Guide for first fedora/hat

[Edward]

When deciding what to try hat-wise, I'd suggest looking to sartorial inspirations. Who makes you want to wear a hat? Bogart? Indy? Chaplain? Depp? That'll give you a steer from the off. Also, what's your look? Little point, in my minds, in buying a brown fedora if you only ever wear black leather jackets and black denim.

When you first start wearing it, don't give up too quickly if it feels odd. Give it time to get used to it. And - limits of work dress codes aside - don't care what anyone else says. In reality, if you're going to stand out from the norm, you don't go around being thin-skinned. Idiots will be idiots. In my experience, the vast majority of people actually mean well, and if they call you "cowboy" in a fedora, or "Al Capone" that's simply their field of reference via popular culture.

 

[seewhatididther]

For my first fedora, I felt overwhelmed by recommendations to go vintage or custom (I didn’t feel comfortable knowing what I was buying and didn’t have a discerning taste level built up yet), so I went with a Stetson stratoliner premier.

It’s the best quality of the modern hats I’ve acquired thus far, I got to shape the open crown myself and it was readily available to scratch my new-hobby itch! It also has a little more volume/height than the cheaper modern strats, so I feel a little more like a connoisseur than a hipster.

not saying this is the right move for the OP, but it might be for future searchers!

 

[regius]

pulled the trigger and bought an Open Road from Amazon, in "my size", all of my hat are 58, or 7.25. I believe this one fits correctly, but the dip on the crown sort of immediately touch the top of my head, so the whole hat sits shallowly on my head, is this how it's meant to fit? I don't think i should pull it down anymore or it'd be on my eyebrow level...

 

[Just Daniel]

If you can work with a 7 1/8 this is a pretty broad hat, probably ‘48-52. A very nice felt, it does need a ribbon.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mens-3X-XXX-Stetson-Beige-Cowboy-Hat-1-8/233602401359

pulled the trigger and bought an Open Road from Amazon, in "my size", all of my hat are 58, or 7.25. I believe this one fits correctly, but the dip on the crown sort of immediately touch the top of my head, so the whole hat sits shallowly on my head, is this how it's meant to fit? I don't think i should pull it down anymore or it'd be on my eyebrow level...

 

[Happy hatter 365]

Brand new to the lounge so hello everyone! Like the title says I'm looking for my first fedora. I'm 6'3 around 320lbs mostly wear blue jeans and tan slacks with light color shirts. Looking for brand and color recommendations. Along with any tips for a newbie you would like to share. Thanks a bunch!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I’d say you’ll need a big proportioned hat. I wouldn’t go with anything smaller than an Akubra Campdraft.

Is there a style you like? Are you looking for a dress hat, or sort of an everyday hat? Do you need it to pair with a jacket and tie or something more casual?

 

[Happy hatter 365]

I’d say you’ll need a big proportioned hat. I wouldn’t go with anything smaller than an Akubra Campdraft.

Is there a style you like? Are you looking for a dress hat, or sort of an everyday hat? Do you need it to pair with a jacket and tie or something more casual?

Definitely an everyday hat that is more casual. I dont wear suits often enough to buy a hat to go with one.

 

[Just Daniel]

You’ll have to measure your head first, either with a tape measure (and using a conversion chart) or going to a hat place and trying on a few.

Based on your height you are probably a larger size; this limits some options for vintage hats because folks in the past had smaller heads.

Check out the Open Roads on this thread; they can be casual as well as formal, and if you want to buy a new or custom hat you can find these models.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-open-road-guild.7047/

The big question will be: how much are you looking to spend?

All the best,
Daniel

 

[Just Daniel]

Aha. If you look at the last posts on the Open Road thread, the guys are discussing the Camp Draft, Stratoliner, and Open Road. Good info:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-open-road-guild.7047/page-170#post-2718218

 

[Happy hatter 365]

Aha. If you look at the last posts on the Open Road thread, the guys are discussing the Camp Draft, Stratoliner, and Open Road. Good info:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-open-road-guild.7047/page-170#post-2718218

Do any of these have a snap brim?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Do any of these have a snap brim?

All of them. Some have more flange than others and some “snap” more and some less, but al the hats mentioned are thin ribbon snap brim fedoras. You can wear them brim up or snapped down.

Depending on Your budget and your patience you can order a custom hat too.


Here’s our friend @PanosChris showing us how to wear a Campdraft:

 

[Happy hatter 365]

All of them. Some have more flange than others and some “snap” more and some less, but al the hats mentioned are thin ribbon snap brim fedoras. You can wear them brim up or snapped down.

Depending on Your budget and your patience you can order a custom hat too.


Here’s our friend @PanosChris showing us how to wear a Campdraft:

View attachment 265533 View attachment 265534 View attachment 265535

I love the wider brim. For a bigger guy is a wide brim the way to go?

 

[belfastboy]

I love the wider brim. For a bigger guy is a wide brim the way to go?

Yes, it is. I would suggest if you have the option....go to a hat store even if you have to drive a bit....make it a day trip. Try on many different styles and see what works and what you are comfortable wearing. It will make ordering online so much easier and so much less a crap shoot.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I love the wider brim. For a bigger guy is a wide brim the way to go?

Panos, the man in the photos, is not a big guy and he wears that style very well. However, when big men wear little hats it can look cartoonish. The thin ribbon also makes the crown look taller, and its genuinely tall at almost six inches (open). The wider brims of 2 3/4 to 3 inches will also look more proportional with your size.

As for color, silverbelly is a versatile choice as is mid-gray. Spend a few hours going through the What Hat Are You Wearing Today thread and see what styles you like and what colors you like in combination with clothing and similar to yours.

Good luck.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I love the wider brim. For a bigger guy is a wide brim the way to go?

I love the wider brim. For a bigger guy is a wide brim the way to go?

I would always recommend a wide brim for sun protection alone. With that said a wide brim does compliment bigger gentlemen as well.

Is there any style you want to emulate? My first Akubra was the Federation as I love Indiana Jones. That hat took some serious wear and a beating. Sold it to a friend and he still wears it regularly, that’s 19 years later.

outside of emulating someone in particular the Campdraft is a great choice. Thin ribbon is considered more casual. Good sized brim. like all Akubras it will stand up to daily wear in all weather conditions.

What colour is an interesting question. You can always go with the Taupe fawn. I have a Sandtone Fawn and I seems to go with damn near anything. Silver belly would be the same but in a lighter colour it may get dirty easier.

hope that helps. Let us know what you decide

Johnny

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

These links may or may not help. I tried to use them, but I never worked out which face was mine.

https://www.hats.com/face-shapes

This one is a little better.
https://www.karenhenriksen.co.uk/style-guides/2018/11/1/style-guidemens-hats-face-shapes-and-more

This one is also good.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/the-perfect-hat-for-your-ugly-mug/

If you live near a hat shop, ask them up front to tell you if a hat looks bad. I've had good advice from two hatters I work with, but haven't asked or needed it from the other two. Most custom hatters can make about anything you want, but it may not be ready TOMORROW.

Later

 

[Scott Mensching]

Im sure this has been covered but and suggestions?

 

[Bamaboots]

What’s your budget?

 

[hatsRme]

Im sure this has been covered but and suggestions?

Felt or straw?

 

[belfastboy]

Im sure this has been covered but and suggestions?

This should start the debate. I think that Akubra is always a good bet for an entry level fur felt hat. They, IMHO offer the best value in the market. They offer multiple styles to fit your needs, decent quality, hard wearing and they look good.