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What was your first fedora?

Uhu

Familiar Face
Messages
57
Location
NY
A Bollman I got at JC Penneys around 1984. As a classic movie / car fan, I had always wanted a "real" fedora, and it was on sale for $15 or so, just within my kid budget. But I never felt good wearing it, never looked right on me. At the time, I assumed it was because I had a young kid's face, and I needed an old face to pull it off. So I waited 30 years to give fedoras another try. Sadly, I now realize the Bollman only looked lousy on me because it was a modernized style with very tapered sides that just don't look the part, so thanks to that crummy 80s vintage Bollman, I missed out on prime years of hat wearing. I still have it though, looks truly awful side by side with a vintage hat! Dumb kid I was. Whenever I see it, I think how many other guys have been put off wearing fedoras because of poor department store experiences like mine!
 
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Messages
10,586
Location
Boston area
A Lee private label for Nate's Mens Store, NOS from circa 1949, purchased new from Nates in 1972. Originally priced at $16, the renovation sale at the time of my purchase allowed me to buy it for $8. I should have grabbed the brown one, too, but was on a high school budget at the time.

It's the one in my avatar. Sure, I still have it, still wear it.
 
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Messages
10,586
Location
Boston area
Well, my first was a Panama I picked up in San Juan a few years ago. I picked it up at a shop called Ole's. I can't find a photo of it right now and it's packed away.

My first fur felt was a Selentino Sterling I bought from Gus Miller at Batsakes in Cincinnati. I don't wear it as much now, but it still has an honored place in my dining room to hang.

View attachment 70492

This lid really does look great on you!
 

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