How many hats do you have?

[Frunobulax]

Great post! I completely follow your reasoning there, even though I find myself walking a different path.

I've always liked hats, but typically been a one hat guy, or should I say one mid winter hat, and one summer sun/rain hat. Now I find myself expanding a little, but cautiously so. I'll try to give some perspective, although as I'm still trying to understand my own perspective, what I say may not be entirely accurate.

To my mind, there's accessory hats, and working hats. The following hats are what I would consider working hats.

View attachment 336290

View attachment 336291

Both of those are great in terms of function. The wide brims being great at protecting me from the elements. However, neither hat is what I would go shopping in, or wear if going out for a meal etc. They're home use (either mine, or friends or family), in the garden, either doing jobs that need doing, or enjoying a drink and BBQ.

On the other hand, these two are ones I'd consider accessory hats.

View attachment 336292

View attachment 336293

The narrower brims aren't as functional against the elements, but both look better on me for going about a daily life in a public setting. One is good in sun, and the other will keep my head warmer. I have another that is my go to rain hat, a weathered look cotton trilby. Three more are needed for my out and about primary six. I have my eye on a Christy Foldaway and Tilley tecwool hat for dressy functional, and for mid winter. I don't particularly need more in terms of working hats though. Maybe what some would consider beater hats.

As for character, I like new hats. I like them more when they don't look new any more, and knowing that every crease, stain, scuff, or hole, is a story from my life, not just an unknown impairment from someone else's. In fact that's quite close to my thinking... if I put it there, it's character and welcome, but if someone else did it's an unwelcome blemish.

As to collecting... nah, not for me. Too many choices as what to wear, too much stuff to find homes for, hats taking too long to develop character as the stories are spread across too many items. I'd rather have a select few and beat the snot out of them. I also appreciate that some of my hats might not to be up to the task in terms of longevity, and are merely placeholders. That's fine. If they get wrecked and need replacing, I know it's the right type of hat. If it sits sulking and neglected, it's the wrong type of hat, but doesn't matter, because it was just a cheapie.

Time will tell where the big money needs to go, and for the most part, will go to replacing the most quickly wrecked cheapies. In essence, going towards needs, not wants. If I fancy something of a different type just for the heck of it, it will be uber cheap. My grey bowler will never be a primary hat - I just wanted one. Less than £20 scratched that itch successfully

Sorry, rambling post, but I hope I've given some clarity. Six primary accessories, a couple of working hats that the public don't have to be subjected to, and a couple of novelties for the fun of it. That's me quite content.

I certainly understand your perspective, even if it isn't my own. One thing to also consider if soliciting advice from this crew is to reflect on this site's purpose and mission. Though we certainly deviate from it, the FL stands for the appreciation and preservation of the Golden Age. So most of us are quite enamored of the Old, whether it be clothing, lifestyles, machinery, cars, etc. This stuff gets our blood flowing, and gives us a different perspective.

Take, for instance, your definition of a work hat/beater, and a dress hat. Of course there is nothing wrong with it, but from the perspective of many on this site, a work hat is still a fur felt hat with similar dimensions as a dress hat.

Take a look at this thread: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-non-shorpy-web-all-stars.56296/

This thread explores how folks dressed and conducted themselves in everyday life during the Golden Age (and often beyond). You'll see fur felt "dress" hats being worn in a variety of ways while doing everyday things, like working in a factory, going from place to place, or just living. Hats with dress clothing, work clothing, sometimes no clothing! (https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/woman-wearing-hats.79647/). Many folks on here study this exetensively, and the hardcore ones carry it a bit further with a certain bit of LARPing.

I've come to appreciate wearing a brimmed fur felt fedora with pretty much everything - shorts, jeans, a suit, whatever. It can become as natural as putting on a pair of pants.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Great post! I completely follow your reasoning there, even though I find myself walking a different path.

