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Fedoras and beards

monbla256

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,239
Location
DFW Metroplex, Texas
Maybe for some. When I had a faceful of hair and a dark fedora, I was more than once mistaken for hasidim.

That 'll teach ya not to wear your black frock coat and 3" brimmed Borso with a beard up your way :eusa_clap. For me, I've had a 'stach since 'nam back in '69 and when I grew a beard back in the late '70s it was a FULL Hemingway style of beard, not these 5 day growths that is being passed off as a "beard" these days! I've a couple of freinds who sport long beards ala ZZ Top and they look alright with their long white hair on them!
 
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Lefty

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,639
Location
O-HI-O
from a few years ago
Cincinnati
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Brussels
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scooter

Practically Family
Messages
905
Location
Arizona
Sam and I think the same way. In the last 17 years, I have seldom (read all most never) been without my goatee, and I don't see that changing. That goes for the fedoras, as well.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,178
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
That 'll teach ya not to wear your black frock coat and 3" brimmed Borso with a beard up your way :eusa_clap. For me, I've had a 'stach since 'nam back in '69 and when I grew a beard back in the late '70s it was a FULL Hemingway style of beard, not these 5 day growths that is being passed off as a "beard" these days! I've a couple of freinds who sport long beards ala ZZ Top and they look alright with their long white hair on them!

I think the funniest thing that happened to me in this regard was when I was a friend's wedding on a boat, probably about 15 or more years ago. I was dressed in dark gray suit. I was wearing a light gray almost-western hat (~3" brim), and full, but short, facial hair. An older woman asked someone if I was the rabbi, as in, the guy doing the ceremony. I'm not so sure I thought it was all that funny at the time.
 
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Benzadmiral

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,815
Location
The Swamp
Scottyrocks, I had almost the same thing happen in the '90s. On a trip down to Meyer the Hatter, I picked up an NOS Borsalino, which I'm pretty sure now was an Alessandria, in black. I had on a white shirt, long-sleeved, and dark jeans, and was wearing the new hat. While I was waiting for the bus, a guy takes one look at me and says, "Orthodox?"
 
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frussell

One Too Many
Messages
1,409
Location
California Desert
I went to a bris ten years ago, semi-casually dressed, with no hat on, short hair (with no side curls), but even with western boots and belt on, the person who opened the door asked if I was the mohel. I took out my Leatherman tool and said "yes," and walked on in. The parents of the baby boy still find this amusing. Everyone agreed it was the beard. Last summer I went to an old-fashioned barber shop nearby, and the guy asked if I wanted my beard trimmed. It was a bit scraggly, so I said yes. I was pretty relaxed and didn't pay attention, and he proceeded to take my full beard down to Don Johnson-Miami Vice-style stubble. It was the first time I'd seen my face in about 25 years, and the very first time my wife had seen my lower facial regions. It was a long couple of months growing my chin back. Still gives me the willies. Frank
 
Messages
15,276
Location
Somewhere south of crazy
I went to a bris ten years ago, semi-casually dressed, with no hat on, short hair (with no side curls), but even with western boots and belt on, the person who opened the door asked if I was the mohel. I took out my Leatherman tool and said "yes," and walked on in. The parents of the baby boy still find this amusing. Everyone agreed it was the beard. Last summer I went to an old-fashioned barber shop nearby, and the guy asked if I wanted my beard trimmed. It was a bit scraggly, so I said yes. I was pretty relaxed and didn't pay attention, and he proceeded to take my full beard down to Don Johnson-Miami Vice-style stubble. It was the first time I'd seen my face in about 25 years, and the very first time my wife had seen my lower facial regions. It was a long couple of months growing my chin back. Still gives me the willies. Frank

Those Leatherman tools sure are versatile, aren't they?
 

mattface

Practically Family
Messages
877
Location
Montpelier, VT
I've been wearing a beard more or less since I was 17 (I'm 40) from time to time I'll shave it off for one reason or another. usually it's for change of pace, but more or less everyone agrees I look better with a beard.

I've always been into hats, since long before I could grow hair on my face. My first Fedora was a hand-me-down from my Grandfather who favored flat caps when I knew him. He also bought me a fairly nice wide brimmed wool felt once when he came to visit me in college. at that time I wore my hair and beard long, I was a skinny young dude with a lot of hair, tended to dress in bulky layers of wool at that time, and looked a bit like a mountain main.

Nowadays, since I can't seem to grow a convincing amount of hair on top of my head, I shave my head and wear my beard trimmed short and shave the neck and cheeks for neatness most every day. having also put on a few pounds since then, I guess I'd say I have a very different look in a hat, but I still favor wide brims, and I dare say they still look good on me. Hat's and beards both serve similar functions for me visually. Even at 155, I still had a neck like a tree trunk, and a less than well defined chin, the beard gives some definition between the face and the neck, and a wide brim and tall crown balance the shoulders, so I don't wind up looking like a pin-head.
 

Doctor Strange

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,252
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
I'm also somebody's who's had a beard ever since the end of high school/start of college (1973!) I have NEVER shaved it, and have no intention of ever doing so - nobody would recognize me! Aside from going from what began as a vague Van Dyke style to a shaved-cheeks approach to a full beard, it's never changed much, though I generally don't let it get that long. And of course, it's changed color from light brown to salt and pepper to mostly grey over the years...

Anyway, I've always been a hat guy. Count me as another who REALLY can't wear black hats without appearing to be Orthodox (and I'm only lapsed Reform!), so I avoid them. Even my carbon/steel/mid-grey Stylemaster is darker than I'd like...

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