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Wearing my Fedora for the first time any advice

dmdmorris

One of the Regulars
Messages
292
Location
NJ
I've ordered a very nice Indy Fedora. I really love the hat.

I have never worn a hat other than a baseball cap, and plan to wear the Fedora as my standard go to lid.

My concern is the reaction I'm going to get.

Any advice/comments would be appreciated.

At onetime, everyone here donned their Fedora for the first time in public and I'm quite sure with a little trepidation.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
 

jbucklin

Practically Family
Messages
977
Location
Dallas, TX
Wear it while at home as much as you can. Look at yourself frequently, with hat on, in the mirror. Take pictures of yourself and post them here.

I do remember feeling a bit self-conscious at first---especially with hats with wider brims and taller, straighter crowns. Most of the reactions I got were very encouraging. Now everyone is so used to seeing me wearing a hat, they get upset when I don't!
 

cybergentleman

A-List Customer
Messages
331
Location
New Jersey
Just act normal. if you act nervous or walk around like you are in costume then you will feel that people are judging you. Ultimately, hats are practical, and I think, most people wish they owned one, they just don't have access to good hats and this is partly why people are not wearing them these days. ...That is my suspicion.
 

TipTop

Practically Family
Messages
540
Location
Albany, NY
Wear it with confidence, and folks will respond positively. Mostly, wear it because it pleases you! ;)
Amen, don't be watching for people to be looking at you. I strode into the supermarket with my Rand Back Country for the first time and felt (and saw) people look up and stare--not intentionally, but in admiring ways. I'm 6'3" WITHOUT the hat, so I do sort of stand out. But I found as I was poking around, people were smiling back, and finally two, not one, checkout gals said--with sincerity--that they liked my hat. i thanked them for an appreciated "positive review on its first outing"...and they again agreed that it "looked real good."

They may have laughed themselves into the cash drawer after I left, but I felt good--and comfortable.:eusa_clap

Also, as mentioned, wear it around the house, walking the dogs, putting out the trash, moving the car,(especially good to practice in and out if you have a smaller car cabin) whatever. Point is BOTH you and it will conform better and grow accustomed to the shade and rain/snow protection it so sensibly offers.

And if anyone really questions you (they won't except maybe a jocular friend), I always say that I have finally "outgrown" baseball caps--and you're glad that you did; and leave it at that--for them to figure out.
 
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Destinys Agent

Familiar Face
Messages
60
Location
Bexley, Kent, UK
...everyone here donned their Fedora for the first time in public and I'm quite sure with a little trepidation.

Actually, I'm a fedora virgin too. I've just got my Jaxon C Crown to fit properly today and I intend to wear it out for the first time very soon. Just gotta pick the right time to dress up a bit.

Good luck!
 

99benzman

New in Town
Messages
29
Location
USA
You picked a good style and color that is versatile. That hat can go with business casual or blue jeans. When you start getting into black cherry, red and other colors of the sort you are more limited on what you can wear. With that said, a nice ensomble topped with a matching fedora is a really nice look also. I like the neutral earth tones because you have more options to wear it.

Bottom line...wear it all the time. People will start to expect a hat one you.
 

Dubya

One of the Regulars
Messages
220
Location
Kent, England
Actually, I'm a fedora virgin too. I've just got my Jaxon C Crown to fit properly today and I intend to wear it out for the first time very soon. Just gotta pick the right time to dress up a bit.

Good luck!

Any time is the right time to wear a hat Old Boy! I too have a Jaxton crushable C crown fedora (two in fact!), and I wear them at any time.............except when it's Boater time!!..............or Newsboy cap time...................Ahem!! :D
You will get comments, especially from those who know you, because they will not be used to seeing you in a hat. But, there will come a time where they will comment when you're NOT wearing one!! Trust me. ;)
 

dmdmorris

One of the Regulars
Messages
292
Location
NJ
Great advice please keep it coming! Also, the hat is being made as we speak, I will post pics as soon as it arrives.
 

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,958
Location
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
Hell, I always stood out anyway as an American Metis (Mestizo, Melungeon, Brass Ankle, Sumter Turk, Lumbee, Red Bone, Sabine or what ever geographic variant have you...) in the strictly bifurcated world of the post Brown vs Board mid 2o'th Century American South, as I fit no neat pigeon-hole.
In my experience, belligerence is always an option. ;) But enough about me.

As to the OP:
Women love the confidence it exemplifies & men wish they had the stones.

Shoulders back, chest out, stand tall & brook shite from no man. And know; when teenage girls (of all ages, to about age 7o :p) giggle (as well as some of the fellas :eusa_doh:), it is a spontaneous & uncalculated (& largely unconscious) form of releasing sexual tension, no matter what it may feel like to the recipient- be flattered.
 
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St. Valentine

A-List Customer
Messages
433
Location
Germany
I always get Indy comments from my colleagues and friends when I wear a Fedora but what the heck - you got to have a defiant attitude about it. As Rick wrote: Most of the guys would love to wear a hat too but they don´t have the cojones. ;) Just be your obstinate self and go for it! :cool:

Frank
 

juggles

New in Town
Messages
30
Location
Lexington, KY
I'd try wearing it for some small errand -- a quick run to the grocery store or picking up the dry cleaning -- just to get used to the idea of having it on your head in public.
Also, realize that hat racks are not as common as they once were, so you may find yourself putting it under your chair at a restaurant and then you need to remember to pick it up when you leave.
 

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