new akubra federation

Richard · May 3, 2005

So I got this new hat from Australia. The Akubra Federation. Hatsdirect.com, quick ship, good price. This is the first fedora I have ever owned. It comes open crowned. I opened the box and had to put it on immediately. My wife, my 9, 6 and 2 year old saw me with the open crown hat and suddenly, the house was filled with hysterical laughter. Oh yes, this was all highly amusing. "You look like Mr. Peabody", says the 9 year old. I'm not sure exactly who Mr. Peabody is, but I don't think it meant I look really cool. Even the 2 year old was laughing, but not really at the hat, just because everyone else was laughing, and he didn't want to miss the party. Luckily, I am not easily swayed by popular opinion. Since we had to do some errands, and I was so enthralled by my new felt, I wore it open crowned in the minivan with all these realtives who couldn't stop giggling whenever they looked at me. I felt pretty sporty, actually. Later that night, I did my best attempt over some steam to bash the hat. I did OK, lost patience after about 20 minutes, and left it as it was, maybe i'll come back to it later. It's got a basic bash in there, and some dents,a dn it looks more or less like a hat. Not as peabody like, i expect. My kids were asleep by this time, so i didn't have time to check on my relative Peabodiness. My wife wanted to take photos of me steaming my hat, but i refused, because she was still laughing too hard at me, and I did feel a litle weird hold my hat over steam. After my handiwork was done, I wore it for her review. She wasn't laughing, but she wasn't overwhelmed by the great job i'd done. She just sort of screwed up her face and said, well it's kind of big. It is kind of a tall hat, I do admit that, I stared at myself in the mirror for 5 minutes or so and thought, yes, it's kind of tall. But when I step back and look at myself in a full length mirror, it's not as weird looking as just looking at my head with hat in the bathroom mirror. Conclusion; my wife can only look upon me from a great distance. So then I decided to test the hat with a walk out of doors. I went to walk the dog in the park, this was about a 45 minute adventure, with the hat. It was a touch chilly, not very, but the hat was a welcome addition. I felt very very sporty in my hat, exceptionally sporty, jaunty, intrepid even, and thought, I could wear this hat all the time. Even if people occasionally burt out laughing. It was dark out and no one was around, so I don't know if it is just loved ones who will break out into uncontrolled bursts of laughter, or the population at large, too. The hat feels comfortable, I really like the brown color and although I have no grounds for comparison, I feel like this is probably a good value hat.

Matt Deckard · May 3, 2005

You see, that's what hat wearing is all about. It's not just a utility piece, it is an addition to your personna. I wear a hat everyday and sometimes forget that it is an oddity in modern times. Congratulations on your new hat and keep us abreast of it's adventures.

SHARPETOYS · May 3, 2005

More to follow!!

Richard said:
So I got this new hat from Australia. The Akubra Federation. Hatsdirect.com, quick ship, good price. This is the first fedora I have ever owned. It comes open crowned. I opened the box and had to put it on immediately. My wife, my 9, 6 and 2 year old saw me with the open crown hat and suddenly, the house was filled with hysterical laughter. Oh yes, this was all highly amusing. "You look like Mr. Peabody", says the 9 year old. I'm not sure exactly who Mr. Peabody is, but I don't think it meant I look really cool. Even the 2 year old was laughing, but not really at the hat, just because everyone else was laughing, and he didn't want to miss the party. Luckily, I am not easily swayed by popular opinion. Since we had to do some errands, and I was so enthralled by my new felt, I wore it open crowned in the minivan with all these realtives who couldn't stop giggling whenever they looked at me. I felt pretty sporty, actually. Later that night, I did my best attempt over some steam to bash the hat. I did OK, lost patience after about 20 minutes, and left it as it was, maybe i'll come back to it later. It's got a basic bash in there, and some dents,a dn it looks more or less like a hat. Not as peabody like, i expect. My kids were asleep by this time, so i didn't have time to check on my relative Peabodiness. My wife wanted to take photos of me steaming my hat, but i refused, because she was still laughing too hard at me, and I did feel a litle weird hold my hat over steam. After my handiwork was done, I wore it for her review. She wasn't laughing, but she wasn't overwhelmed by the great job i'd done. She just sort of screwed up her face and said, well it's kind of big. It is kind of a tall hat, I do admit that, I stared at myself in the mirror for 5 minutes or so and thought, yes, it's kind of tall. But when I step back and look at myself in a full length mirror, it's not as weird looking as just looking at my head with hat in the bathroom mirror. Conclusion; my wife can only look upon me from a great distance. So then I decided to test the hat with a walk out of doors. I went to walk the dog in the park, this was about a 45 minute adventure, with the hat. It was a touch chilly, not very, but the hat was a welcome addition. I felt very very sporty in my hat, exceptionally sporty, jaunty, intrepid even, and thought, I could wear this hat all the time. Even if people occasionally burt out laughing. It was dark out and no one was around, so I don't know if it is just loved ones who will break out into uncontrolled bursts of laughter, or the population at large, too. The hat feels comfortable, I really like the brown color and although I have no grounds for comparison, I feel like this is probably a good value hat.

