Design My Fedora You Guys !

[Old Fogey UK]

I'm thinking of having a hat custom made and I want to end up with something that looks typically late 20's/early 30's.

Starting from scratch -

What colour would you go for ?
Crown and brim dimensions ?
Type/width of ribbon ?
Bound or raw edge brim ?
What sort of shape/bash ?
Which of the custom hat makers would you get to make it ?

Let your imaginations go to work, fellows !!!

 

[BellyTank]

-just a quick one...

Hi.

No. 1

This is typical in my mind for late '20s/early '30s-

-High-ish, straight crown w/centre crease
-2 1/4" brim at most, 2 1/8 if you dare
-light grey- Dove/Pearl
-2" black ribbon, back pleat-bow
-a good snap in the brim

...et voila!

I'll post some pics later if I am able-

B
T

 

[Fedora]

What colour would you go for ?
Crown and brim dimensions ?
Type/width of ribbon ?
Bound or raw edge brim ?
What sort of shape/bash ?
Which of the custom hat makers would you get to make it ?

Medium gray
5 3/4 open crown, 2 3/4 brim
19 ligne grosgrain, dark blue/green in colour
Raw edged brim
Homburg crease on top, fedora creases on front
Any hatter that hangs out here will do you a good job. If not, they will keep at it until you are satisfied. And, the good thing is, it will be your own personally designed hat, and only you will own one like it. Hard to do with off the shelf hats. Fedora

 

[Matt Deckard]

You need at least two hats... one grey and one brown.

If I were stcuk with just one hat for a trip I would take the grey as it works with more color combinations.

As for maker, Graham is my pick as he is a full service hatter who knows old school hatting. If you give him a call he can send you some swatches of fel=t for you to peruse.

He made me a few high crowned hats in the vein of the 30's that I wear constantly.

The crown is 6" and the brim a bit under 3"... this will vary depending on your face shape... You can pretty much get a high crown for most all face shapes as you can bash it in many flattering styles to suit, though the brim width is another issue. If too narrow it can make the hat look like an affectation... if too wide it can make the hat look like an affectation.

Graphite Optimo

 

[Old Fogey UK]

Thanks, Fellows.
This is very interesting and helpful.
My own idea was pearl gray or light taupe with a 2 5/8 inch or 2 3/4 inch brim and a 6 inch crown. I thought about a 2 inch ribbon, black for gray or chocolate for taupe. Centre dent with light pinches.
Nice to know I'm on the right track !
What about the brim edge - raw or ribbon welt ?

 

[SHARPETOYS]

This might help!

I myself like a raw edge. Here are two of our hatters that can make that custom for you from pure beaver felt.

Steve Delk and you get a $25.00 member discount for it.

http://www.adventurebilthats.com/

Art Fawcett same discount.

stone488@gotsky.com

 

[jamespowers]

How about any of these from 1936:

The one on the far left would do.

These will do too.

Nothing like a Gambird as well.
Just some ideas more on shape than colors really. If you want it the way it was back then you have to refer to the ads to get a clear picture of what it is that they really produced.

Regards to all,

J

 

[fedoralover]

I think I see Art's Moss green in that last one JP. I'm also a fan of the wide brim and higher crown one's from that era. The Homburg is too dressy for me and what I do, but it could work well for others. I like the look that Mallory has myself.

fedoralover

 

[BellyTank]

Hmmm...

...I was going for the late '20s/early '30s style (as requested) in my spec.,
with the narrow brim and all- I thought this was pretty typical for the era.
Was I wrong..? Everyone else is recommending a wider brim...

Curious...

B
T

 

[jamespowers]

I think I see Art's Moss green in that last one JP. I'm also a fan of the wide brim and higher crown one's from that era. The Homburg is too dressy for me and what I do, but it could work well for others. I like the look that Mallory has myself.

I sort of see the comparison now that you mention it.
I still like the midnight blue homburg with the gray ribbon. That would be quite the hat for a nice blue, black suit or even a gray one.
I like the Mallory and the Mistery Felt as well. Those two styles would really work well with many of today's suits and dress casual clothing.
Like Root says: "MMMMMMmmmmmallory."

Regards to all,

J

 

[jamespowers]

...I was going for the late '20s/early '30s style (as requested) in my spec.,
with the narrow brim and all- I thought this was pretty typical for the era.
Was I wrong..? Everyone else is recommending a wider brim...

Hehehehehe. Actually they made both types during that time. You wouldn't want to be a big guy with a little hat would you?
I think the look you were describing is more the 1919 Mallory look---like this:

I think that may be a little too early.
The 1913 Mallory is another example of what i think you were getting at:

The teens were more the era where you had the narrow brim but the crown was also shorter in appearance for a more even balance.
Here is a 1926 Stetson but it is a homburg:

Here is a completely suited fellow from 1927:

The ads show most 20s and 30s hats to have a wider brim than we think of when we think of the 1920s and 30s. I tend to believe the ads but Art can probably make things clearer. :cheers1:

Regards to all,

J

 

[BellyTank]

OK JP...

I was trying to be era-specific- just thinking about the movies of the early '30s- Cagney and the bunch and looking at catalogues of the time- 2 1/8 to 2 3/8 was apparently a 'popular' brim width- the wider brims becoming popular a little later.

But of course- I bow to the collective's superior enlightenment

B
T

 

[nightandthecity]

here's an idea....

I have only ever bought vintage hats that fit me or that were big enough to sell on, but if I were having one made I think I'd put a little time and money aside to go on ebay and buy up as many of those small>unwearable>unsellable>therefore cheap hats as possible. This would give you a brilliant hands-on reference source.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Hi.

No. 1

This is typical in my mind for late '20s/early '30s-

-High-ish, straight crown w/centre crease
-2 1/4" brim at most, 2 1/8 if you dare
-light grey- Dove/Pearl
-2" black ribbon, back pleat-bow
-a good snap in the brim

...et voila!

I'll post some pics later if I am able-

B
T

For instance....

(bad pic I know)

 

[Mr. 'H']

Or:

 

[BellyTank]

Yes for instance- correct.
My thoughts exactly- well done my good Man.
:cheers1:

B
T

 

[Mr. 'H']

Mmmmmmmmm...int!

Mmmmmmmm....

>8s NOS

Aaahhh....

 

[BellyTank]

Mmmmmmmmm...int!

Mmmmmmmm....

>8s NOS

Aaahhh....

What the..!

B
T

 

[jamespowers]

But of course- I bow to the collective's superior enlightenment

That ain't me. You have to look elsewhere for superior enlightenment. I suppose the hat could really be anything you want it to be given the wide array of brim widths in advertisements and the like.
The hat pictured looks exactly like the 1919 Mallory. What does the bow look like?

Regards to all,

J

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I'm thinking of having a hat custom made and I want to end up with something that looks typically late 20's/early 30's.

You might try making your hat look like the one below: an early '30s fedora by Disney Hats. Note the high crown: