My poor boyfriend has a narrow head and looks weird in a fedora.

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

He has tried on hundreds of hats, and they all look ridiculous on him. Does anyone have suggestions/links/pictures that might help me?

 

[Story]

Get a new boyfriend?

 

[scotrace]

Welcome to The Fedora Lounge Miss Bella.

What kinds of hats has he tried? There is a hat style and shape for every head. Crown height, brim width, ribbon, shape, all make a difference. Any guy will look like a doofus in the wrong hat.

Good gracious, I hope he never comes here. He'll die of embarrassment.

"You think I'm a hatchet head?"

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

He knows he looks dumb in the hats he's tried! I am a very honest girl. Anyway we tried pretty much every hat at a My Baby Jo booth at Viva, here are all the available styles:

http://www.mybabyjo.com/hats01.htm

He likes the Fedoras, doesn't like the Porkpies or the Fedoras without a pinch. Doesn't like the Panamas either. He likes the Philadelphias too but those look huge on him.

Here's a link to a picture of him, if it helps/if the link works.

<url>http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...&MyToken=78e514a2-7236-4edc-a30c-8fa738bbaeb5
</url>

 

[RedPop4]

Whoa.
Nice site and great prices on those hats. I'm very frugal, however, if he's really set on a fedora, you may have to bite the bullet and get a custom-made hat. That may be your only option to get a good hat that fits with his features.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

How much do custom ones tend to go for? Several hundred I assume?

 

[RedPop4]

From what I've read here, yes. It's a great investment which should last a lifetime; I understand that, and one day hope to take the plunge, too. But that's years down the line for me. MrsRedPop4 gives me grief with nearly every hat I acquire, and is only placated when I tell her how little I spent....last hat cost me under $9 plus shipping.

 

[Magus]

He knows he looks dumb in the hats he's tried! I am a very honest girl. Anyway we tried pretty much every hat at a My Baby Jo booth at Viva, here are all the available styles:

http://www.mybabyjo.com/hats01.htm

He likes the Fedoras, doesn't like the Porkpies or the Fedoras without a pinch. Doesn't like the Panamas either. He likes the Philadelphias too but those look huge on him.

Here's a link to a picture of him, if it helps/if the link works.
QUOTE]

Hey there Miss,

The picture link for him is broken. I am 6'3" 180 and have a oval face. Because of this I look better in hats without a serious pinch....and that have a lower crown. (Not that I dont own and wear others ;-) ) Though he dosn't lean towards the Porkpie, have you tried that on him? Perhaps ones that have a slightly larger brim (2 1/4") You might want to try a hat with a "C" blocking and lacking a hard pinch, similar to the "Grey Fedora - No Pinch" at the site you listed. Beyond that, just try to generally stay away from a crown that elongates the look of his face.

Good luck...and post some mor pics of you two so we can get a better idea of whats up.

Take care and Welcome,

M

 

[Pilgrim]

How about another shot of the boyfriend? The account has been deleted at the link posted.

I suspect that a substantial part of his deciding on a style that works is him simply getting used to wearing a hat. It's surprising how much of looking good in a hat is the wearer's comfort with it. If you are not comfortable with the hat, you will look different. Once you've gotten used to wearing one and are comfortable with it, you actually look better in it!

I've seen more than one hat selection chart quoted - here's one that I FINALLY found that will help you!

http://www.felthats.com/hats_info/style.html

I rather suspect that he will look good in a stingy brim (under 2" wide) hat, possibly with the brim turned up all around, jazz musician style.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

I can't link to the foolish picture here from work because MySpace is blocked, darn it.

Well, if anyone cares to look, he's the drummer from the CobraMatics out of Providence. I am sure there are pictures somewhere. But he is 6'1", about 180 lbs.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

A solution! That's him in the picture


<---

 

[Magus]

Ok....got it...I have a hat that I think might
look perfect on him...Stingy but with a more rounded crown...not porkpie....and a medium brim....its at home though.....hmmmm....thinking....AH! It isn't for sale...lol....Would you be so kind as to post that picture of the two of you in a post rather than as your icon? Later this evening I will offer some possibilities for you.

