. About the only decent modern fedora I saw was the guy at around the 2:15 mark.

And yet again, the JFK theory regurgitated. Still, I'm glad this was on the national news.

 

[jimmy the lid]

These youngsters and their damn training fedoras...

Thanks for the heads up, Peacoat -- and for the link MrET!

(BTW, did you notice that when JFK is getting on the plane bare-headed, he is holding his hat?! )

Cheers,
JtL

 

[rgraham]

Great. Now when I go out wearing my hat, people will just think I'm jumping on the bandwagon. However, the wagon will pass, and I'll still be wearing mine.

 

[RBH]

^^^^^^^
You are either on the wagon or under it....
none of us have fallen off. Yet!

Cool news. thanks!

 

[danofarlington]

There was an article at the end of the news tonight about hats making a comeback. Particularly mentioned was the fedora and its wearing by musicians and actors over the past several years. Reminded me of my first fedora, given to me by "Fingers" Taylor, Jimmy Buffet's harmonica player. He gave me the hat back in the 70s so I would have something to hide behind when I played onstage (I was just starting out, and those stage and spotlights were really bright). Wore it for quite a while and then sort of lost track of it through the various moves over the years. Was interested to see that the mainstream press is finally taking note of what many of us have known for years: Properly worn, fedoras are cool.

I think that is true. And if this observation is repeated enough, eventually everybody else will think so too.

 

[wgiceman]

I saw the newscast, too. I imagine that fedoras will become even more prevalent once stories like this are repeated more often. It will really be something once these youngsters figure out that a big brim is really the coolest look of all. Who knows? Perhaps overall dress and style will improve for the masses. Just think, FL'ers are all on the leading edge of the re-introduction of classic style.

 

[Dan'l]

I saw it on the news last night, was excited for a minute and then thought, "How long before the young lads lose thier hats for the next trend?"

It was interesitng to see JFK carrying his hat onto the plane. Perhaps inbetween wearing a hat and not wearing a hat he just carried one around

However, I have had several ladies compliment me on my hats lately, including the most important one...my wife.

Cheers.

 

[jimmy the lid]

I saw very few lids in that CBS piece that I would call "fedoras." Seems that most of those hats are more closely related to some sort of alpine lid...or brimmed beanies...

 

[Neophyte]

I did like that burgundy/maroon/oxblood (?) stingy that JT was wearing, though it flashed by fast enough that I didn't get that good of a look.

 

[RobFedoraField]

compliments

I saw it on the news last night, was excited for a minute and then thought, "How long before the young lads lose thier hats for the next trend?"

It was interesitng to see JFK carrying his hat onto the plane. Perhaps inbetween wearing a hat and not wearing a hat he just carried one around

However, I have had several ladies compliment me on my hats lately, including the most important one...my wife.

Cheers.

Ironically enough, I've gotten compliments from two women about my hat, and only a smirk from my wife. I think my daughter likes them too, but I am beginning to wonder if she only likes them to chew on...

 

[Blackthorn]

These youngsters and their damn training fedoras...

Yes, there's that. lol lol Well said, Jimmy. Now I have a label for those hats.

It was cool to see something like this on the news.

I'm glad we were cool before others discovered coolness.

 

[Richard Warren]

It seems to me that while Kennedy wore a hat, he assumed a public image of not wearing a hat (to project a youthful image, and to show he had a full head of hair). The press in its superficial, supportive (of Kennedy) way bought into it whole hog and still believes in (or at least perpetuates) the narrative.

 

[Joshbru3]

I would honestly say that hats are making a pretty big comeback in Chicago. In the last 2 months Ive gotten at least 20 compliments on my straw pilgrim fedora from males, females, old, and young. Not one negative comment. Just walking around downtown Chicago, most people wearing hats are wearing the "modern" cloth fedoras, cheap wool ones, or cheap paper ones from target. But at least they are wearing hats. I really think the major problem is that there are just a handful of actual hat stores in Chicago that sell high quality hats and many people have no clue whats good and whats not. 50 years ago, almost every hat that you could buy was a pretty decent quality hat, even if it was cheap. If brands like Jaxon, Bailey, and Scala were sold mainstream in target, Wal-Mart, etc, I really think people would be more likely to buy them. All of us at the lounge put a lot of time and love into finding good vintage and modern hats, but lets be honest, most people don't want to put forth the effort to search out good hats. Also, I see good panamas and wider brimmed fedoras walking around Chicago, not as many as the "modern" styles, but still a few. I went to a jazz concert at the museum of contemporary art yesterday, and I would day at least 1/3 of all the males there were wearing some sort of fedora. Hats are more popular than they have been in a long time, but not anywhere near what they should be.

 

[AlterEgo]

Peacoat,

I generally watch the NBC Evening News, and so missed the CBS fedora segment, so thanks for the report.

And thanks again for your help in identifying my Navy Pea Coat! I went by NonEntity several years ago on these BBs and posted my question in another FL section. Based only on my descriptions and no photos, you solved a family quarrel about whether it was authentic or not, and provided incredible details, to boot.

For you folks who do not know Peacoat, he is an absolute expert of experts on that particular clothing topic.

If pea coat knowledge is power, you are omnipotent!

 

[dwebber18]

If brands like Jaxon, Bailey, and Scala were sold mainstream in target, Wal-Mart, etc, I really think people would be more likely to buy them.

My wife works at Walgreens and said they are selling straw fedoras, can't get much more mainstream and cheap than Walgreens. I'm sure they were positioned right next to their as seen on TV section.

 

[Peacoat]

Great story--Fingers is a great musician.

Yes, he is great. He taught (tried to teach?) me a lot about playing harp--and about wearing a fedora. We were close as brothers during the 70s, 80s and part of the 90s. We have lost touch and his mother no longer has a telephone listing in Jackson, MS. One of these days I will track down his brother Brent and find him that way.

AlterEgo, thanks for the compliment. I'm glad I was able to answer your questions and solve the family quarrel.

 

[Joshbru3]

My wife works at Walgreens and said they are selling straw fedoras, can't get much more mainstream and cheap than Walgreens. I'm sure they were positioned right next to their as seen on TV section.

I guess I should edit my statement, I meant that if mainstream store chains carried high end felt and high end straw hats from Bailey, Scala, and Jaxon, people might buy them more. I think its good that people are wearing any kind of fedora....as a start, but now that hats are getting a little more popular than they have been in the last decade or so, its time for the hat companies to step in and push their good products. Stetson, Dobbs, Borsalino, etc, need to pay movie stars and music stars to endorse their products in huge magazines such as GC and other mainstream publications. Unfortunately thats how most of America buy products. They see famous people wearing the product and then they want the items. I know that stetson has advertisements with famous country stars, but they need to advertise their fedoras to fans of Justin Timberlake, Jason Mraz, and people like them, that are always seen in public with fedoras. If one of these companies issued a "signature model" Justin Timberlake fur felt fedora and charged 85 or 90 bucks for it, many teenagers in America would be lined up to buy one. Why not, many have their parents plop down over a hundred bucks for designer jeans made in china.

 

[dwebber18]

Where I think it might really have an impact is stores like Lids since they are everywhere and are very popular. If they were more accessible at mall stores, even department stores again I think they would get a good bit more attention.