Hat Fashion / ettiquette question

[1911 Man]

So if I am wearing a navy blue or dark olive green suit, a black fedora, and black shoes, I know that's ok. What about burgundy shoes? Can I still do the black fedora?

 

[Jovan]

I'm not certain what's stopping you. If it looks okay to you in the mirror and you're comfortable, should be all that matters. I can picture it working... I personally like to coordinate, but it doesn't mean everyone else should.

 

[1911 Man]

Heh Heh, the only thing stopping me now is that I don't yet own the black fedora. lol Its on my list. But I was just planning for the future, and it occurred to me, even if they made a burgundy fedora, I wouldn't wear it

But I figured there was a wealth of knowledge here, and I am a bit of a newbie to this, so why not ask. Thanks

 

[NonEntity]

Style Maven At Your Service

Burgundy, better--oxblood or cordovan--shoes are appropriate with any color of clothing. If one must make do with just one pair of dressy shoes, cordovan is the color you want. Whatever the color of shoe, make sure your belt is an approximate color match. It doesn't have to be perfect, but shoes and belt that match tie you together: black shoes, black belt; brown shoes, brown belt; cordovan shoes; cordovan belt. White shoes, white belt? Go to jail!

As for the color hat, it has little to nothing to do with shoe color, except in the case of formal wear, in which the black top hat would of course match the black shoes.

Even the color of hat and color(s) of any piece of clothing you have on need not match. Black hat with a black suit will always work, especially if you are an undertaker. A second alternative is to go with a coordinating color, like a loden hat recapitulating a similar green embedded in a houndstooth jacket. Finally, you can take the contrast theme route: I've seen a fawn fedora paired with a dark blue flannel sport jacket that looked marvelous and tasteful.

So whether you choose a matching, coordinating, or contrasting color approach, that's secondary. The primary factor in selecting a hat is aligning it with the overall style of clothing. For example, a fedora looks good with suits and blazers, an ivy cap with tweed and corduroy sport jackets, Greek fishermen caps with jean and casual leather jackets.

There are so many exceptions--think Indiana Jones in his fedora with the leather jacket--that my examples are probably overly narrow, but no one is born with a sense of style: Like everything, it's learned, and the more you learn, the more it will all come together and eventually seem second nature as to what looks good with what.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

So if I am wearing a navy blue or dark olive green suit, a black fedora, and black shoes, I know that's ok. What about burgundy shoes? Can I still do the black fedora?

Believe it, or not, I have a burgundy fedora.

 

[Art Fawcett]

I believe it JT!! I also MAKE them ( albeit not many)

 

[1911 Man]

Hey, thank you all for the replies. Please forgive me, I was not attempting to bash (no pun intended) a burgundy hat. I'm sure it looks great. I have a black wool overcoat I wear with the suits, even when wearing burgundy shoes and belt, so I imagine the black hat would be perfectly fine. I just didn't know if it was like the "white after labor day" rule.

I've been developing a more stylish wardrobe the last few years, and have known about the absolute necessity of matching shoes to belt. I am also proud to say I own zero white leather articles of clothing. But the hat thing threw me a bit, because I am new to dress hats. I have two from JW Hats, the hat shop in Salt Lake City featured in one of the stickys. I also have my Adventurebilt on the way soon.

I've always loved the Indiana Jones leather jacket and fedora look (like many, that's what got me started into hats), but I am happy to say that it is not unique to him, nor is it "period inaccurate". I was recently watching "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Cary Grant, and at the very start he is with his fiance in the courthouse to get a marriage license. One of the extras standing in line next to him is wearing something like an A2 bomber jacket and fedora. So they really did it back then!

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I've always loved the Indiana Jones leather jacket and fedora look (like many, that's what got me started into hats), but I am happy to say that it is not unique to him, nor is it "period inaccurate". I was recently watching "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Cary Grant, and at the very start he is with his fiance in the courthouse to get a marriage license. One of the extras standing in line next to him is wearing something like an A2 bomber jacket and fedora. So they really did it back then!

Until the mid 1960's, engineers were notorious for wearing white shirts and ties, with waist length zippered jackets (leather or fabric) and dress fedoras.
It had to do with the need to quickly move from office to field and back again.