self-concious in my fedora

[aldocello]

About 12 years ago I was playing in an informal bluegrass band. I bought myself an Open Road to emulate the players of old like Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, etc. I wore my new hat to a party we were playing at and our bass player practically laughed me out of the place and said I looked like a bad Southern sheriff. Needless to say I was embarassed. I let that Open Road sit in the closet for a few years and everytime I looked at it my face turned bright red. I finally gave it to the Goodwill (somebody got themselves a heck of a deal, I'm sure).

I just bought myself a Dobbs OR clone on ebay and I've worn it out a few times, but I have to admit I'm very self-conscious about wearing a hat. Has anybody else had experiences like this?

[Matt Deckard]

You're gonna be... it depends on if the hat suits you and if you can get used to the hat.

If it totally stands out as awkward on you you just can't fix that... yet if you know it's your look, then wear it and wear it and wear it.

Hats with larger brims are still a bit anachronistic today and people see them as an affectation. Cowboy hats can pass and so can stingy brims, though hats that look as though they stepped out of a movie from the 40's will always sign you up for the retro club because they haven't really ever come back into the public consciousness as a regular hat... a fashion item or a utility item. They are still in a way costume. They can leap from costume with confidence. If you think it works, just keep wearing it till everyone else agrees.

[Dewhurst]

I can't say that I have ever felt self-conscious in the "out of place" fashion. I feel good wearing a hat, especially a fedora. Then again, I am a bit of a Stoic, and the opinions of others matters about as much to me as the opinion of a pebble stuck between two treads in my shoes.

I may have an unfair advantage.

Having grown up in a family that wears hats (I'm the only obsessive one, though), they just seem right to me.

Perhaps you could try to simplify your thoughts, and do your best to eradicate those memories that are embarassing. Try to wear the hat around the house all the time and check yourself out in the mirror until you get used to it?

Familiarity may engender confidence.

(I wore a bucket hat in middle school because I thought it was cool. I have no shame. None whatsoever.)

[Scrateshooter]

I just started wearing a fedora here in Tucson. I always wore felt and straw Resistols growing up in N.E. Texas. People haven't made fun of me yet. In the last three days of wearing it I have noticed women like to look at men in hats. I dress in a way that the hat doesn't stick out (only while wearing a jacket like a Navy bomber or a safari jacket). Most people wear mohawks or whatnot to look "different". A hat is practical.

Also I spent 7 years in the Marines/Army and if you were outside you had a cover on, so that made it feel natural. I actually heard a young women say something under her breath that reminded me of when I was younger and saw a buxom redhead.

[abduktedtemplar]

the other reply was right. wear it around the house to get used to it and check yourself out in the mirror with it on. the key to pulling off any clothing or accessory is to own it. it takes chutzpa to to bring something different to the table. brush off any negative comments you get because anybody that gives them is a tasteless oaf that wouldn't know style if it bit him in the rear. make sure you keep your head up. if it helps, strut and fake it till it feels right.

[metropd]

About 12 years ago I was playing in an informal bluegrass band. I bought myself an Open Road to emulate the players of old like Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, etc. I wore my new hat to a party we were playing at and our bass player practically laughed me out of the place and said I looked like a bad Southern sheriff. Needless to say I was embarassed. I let that Open Road sit in the closet for a few years and everytime I looked at it my face turned bright red. I finally gave it to the Goodwill (somebody got themselves a heck of a deal, I'm sure).

I just bought myself a Dobbs OR clone on ebay and I've worn it out a few times, but I have to admit I'm very self-conscious about wearing a hat. Has anybody else had experiences like this?

No. I am sorry maybe wear it around the house for a week and then go outside?

[UWS Cowboy]

While I agree with everyone who may say wear a hat with confidence, it can definitely be difficult until you get used to it. I have also felt self conscious with my federation, but a lot of it had to do with my slim figure and the wide brim. I trimmed the brim, now it's fine. Another BIG factor is clothing. I try to dress casual with my hat. I wear jeans, wool blazer, leather jacket, sometimes dressier pants. If I'm going to wear a hoodie on some days I won't wear a fedora, at least a wide brimmed fedora. I do think anything 2 inches or under is fine with a hoodie, even if it's not the best look. A t shirt of course, is fine. So really find a hat that suits you proportionately, and try to wear clothes that look good with it.

[Nick D]

I feel self-consious if I leave the house without my hat.

Wear it around the house, wear it out to mundane things like running to the corner store for a gallon of milk. Eventually you'll build up the confidence to wear it generally.

[4and1]

I believe you'll always be self-conscious, to some degree, in a hat that is outside the norm. But, if you look around at what is considered normal these days you'll see it sets you apart in a good way (given, of course, it's a good lookin' hat).
If you're sportin' a wide brim with a high crown you may have to up the swagger a notch. Say what you mean, mean what you say, but always be polite and considerate. Then you'll be conscious that you're a good man in a sharp hat. Run with it!

[seed]

I think Mr. Deckard and 4and1 hit the nail on the head, if you'll pardon the cliche. Adding to what they said, to pull off a wider brim hat it is my opinion that you need to wear the clothes to go with it. I mean you better dress pretty damned sharp (nice suit and tie OR some sort of combo of which adding the hat noticeably contributes to the aesthetics of your outfit...like a nice overcoat).

But to be safe, or more accurately so that you feel more comfortable and confident, you may want to start with a stingy brim, low crown in a color which goes with a lot of nice clothes you own or plan to soon own (brown or gray (hats), leaning towards darker shades). And this may sound silly, but you might consider flipping the brim up rather than snapping it down.

I myself am 38, though in my line of work where I am around tons of early 20-somethings, and because I take care of myself a lot of people are surprised to hear that I am that old. So if anyone gives me grief (very rare), I tell them my age and that I am a full on adult and will do and wear what the hell ever I want. I'm not a kid anymore. That removes any nonsense of me "trying". Confidence is key. But you can still look silly, so good taste is important.