A new game called "What color is this hat?"

[Brad Bowers]

I need some help deciding what color a particular hat is, from those that have far more experience with vintage hats than I (which is probably everyone, since my experience is next to none).

These screen captures, with mucho thanks for Zohar's help, come from a cheap DVD version of "My Man Godfrey," a 1936 film starring William Powell and Carole Lombard. (She's cute, but if she's anything like her character, I can see why they divorced! )

Anyway, I like the hat Powell wears in this movie, and in a couple of the "Thin Man" movies, too, and I'd like to find one similar, though with a larger brim. I can't quite figure out what color it might have been. It looks almost white compared to the other hats in the photos. I know the film print quality has a lot to do with the way it looks, but it sure looks lighter than a gray. My guess was pearl, but I don't know for sure. It also looks like it has either a Cavanagh edge, or maybe just an overwelt.

http://public.fotki.com/jbbowers/fedoras/godfrey1.html

http://public.fotki.com/jbbowers/fedoras/godfrey2.html

http://public.fotki.com/jbbowers/fedoras/godfrey3.html

He must've liked that color. He wears a similar hat in "The Kennel Murder Case," only the ribbon is a silver color, or something like it.

Any ideas on the color?

Thanks, folks.

Brad Bowers

 

[Art Fawcett]

Brad, since the camera tends to lighten colors I would guess either light pearl or very light tan. I haven't seen too many light pearl lids with a very dark ribbon like this one so my first instinct would be a pale tan with dark brown ribbon.
Also, the brim idge is to crisp to be a Cav so I think it's an overwelt edge. Note the shadow line on the brim...

 

[Brad Bowers]

Light tan, interesting. I had wondered if there were hats made in a cream color, and pale tan would be similar.

Thanks, Art!

Brad Bowers

 

[havershaw]

I have a couple of cream-colored hats. Could be one like this:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid128/peb74f1f66bcec2789f89737b296c7103/f7e0fdff.jpg[/IMG]

There photos are actually a little dark. It's the same hat I have on in my avatar.

Also, if you're a big fan of My Man Godfrey (which I haven't yet gotten around to seeing, but I really want to) there are a couple of different versions of it on DVD. Most of 'em have kind of crummy-looking prints. This one is supposed to be nearly flawless:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...ref=sr_1_1/002-5551307-3460827?v=glance&s=dvd

(That's actually why I haven't seen it yet - I'm waiting to buy this version, which, as you can see, is a little more expensive.)

Also, in quite a few of my old catalogues, I've seen 'pearl grey' listed as a color for every hat, as well as 'medium grey' and 'dark grey.' Could be one of those.