I've always liked hats, but typically been a one hat guy, or should I say one mid winter hat, and one summer sun/rain hat. Now I find myself expanding a little, but cautiously so. I'll try to give some perspective, although as I'm still trying to understand my own perspective, what I say may not be entirely accurate.

To my mind, there's accessory hats, and working hats. The following hats are what I would consider working hats.

View attachment 336290

View attachment 336291

Both of those are great in terms of function. The wide brims being great at protecting me from the elements. However, neither hat is what I would go shopping in, or wear if going out for a meal etc. They're home use (either mine, or friends or family), in the garden, either doing jobs that need doing, or enjoying a drink and BBQ.

On the other hand, these two are ones I'd consider accessory hats.

View attachment 336292

View attachment 336293

The narrower brims aren't as functional against the elements, but both look better on me for going about a daily life in a public setting. One is good in sun, and the other will keep my head warmer. I have another that is my go to rain hat, a weathered look cotton trilby. Three more are needed for my out and about primary six. I have my eye on a Christy Foldaway and Tilley tecwool hat for dressy functional, and for mid winter. I don't particularly need more in terms of working hats though. Maybe what some would consider beater hats.

As for character, I like new hats. I like them more when they don't look new any more, and knowing that every crease, stain, scuff, or hole, is a story from my life, not just an unknown impairment from someone else's. In fact that's quite close to my thinking... if I put it there, it's character and welcome, but if someone else did it's an unwelcome blemish.

As to collecting... nah, not for me. Too many choices as what to wear, too much stuff to find homes for, hats taking too long to develop character as the stories are spread across too many items. I'd rather have a select few and beat the snot out of them. I also appreciate that some of my hats might not to be up to the task in terms of longevity, and are merely placeholders. That's fine. If they get wrecked and need replacing, I know it's the right type of hat. If it sits sulking and neglected, it's the wrong type of hat, but doesn't matter, because it was just a cheapie.

Time will tell where the big money needs to go, and for the most part, will go to replacing the most quickly wrecked cheapies. In essence, going towards needs, not wants. If I fancy something of a different type just for the heck of it, it will be uber cheap. My grey bowler will never be a primary hat - I just wanted one. Less than £20 scratched that itch successfully

Sorry, rambling post, but I hope I've given some clarity. Six primary accessories, a couple of working hats that the public don't have to be subjected to, and a couple of novelties for the fun of it. That's me quite content.

In some ways I envy your narrow scope and limited wants. Back when all men wore hats, few, including the very wealthy, had huge collections of hats. A couple daily hats that could be matched to your clothing, maybe a couple of more formal hats, and a summer straw hat, and then previous years’ hats used for beaters.

Don't be dismissive of vintage hats. You aren’t going to find new hats that are made with the quality of components as the mid-tier or better vintage hats. Once you experience a few quality vintage hats it’s hard to bring yourself to buy new hats that often cost more and are nowhere near the quality.

 

[johnnycanuck]

As of right now three less than I need!
Johnny

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

How many hats?
I can not enumerate but i can elucidate:

If i knew then, what i know now, i probably would only have 10 or so hats. But they would be “HATS”.
I guess i don’t know now what i thought i knew then.
Yeah, something like that.
B
Ps: hats are like your children...you love em all, all the time, but sometimes you don’t like some of them.
B

 

[belfastboy]

How many hats?
I can not enumerate but i can elucidate:

If i knew then, what i know now, i probably would only have 10 or so hats. But they would be “HATS”.
I guess i don’t know now what i thought i knew then.
Yeah, something like that.
B
Ps: hats are like your children...you love em all, all the time, but sometimes you don’t like some of them.
B

In a similar vein...hats are like children: I do like some of them more than others. But unlike children with which I am stuck....I have sold hats I no longer loved.

 

[WonkyBloke]

Though we certainly deviate from it, the FL stands for the appreciation and preservation of the Golden Age. So most of us are quite enamored of the Old, whether it be clothing, lifestyles, machinery, cars, etc. This stuff gets our blood flowing, and gives us a different perspective.