Thanks
M

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

i don't know if i am able to post pictures from my hard drive onto the forum.
i can email it to you though.

 

[Johnnysan]

I can't link to the foolish picture here from work because MySpace is blocked, darn it.

Well, if anyone cares to look, he's the drummer from the CobraMatics out of Providence. I am sure there are pictures somewhere. But he is 6'1", about 180 lbs.

Photo posted as a courtesy!

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

thank you! i don't have special priveleges like "photo posting capability".

 

[Mike in Seattle]

Could it simply be that you and he aren't used to seeing him in a hat and rushing to judgment a little prematurely? It often takes a little time to get used to wearing some types of hats and develop a some confidence about it. It might be you're picking up on the unsure-and-uncomfortable-vibe he's unconsciously putting out.

It could also be the hats he's tried so far don't fit him properly. I can't remember the term, but there is one in hat parlance for narrower heads. I'm wracking my brain and I think it's called "long oval" but I could be wrong. The hat's tight back-to-front but with airspace at the sides and it wobbles. Sometimes they can stretch the hat to fix that. At least with me, it takes wearing a new hat awhile before it's broken in and shaped itself to my head.

But what I would try is going to a good hat store and see what they suggest.

 

[Pilgrim]

According to the hat reference I cited earlier, here's what to look for when a gent has a long, slender face:

An individual with a long slender face could wear a tapered, moderate height crown to make a hat seem part of the face. Fairly wide hat band cuts down apparent height from base to top of crown, unless low crown is used. A moderate width brim is recommended, also a full snapped brim, or a well rolled brim. A brim that is too wide would submerge the person's face. If the brim is too narrow or too flat it would emphasize long high lines. Give the hat a side tilt, and a slight back tilt. Avoid crowns that are too high, too full or square crown. Avoid particularly the wide, turned-up brim and ones too wide or too narrow.

Based on this, I'd say: A hat with a 4-4.5" crown, 2" ribbon, and perhaps a 2" brim would be just about right. When I think moderate brim, I'm thinking right at 2". It seems to me that with his long face, you can't go too short on the crown or it will look out of proportion.

Also - a long oval is an internal measurement, not a style. Long oval heads are less round and longer front to back. There are a lot of us long ovals around!

 

[Johnnysan]

Good features...long, narrow face, strong chin, high forehead. I gotta believe that a Stratoliner or Dobbs Westward would look good on him. Especially with the right tilt on the brim AND that tie!

 

[Kentucky Blues]

Could it simply be that you and he aren't used to seeing him in a hat and rushing to judgment a little prematurely? It often takes a little time to get used to wearing some types of hats and develop a some confidence about it. It might be you're picking up on the unsure-and-uncomfortable-vibe he's unconsciously putting out.

I agree with this possibility, and something you might try (provided you haven't done it yet) would be to have him try some hats on again, and look at him from a distance. This might allow you to see how the hat looks on him, rather than how the hat looks on his head, if that makes any sense. From the looks of things, I'd say he'd look good in a mid height crown, and a 2.5" brim, thin felt. Also, tilting the hat could affect how good it looks on him. Hope these suggestions help

 

[Mike K.]

I agree with SCOTRACE...

There's a hat for every head size and shape. Personally, I need something with a brim between 2.5 and 3 inches wide for my narrow face. Perhaps the answer is a custom hat as mentioned earlier. Couldn't the brim be made oval rather than round, i.e. shorter on the sides and wider front/back? That might work on a narrow head & frame. Try wearing the brim snapped up in back versus down. Also, has he tried wearing the hats at different angles? Maybe cock the hat a little to one side instead of wearing it square on the head. [huh]
-Mike