New to hats, would like some advice

Taggert · Apr 20, 2008

Greetings to all,

I have recently decided that it was time to delve into a area of my life that i felt was lacking. I've always liked hats, but could never decide on a type that would suit me best. I did however know that I have always loved fedoras. Now being the really self conscious person that I am, I was not entirely sure that i could pull off any type of hat other than a baseball cap.

Well yesterday I decided to get a inexpensive hat from a small store to see if I could really pull it off, and if so it would lead me to looking into a more serious hat purchase.

I bought this hat as it was the only one that felt right to me. My best friend was with me and also agreed. I like the hat, but what i need is some advice on if this is indeed the right style hat for me, or if I am way off base..lol

I have a couple of pictures, which i took my self with a not so great camera..lol so please excuse the lack of flair within.

the first picture is of my great grandfathers hat a little small on my head and I'm not sure on the style. The second and 3rd are of the hat i purchased I think its a fedora style tho I'm not entirely sure.

I am 34 years old, I am young at heart but I have always felt that dressing nice was more than just for special occasions.

Alright i have babbled enough, onto the pics, please give your honest opinions, suggestions etc..I can take them.

Thanks for your time,

Taggert

EVEN-STEVEN · Apr 20, 2008

Lookin' good, Taggert! You seem like a young, hip guy - perfect for a stingy. But you don't have to limit yourself. Experiment with a wider brim, too. I like my brim up when I wear a stingy, but it's a matter of personal taste. Whatever floats your boat, man. Be bold. Wear the hat, don't let the hat wear you! Welcome to the Lounge!

RPeers · Apr 20, 2008

I think both hats suit you quite well, If your grandfathers ol' hat is just a little too small you could have it cleaned I found that my grandfathers hat(pictured in avatar) was just a little to small but once I had it cleaned it was much more supple and the extra give allowed it to fit without any stretching (I also had the old cracked sweat band replaced with a new one, might have helped). Looking good from another new member welcome.

tandmark · Apr 23, 2008

Howdy,

What Even-Steven said!

Except that I always put the brim down in front, no matter what hat I wear.

Cheers,
Mark

Historyteach24 · Jan 14, 2011

New to this site and new to the world of men's hats

Hey guys I was so excited when I found this website! The reason for my post is quite simple; I am new to the world of fedoras and other dress hats and I love it that I can find inspiration and advice on here! I am a young man and am in my second year of teaching. So my wardrobe has changed considerably from wearing jeans and t-shirts every day in college to dressing professionally. I recently decided that I needed to add hats to my personal style because I love them and I feel that they bring a certain air of respect and sophistication to a person. I have always been a guy that wears a hat but usually it was a ballcap. I by no means can afford the high end fedoras that I have seen on this site but I feel I have a nice starter. I bought from an online vendor that I will not mention but it looks awesome! I think the problem I am having is simple. I have a stingy brimmed fedora that looks good with my suits and dress clothes but I just recently bought a pork pie hat that I simply can not figure out what to dress with it. As a general rule are pork pies more fit for the jean and button down shirt look? Any help would be appreciated and again thanks for adding me to the community!

Historyteach24 · Jan 14, 2011

Thanks, I am on my work computer with no pics I will upload tonight. I love the way the pork pie looks on me just haven't quite found the right outfit I guess.

Neophyte · Jan 14, 2011

Welcome to the Lounge, 'Teach! I think it's great that you've decided to integrate hats into your life. I just discovered the Lounge not too long ago myself.

As far as porkpies are concerned, I love 'em. Something about a telescope crown really gets me, although the narrow brims that often accompany them put me off. The way I see it, they are well suited to the casual and "smart casual" (slacks, button downs, maybe a vest) looks.

monbla256 · Jan 14, 2011

I would not relegate a Porkpie to being just a casual hat. Monk wore 'em with suits and jackets all the time but then that was back in the '60s, not in the unstructured 21st century

Here's a pic of Monk wearin' one and you can see what I mean. If the color works with it and you feel like it wear your pork with whatever you want

Onward thru the Fog

Historyteach24 · Jan 14, 2011

Awesome! Yea as I said tonight I will have a few photos uploaded and again I appreciate all the help for a pork noob!

