A fedora is a versatile hat. And if you are someone looking to buy a hat to pair with an outfit, buying a fedora will be the safest option. It can blend in well with any classic attire of your choice. You can never go wrong with creating a new look if you even have a minimal sense of style. But, before you commence to create the look that you desire, you must have some knowledge about this headgear. This article will guide you on how to purchase and wear one.
A fedora
Some people call a fedora the snap-brimmed hat because it has a brim that can be snapped. Last few decades, the fashion world has witnessed many variations of this hat form, but the original shape remains the same. It has a medium-to-wide brim and a teardrop-shaped crown with a dip in the middle. You usually get them in soft felt with a crown of four to six inches in height. The width of the brim varies between two and four inches. The fedora hat style is so famous and desirable among the gentlemen that its form has been conferred to other hats like the Panama hat made of woven straw.
Hat decoration
For decorating a fedora, hat makers often use a ribbon or a fabric band that rests at the base of the crown. Sometimes to emphasize the look more, a bow is added to it. This hatband can immensely alter the overall appearance of the fedora. A hatband with a broad ribbon confers a vintage appearance to it. But you will get a contemporary look if you replace it with a narrow band. Colored feathers are also used sometimes to adorn the hat. But this decoration is typically related to country pursuits, making your fedora hat more informal.
Hat materials
Although fedoras can be manufactured from a variety of materials, the first choice of millers is felt. It’s the most traditional option. Felt is a natural material composed of matted and compressed fibers. These fibers can be obtained from a number of sources like a rabbit, wool, or cashmere. But one thing you should keep in mind. Just like our dressing fabric quality varies with the price and requirement of the wearer, the same is true for a fedora (or any other hat). The best quality fedora is made with beaver or rabbit fur. They are highly priced because it is very soft yet possess a resilient nature. They are naturally resistant to water which makes them extremely functional. Depending on the season too, people choose the hat materials. Like mens summer fedora hats are available in straw with different braided designs.
Why a fedora is called a ‘fedora’?
The current usage of the term is very different from its historical usage. But the unfortunate thing is people have started referring to any men’s hat as a fedora hat, which portrays the general fall in wearing hats among men folks. In the 19th and 20th centuries, all men were compelled to wear a hat as there were strict dress codes that everyone followed. In the 1890s, the word “fedora” first appeared in a play named Fédora, in which the actress wore a soft-felted and creased hat. So, it appears that one of the most loved men’s hats was initially worn by a lady!
Tips for wearing a fedora today
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Pair them with jackets
Fedoras pair well with jackets. Therefore, you should search for something that has a distinct structure, is tailored, and possesses defining traits like a lapel and collar. An overcoat, sports coat, suit jacket, or a blazer can work.
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Stick to a classic appearance
Fedora has a retro look. So, it will sync in well with similar classic attire. Focus your search for the right choice of clothing like double-breasted jackets, collar bars, vests, and leather gloves in suitable hues.
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Opt for the right hat in the right season
A felt fedora can cause discomfort in the summer months as some days may get too hot. Winter time is apt for such a fedora, but if you want to flaunt this hat style in the summer, then a straw fedora hat is ideal.
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Wear only one – the fedora or the sunglass
In the cooler months, you will probably not need sunglass. But a fedora hat makes a bold statement. So, it’s best to choose one between any of them but not both.
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Refrain from the gangster look
As Hollywood depicted the iconic gangster of the 1920s and 1940s donning fedoras, you must avoid creating such a look (if you do not want it deliberately).
Conclusion
If you have decided to buy this statement hat then make sure you get the right size. Choosing neutral colors (shades of light brown, beige, gray) would be wise because such colors are more versatile. And lastly, buy the hat from a trustworthy hat seller.