Yes, I'm starting to appreciate that. I naively approached it as a hat forum, and only after joining did I discern that hats were just part of the gist of the forum. I certainly don't want to attempt to detract from that. Although, I'm sure back then, people had their hat equivalent of both their wellies and their spectators, with a work hat purely for function, and a smarter one for church/theatre/etc, which is what I was alluding to.

However, I appear to have hit a sore spot somehow, so I'll take a back seat and evaluate a while, as I don't want to detract from the forum with my own perspectives and interests, which are not necessarily of any particular era.

 

[SteveFord]

This year I think I'll go through the pile, see what fits well and sell off the remainder.
Then I read grey bowler (don't have one of those) and see that Stetson on the fence post and I guess I can sell off what doesn't fit well and buy more.
This is a very dangerous site!

 

[glider]

It's better if you don't really know how many hats you have. I am going to thin the herd some, but they will be replaced with others probably.

 

[dkstott]

It's okay. There's a lot of us lurkers here who like hats as utility & aren't interested in the collecting or bespoke attire aspect. ☺

Keep on trucking ✌

Yes, I'm starting to appreciate that. I naively approached it as a hat forum, and only after joining did I discern that hats were just part of the gist of the forum. I certainly don't want to attempt to detract from that. Although, I'm sure back then, people had their hat equivalent of both their wellies and their spectators, with a work hat purely for function, and a smarter one for church/theatre/etc, which is what I was alluding to.

However, I appear to have hit a sore spot somehow, so I'll take a back seat and evaluate a while, as I don't want to detract from the forum with my own perspectives and interests, which are not necessarily of any particular era.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Yes, I'm starting to appreciate that. I naively approached it as a hat forum, and only after joining did I discern that hats were just part of the gist of the forum. I certainly don't want to attempt to detract from that. Although, I'm sure back then, people had their hat equivalent of both their wellies and their spectators, with a work hat purely for function, and a smarter one for church/theatre/etc, which is what I was alluding to.

However, I appear to have hit a sore spot somehow, so I'll take a back seat and evaluate a while, as I don't want to detract from the forum with my own perspectives and interests, which are not necessarily of any particular era.

I can be judgmental and obstinate at times: forgive me if I’ve given any offense. This is a big tent community with room for all. Some love western hats, others derbies, and yet other groups go for caps and/or berets. We sometimes have overlapping interest, but there are some treads I never read because I don’t care about the subjects. I’m just saying that we don’t all have to agree on everything.

While the golden era is still where a lot of the focus is, over time this forum has evolved and continues to do so. Please don’t feel the need to censor yourself or not contribute just because you have a different perspective.

Brent

 

[belfastboy]

It's better if you don't really know how many hats you have. I am going to thin the herd some, but they will be replaced with others probably.

Yes, the prime reason for me selling a hat is that it then makes room to buy another.

 

[WonkyBloke]

I can be judgmental and obstinate at times: forgive me if I’ve given any offense. This is a big tent community with room for all. Some love western hats, others derbies, and yet other groups go for caps and/or berets. We sometimes have overlapping interest, but there are some treads I never read because I don’t care about the subjects. I’m just saying that we don’t all have to agree on everything.

While the golden era is still where a lot of the focus is, over time this forum has evolved and continues to do so. Please don’t feel the need to censor yourself or not contribute just because you have a different perspective.

Brent

No offence taken whatsoever, Brent. You've not come across badly at all.

It's just that as @Frunobulax pointed out, the forum isn't quite what I thought it was, and the fact he felt inclined to spell it out, suggests the misalignment of perspectives is quite clear to others. I don't want to be "that guy" and be ruffling feathers by always rowing in the opposite direction. On some forums, that can lend a healthy contrast, but I'm not sure it would be helpful and constructive here.