thespoiler · Jan 14, 2011

Teach, glad you found this site. I have been a hat guy for a long time as well, baseball, Hanna caps, fur in the winter, but just within the last 2 years have I gotten into fedoras...Couple years ago my wife and I were at the beach, goofing around and trying on hats. I plopped a straw fedora on my head and, by golly, it looked pretty good. That got me into panamas. I read up and learned a lot about panamas. I got a couple nice older ones on Ebay and bought a few from our good lounger, Panama Bob. From there I got into fur-felts and now I look out for 40's & 50's wide brim Adams, Knoxs and Mallorys, all in my size so I can wear them....I decided to leave the Stetsons for other folks.
I had a pretty fair hat collection before I wore my first vintage fedora in public....Said what-the-hell one day and stuck one and went to the grocery. Lots of people took notice and the bag boy complimented me on my hat. The postmistress in our little town told her dad wore a hat just like that. From then on I have plopped some fedora on my head when I go out, regardless of what I'm wearing . Just makes me feel good! Unfortunately, I suspect many of our loungers are better collectors than wearers. To each his own.
I don't post much but I really do a lot of reading through the Lounge. These are a great group of folks. Two suggestions I might have: the Lounge search feature leaves a lot to be desired. I go into Google and put "thefedoralounge" and then my search terms.That works great.
Also, as new to fedoras, I recommend that you check out the Akubra Federation IV at hatsdirect.com. I ordered one from them and am amazed at the quality and style of their hats for the price. They are good people.

Teach, welcome and good luck. Come back often.

scottyrocks · Jan 14, 2011

Hteach, welcome!

You can wear a porkpie with a jacket and tie. You kind of have to match the color and style of the suit appropriately.

Fedoras are easier to match with clothing because they have a historical precedent, seen in so many movies from the 1930s through the 1950s. Porkpies, not so much.

My own personal opinion is that a porkpie generally goes well with thin stuff - jacket lapels, ties, etc, as well as golden era casual clothes - two or three button collared shirts, slacks, etc.

kaosharper1 · Jan 14, 2011

Fred Astair and Danny Kaye used to wear porkpies with suits. I was pretty common in the 50s and into the 60s I think. So if you wear the current narrow tie/lapel look in your suits (the "rat pack" look) you can wear a pork pie with a suit.

DanielJones · Jan 15, 2011

And if you wanted to delve outside the porkpie and into a more traditional fedora, the Stetson Nostalgia may be a good place to start. Not a high priced hat (roughly around $150) and looks good with most clothing, be it a suit or a little more dressed down like a leather jacket and tweed trousers. I do believe it comes opened crowned so you can put your own style to it.
As far as a porkpie is concerned they can be worn with a suit, just ask Gene Hackman.

Or worn with a raccoon coat via Red Skelton

Even with just a flannel shirt & jeans.

It boils down to your own look and personal tastes. Your facial proportions play into it as well.

Anyway, that's my two cents and welcome to The Lounge, Teach! Can't wait to see what your pics look like.

Cheers!

Dan

Historyteach24 · Jan 15, 2011

Historyteach24 · Jan 15, 2011

Historyteach24 · Jan 15, 2011

Alright here ya go obviously the first set of pics are my stingy brimmed fedora hell it might technically be a trilby. The second one is of my new pork.

Chinaski · Jan 15, 2011

Teach, you wear those hats pretty well! You are off to a good start, and it's not uncommon to feel a little self conscious wearing a brimmed hat out and about the first few times. Keep it up and you'll develop "hatitude."

That said, for me personally, your choice of lid depends on the look you're trying to achieve, and the pork doesn't strike me as professorial - if indeed that might be a look you're shooting for. My 2 cents only.

Historyteach24 · Jan 15, 2011

I agree with you completely. My wife even said that my pork pie was perfect when I am jammin on the guitar or out and about the town. She calls my fedora "your Sunday best" so I guess for myself that is the style I will stick with. I personally like the button shirt with jeans look with my pork.

Historyteach24 · Jan 15, 2011

Forgot one pic

Chinaski · Jan 15, 2011

Historyteach24 said:
I agree with you completely. My wife even said that my pork pie was perfect when I am jammin on the guitar or out and about the town. She calls my fedora "your Sunday best" so I guess for myself that is the style I will stick with. I personally like the button shirt with jeans look with my pork.

It's possible to pull off any combination of hat and attire, but I think your wife is pretty dead on about jammin' with the porkpie! Stay on the Lounge and peruse the threads and you'll see some looks you'd like to emulate and others you think don't necessarily work as well. Again, welcome, Teach!

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