Welcome and you did good on your first Fedora. I will promise you by this time next year you will have several more!! :cool2:

I wear one all the time and if I don't people now ask me where is your hat? If I have one own they say is that a New one?

If it makes you feel good about yourself, I'd say thats a good thing.

Regards,

Sharpey

English Bob · May 3, 2005

Let them laugh

I know how you feel, my teenage kids won't be seen in public with me in a hat. They are embarrassed but then I don't like what they wear either sometimes. Each to his own. Congrats on your new federation. When I got mine last year I bashed it without steaming which is what Hatsdirect recommended. If you are not happy with it see http://www.hatsdirect.com/hat-info/shaping.html .
Incidentally I have just found out that my Federation may be cut incorrectly. It should have a dimensional cut brim, (narrower at sides) see thread entitled Akubra Federation Dimensions posted by Lance (sorry I don't know how to link a thread). Could you measure yours around the brim to confirm if mine is wrong.
Thanks
Ebob

SHARPETOYS · May 3, 2005

My size 59 Akubra Federation Deluxe

English Bob said:
I know how you feel, my teenage kids won't be seen in public with me in a hat. They are embarrassed but then I don't like what they wear either sometimes. Each to his own. Congrats on your new federation. When I got mine last year I bashed it without steaming which is what Hatsdirect recommended. If you are not happy with it see http://www.hatsdirect.com/hat-info/shaping.html .
Incidentally I have just found out that my Federation may be cut incorrectly. It should have a dimensional cut brim, (narrower at sides) see thread entitled Akubra Federation Dimensions posted by Lance (sorry I don't know how to link a thread). Could you measure yours around the brim to confirm if mine is wrong.
Thanks
Ebob

Here is your link http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?p=31300#post31300

I just checked mine. The Federation is a size 59cm. The front is 2.75 the rear is 2.68 the sides are 2.52. Height of the crown unblocked is 6 .00

Just send Ron a Email link The Lounge post. I bet he will take care of it or you could just cut it yourself??

Sharpey

binkmeisterRick · May 3, 2005

Richard, congrats on your Akubra! Yes, they do look a bit funny on a fellow unbashed, but I love how you wore it around that way for a while just to keep everyone giggling. I have a Federation I bought over a year ago, and while I like good vintage hats and own hats with varying degrees of quality, I think the Akubra is a great value in a hat, especially if it's your first fedora. You get a solid fedora for a good price, and that's always a good thing! What's more, it's a fur felt and not a wool felt, which means it'll hold up better to the elements and just waer better over time. I'd love to see pics of your bash!

bink

wemedge · May 3, 2005

Congratulations, Richard, enjoy your new hat. The Federation is a simple, sturdy hat. Good value for the price.

After awhile you will automatically reach for your hat when going outside. I wear my Federation every day. I don't feel completely dressed without it anymore.

It is a tall hat, as you've noticed. At first it feels very strange. When I wore it open-crowned for the first time and even after the initial bash, I had my reservations about wearing the hat in public. However, it settles in nicely and quickly feels very natural.

Occasionally you will get comments/looks, etc., from total strangers, some not-so-nice. It bothered me initially, but look at it this way:your hat protects your head from the elements, and when you're walking in a drizzle, on a chilly day or burning sun feeling nicely protected while most people inexplicably chose to go bare-headed simply because hats are not fashionable or the norm, you'll wonder whom is wiser.

regards,
wemedge

English Bob · May 3, 2005

Ron at Hats Direct

SHARPETOYS said:
Here is your link http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?p=31300#post31300

I just checked mine. The Federation is a size 59cm. The front is 2.75 the rear is 2.68 the sides are 2.52. Height of the crown unblocked is 6 .00

Just send Ron a Email link The Lounge post. I bet he will take care of it or you could just cut it yourself??