I'll not be refraining from participating altogether, just considering whether or not this is the right venue to share certain purchases or perspectives of mine. As to your earlier comments about vintage hats, I do take your point. Personally I prefer to get a warranty with my hat, and be supporting current manufacturers and retailers, but will put in the occasional lowball bid on the big auction site, and get the measure of fur felt with a preowned hat, before committing to buying a new one.

 

[Frunobulax]

No offence taken whatsoever, Brent. You've not come across badly at all.

It's just that as @Frunobulax pointed out, the forum isn't quite what I thought it was, and the fact he felt inclined to spell it out, suggests the misalignment of perspectives is quite clear to others. I don't want to be "that guy" and be ruffling feathers by always rowing in the opposite direction. On some forums, that can lend a healthy contrast, but I'm not sure it would be helpful and constructive here.

I'll not be refraining from participating altogether, just considering whether or not this is the right venue to share certain purchases or perspectives of mine. As to your earlier comments about vintage hats, I do take your point. Personally I prefer to get a warranty with my hat, and be supporting current manufacturers and retailers, but will put in the occasional lowball bid on the big auction site, and get the measure of fur felt with a preowned hat, before committing to buying a new one.

If you percieved a "sore spot" on my part, you are mistaken, and I didn't mean to come off that way. As Brent states, we welcome all comers. I was just trying to give you the perspective or mindset of most of the folks here, so you can weigh their opinions accordingly.

Personally, while I find the Golden Era interesting from many perspectives, I don't live there, and I certainly don't dress like it! I have just become enamored of hats, and vintage hats in particular.

Plus, I dig the old B&W photos.

 

[WonkyBloke]

If you percieved a "sore spot" on my part, you are mistaken, and I didn't mean to come off that way. As Brent states, we welcome all comers. I was just trying to give you the perspective or mindset of most of the folks here, so you can weigh their opinions accordingly.

Personally, while I find the Golden Era interesting from many perspectives, I don't live there, and I certainly don't dress like it! I have just become enamored of hats, and vintage hats in particular.

Plus, I dig the old B&W photos.

Understood and appreciated. I'll try to do my thing without rocking the boat. If I lean too far into the wind, someone give me a gentle nudge

 

[belfastboy]

Understood and appreciated. I'll try to do my thing without rocking the boat. If I lean too far into the wind, someone give me a gentle nudge

I think you perhaps exaggerate your effect. It takes a lot to 'rock the boat' in this community and having a differing perspective does not necessarily generally produce that result.....it is just a different perspective and that others are willing to share their perspective with you is just humans sharing their point of view and def not rocking any boat.

 

[Frunobulax]

Understood and appreciated. I'll try to do my thing without rocking the boat. If I lean too far into the wind, someone give me a gentle nudge

Not to worry. Our only rules are be nice and no politics.

 

[belfastboy]

Not to worry. Our only rules are be nice and no politics.

I question: Should it have been "effect" or "affect"....I can never get that straight.

 

[WonkyBloke]

I think you perhaps exaggerate your effect. It takes a lot to 'rock the boat' in this community and having a differing perspective does not necessarily generally produce that result.....it is just a different perspective and that others are willing to share their perspective with you is just humans sharing their point of view and def not rocking any boat.

Cool. I just don't wish to be misinterpretted as disrespectful if I don't follow prevailing trends here, and haven't gotten to know everyone here that well yet. Good to know dissenters are welcome too (j/k)

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Not to worry. Our only rules are be nice and no politics.

Googling “be nice” now.
Afraid to Google politics.
B

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Cool. I just don't wish to be misinterpretted as disrespectful if I don't follow prevailing trends here, and haven't gotten to know everyone here that well yet. Good to know dissenters are welcome too (j/k)

Wonky:
First, welcome to the lounge.
I think you are overthinking it all.
Just be you and you’ll be fine.
The trouble starts when people try to be someone they are not.
No matter the hat style, cost or whatever I enjoy watching the metamorphosis of the members no matter where they are in their cycle.
Caps...another story.
B