Hat recommendation for a 30's Halfbelt Jacket

[Joel Shapiro]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but a long-time lurker in the outerwear section (horsehide leather jackets). I ordered a reproduction of a 1930's Sears Hercules posted elsewhere on FL and need a hat to go with it. Since I'm no expert on hats, I figured I'd ask the real experts. Here is the original jacket. Mine will be identical to this one, only in chocolate brown horsehide rather than black horsehide. The period is 1930's and the look is street casual. Thank you.

http://rivet-head.blogspot.com/2010/...half-belt.html

[Joshbru3]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but a long-time lurker in the outerwear section (horsehide leather jackets). I ordered a reproduction of a 1930's Sears Hercules posted elsewhere on FL and need a hat to go with it. Since I'm no expert on hats, I figured I'd ask the real experts. Here is the original jacket. Mine will be identical to this one, only in chocolate brown horsehide rather than black horsehide. The period is 1930's and the look is street casual. Thank you.

http://rivet-head.blogspot.com/2010/...half-belt.html

Well if your keeping the look casual, I would go with a newsboy/flatcap in a color that possibly matches the jacket, or a nice darker tweed. If you wanna step up the casual/bit dressier factor, I would go with a thin ribbon fedora with a high crown and maybe a 2 1/4-2 3/8 inch brim. But the kind of hat that I would wear with that jacket would be a brown fedora with a 5+ inch crown, center dent, wide front pinches, wide black 2+ inch band, and 2 3/8-2 1/2 inch brim. If you wanna get a bit flashier, a tan fedora with a brown ribbon in the same dimensions that I stated before.

[gtdean48]

Akubra Federation IV in Moonstone or Campdraft in Glen Grey...JMHO

and Welcome to the Lounge.... you have to buy the next round you know....

[zetwal]

You will get plenty of suggestions (opinion) from others.

All I can add is this, Welcome, Joel ... !

[Sam Craig]

Look at the tall crown, narrow brim fedoras that Cagney wore in the 30s.
It's a great look, and you can achieve it by narrowing the brim of many fur felt fedoras available today ... or you can have one custom made.

Welcome!

Sam

[monbla256]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but a long-time lurker in the outerwear section (horsehide leather jackets). I ordered a reproduction of a 1930's Sears Hercules posted elsewhere on FL and need a hat to go with it. Since I'm no expert on hats, I figured I'd ask the real experts. Here is the original jacket. Mine will be identical to this one, only in chocolate brown horsehide rather than black horsehide. The period is 1930's and the look is street casual. Thank you.

http://rivet-head.blogspot.com/2010/...half-belt.html

With a jacket like that just about ANY good quality fur felt Fedora hat would work! I'd stay away from the more modern stingy brimmed ones though at least nothing under 2.25" . As to color, Brown works with a wide range of hat colors, from greys, browns, tans and blacks. Modern or vintage really does not matter as long as you LIKE it as it will take on it's "attitude" like the jacket the longer you wear it

[Joel Shapiro]

Thanks, guys, for the suggestions as well as the warm welcome. It makes me feel good knowing there are people out there like me who are into this stuff. For your info, I also am a dedicated swing dancer, and if you're interested in 30's/40's vintage lifestyle, you should learn how to swing dance. It was the popular form of dancing in its day and just as much fun today as it was then.

Josh, do you have a hat in mind that meets your specifications? I am researching fur felt fedoras, including the Cagney one. Thanks again.

I also have a black vintage horsehide motorcycle jacket coming and I'll need a hat for that. Probably something like Brando wore in Wild One.

[Joel Shapiro]

Here's a Stetson hat. Is this like what you guys are talking about?

http://www.delmonicohatter.com/Merch...&Store_Code=DH

[Joel Shapiro]

And another Stetson:

http://www.dadshats.com/helhirosn2.html

[hatophile]

Joel,

You may have to go vintage in a hat to get the right proportions. Otherwise, I think a tawny
Akubra Federation IV would go with that jacket quite nicely. Most modern hats tend to be lower brimmed with more tapered crowns. Another possibility would be the Stetson Nostalgia, it has a little higher brim, I believe.