Sharpey

Thanks for the link Sharpey. Yes I think I do have a problem based on your hat dimensions. What is Ron's lounge name? I can't access the members address list.
thanks
EBob

Michaelson · May 3, 2005

I've always 'cold bashed' my Federations, whether it be the standard Fed or Deluxe Fed, and once I decided that the shape and/or style I created was the one I wanted, only THEN did I give them just a little steam to set the stiffner in the felt. Regards! Michaelson

Dalexs · May 4, 2005

Heyyyy!

Wait a minute... What's wrong with wearing your hat Open Crown?!?

scotrace · May 4, 2005

I like mine

I like my Fed Deluxe a lot.
Too bad not available in gray anymore.

I warned my wife it was "open crown," but when I opened the box, she said "Are you sure this is the hat you want?"

indyjim · May 4, 2005

Ah yes, howls of laughter from the fam! My gray Fed was my Christmas present to myself last year and as I unwrapped the box in front of the
family and pulled out this huge dome shaped hat and plopped it on my head for pictures, I too was met with roars of laughter. It's ok, didn't bother me.
Sometimes I wish class hats would come back in style, then we wouldn't stick out so much, but then there would be nothing unique about us. We'd be like everyone else with their ball caps today.

BellyTank · May 4, 2005

I don't think there's SO much of a correlation between 'all wearing Fedaoras' and 'all wearing ball caps'-
There's a certain level of nuance and personal style in choosing, styling and wearing a 'felt hat' which doesn't exist with the ball cap mode.

If we all wore Fedoras, I think there would definitely be a lot more visible personal style- individual style- and a lot more attention to detail required.
I don't believe we would all look alike at all-

I have a small sampling of vintage-repro ball caps ranging through the '30s/'40s and although they are ball caps, they are ones I have chosen specifically and are by no means a 'hat of default'. Although many would not notice the difference between my ball caps and any other ball caps.

B
T

Canadave · May 4, 2005

Well written account, Richard! I'm surprised I'm the first to ask...any pics?

David

MK · May 4, 2005

.

A felt hat makes a statement. The first time you put one on, it is a very different look.

I first went into a hat store to look for a fedora because I liked the look of Bogart and Indy. I picked one out that looked about right. It looked very cool in my hand....but when I put it on, it looked weird to me. I thought I looked like a cowboy. I took it right off. I was discouraged and left the store.

The problem was it didn't fit my self image. Like a lot of people, I usually ease into a style rather than abrupt changes.

In the late sixties when I liked the look of long hair, I grew it in stages. Same story for when I was thinking of wearing it shorter in the 90's. I would look in the mirror and pull my hair out of the way. It looked weird. It didn't know if I should do it. Transitions are awkward....at least for me.

....but as you see I got used to the felt hats.

I have a dozen or so....and it is very rare when one is not on my head when walking out the door.

You have taken your first step into a larger world. -Ben Kenobi

scotrace · May 4, 2005

Point Me?

BellyTank said:
I have a small sampling of vintage-repro ball caps ranging through the '30s/'40s...

I'd like to find some like that. Any suggestions? If I'm going to wear a ballcap sometimes (like at 9AM Saturday morning and the paper girl is at the door and I have bedhead - or to mow the lawn), I'd rather it have at least a little style.

Do you have any pics of some good ballcaps? Or, in this forum, is that tantamount to asking for naughty French postcards at the Crystal Cathedral gift shop?

BellyTank · May 4, 2005

Here you go-

http://www.ebbets.com/ebbets_flannel_browse.aspx

http://www.stallanddean.com/index.cfm?page=c3&cid2=523&cid=2&cn2=Caps

...and many other places...
There's one place, I can't remember- has a whole back-catalogue of ML team caps fromabout 1900-now. Maybe it's this one-

http://www.dugout-memories.com/capsteam.html

B
T

scotrace · May 4, 2005

Thanks

Terrific. Thanks for the links.

new akubra federation

Familiar Face

Man of Action

Call Me a Cab

New in Town

Call Me a Cab

A-List Customer

New in Town

New in Town

One Too Many

Practically Family

Head Bartender

Familiar Face

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

Founder

Head Bartender

I'll Lock Up

Head Bartender

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