To Feather or Not to Feather?

A question to the forum: Do you place hat feathers in your fedora? I prefer to add a feather to the band in my hats except for my Akubra CD with the thin ribbon. I order feathers from Caliqo on Ebay and change them from time to time as a way of personalizing my fedoras.
What is your preference?

As you might imagine, it has been discussed before. Some of the other polls and threads are linked in this one. A Google search for <hat feathers fedora lounge> will turn up a gaggle more.

alanfgag said:

As you might imagine, it has been discussed before. Some of the other polls and threads are linked in this one. A Google search for <hat feathers fedora lounge> will turn up a gaggle more.

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Guess u don't like to talking abt hat feathers any more...?

Not at all, I am tickled by talk of feathers. It's just nice to revive existing threads when possible. Then we bring the wisdom of our forefathers into the conversation, along with new discussion.

Ah, Feathering, or "Pluming." to those of you who say "Aye" instead of "Yes." A practice that dates back to the days long before Modern Soft-Felt Pinched Hats (or "Fedoras"; not really a fan of the word) were worn, probably before the idea of a suit. In fact, non-Westerners put feathers in their headgear. In Guatemala, the quetzal's feather would have been, and still is, a prized item, by the Indians and Spanish. However, they would have been found on the ground rather than hunted (what kind of a monster would hunt them, anyway?).

Going back to hats, feathering seemed to have died during the days of Beau Brummel, when clothing became "practical" and much sleeker (in comparison to previous fashions; I dare you to keep your hands warm with extendable lace sleeves instead of gloves). Feathers didn't really experience a resurgence until the Interbellum, and the later Interbellum for "sporting" hats at that.

Of course, some communities continued to wear feathers, such as parts of Austria, Germany, and similar regions. For the most part, feathers became common in the Post-War Period, and were seen on the majority of hats made in the 1960s and the 1970s. Yes, good felt hats were made in the 1970s. Besides some of the velour and tweed hats (some of which are pretty nice), plenty of felt hats were made, but still had stingy brims like those made in the 1950s and the 1960s.

If you are going for a "period" look (excluding the later 1950s to the early 1980s), then nix on the feathers, unless if your hat is going to be worn with a sporting suit, such as a corduroy suit (no, they are not a late 1960s phenomenon) or an action-back suit. Or perhaps a sport coat. If you're indifferent to period fashions and just want to do what you want (within sartorial reasons, of course), then I'd suggest wearing the feather when a suit or coat is worn. It looks a bit off with casual (again, our definition) clothes.

Some hats look better that others with feathering. My Telescope Hat looks strange with one. A stiff-brim looks fine (in fact, I think "Tuxedo" hats were made with them; I found a squished Midnight-Blue Stiff-Brim at a Flea Market, and it had the remains of green, red, and blue feathers), and a hat with a taller pinched crown. I've always thought that they add a bit of panache to straw hats, excluding Sennits. Feathers don't seems to agree with Telescope Crowns.

-Quetzal

Thank you for the links. I am obviously not doing it right as I was not able to find these links using the "search" function. I thought it strange there was no previous thread on feathers.

The forum search tool is not very useful. Better to do a Google search in your browser... put in a few words and add "The Fedora Lounge." It generally makes quick work of hunting 15,000 threads and a half million posts.

alanfgag said:

Not at all, I am tickled by talk of feathers. It's just nice to revive existing threads when possible. Then we bring the wisdom of our forefathers into the conversation, along with new discussion.

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Tickled? Feathers? Intentional? Thx for sharing your reasoning. Was actually hoping to hear your opinion the easy way, without having to do a search.

I personally don't care for feathers and remove the ones that come on hats. Just a personal preference for me.

I could never put one on my own hat, but I do like the look of a feather on other people's hats, reminds me of an older look but I don't know if it was ever popular, I have seen many old photos of men in hats but didn't notice any with feathers.

My niece found a cardinal feather last summer and I put it in my Open Road. but normally feathers aren't for me

Here is how the vote went in 2010.

You just dont want to over-do it

I agree with what Quetzel said above about the panache of feathers, particularly on straw hats. It'll be a feather in your cap, as the saying goes. It's even nicer when it's personalized, as with Tommyk's. Why not?

The only hat I've ever left a feather on was my 1960s-era Resistol Kitten Finish:



Darned if I know why. Other hats I bought new in the 1990s came with feathers, and I discarded 'em right away. But it just seems right on the KF. Possibly because the feather is not very bright, and doesn't contrast with the hat very much.

I do have to say that some feathers go nice. Overdoing it with hatbands made with feathers is in my point of view wrong but some people seem to like them. All hats I got with hatbands made of feathers were promptly removed. Gave those to my sister that seemed to like them not in hats. Some of my hats kept their feathers others not.

Most of my hats have the feather removed. However, a modern Whippet I have looks great with the feather it came with it. I left it in as a result.

Hat Dandy said:

Most of my hats have the feather removed. However, a modern Whippet I have looks great with the feather it came with it. I left it in as a result.

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Feather in my Whippet also. One of the few.

Generally speaking, I don't care for hats with feathers. However, I have seen some hats that looked good with a feather or two, i.e. just the right feather(s) on just the right hat on just the right wearer, so I wouldn't rule it out completely. It's really nothing more than a matter of personal taste.

I like feathers in some of my straw hats.