Hats for you: More for function or fashion?

Function: Not too many of the clothes we wear have nothing to do with function. The same is true of hats - be it fedoras or otherwise. So function is obviously a part of it.

Fashion: Fedoras began to fade out of fashion in the post war era and by the the 60's were virtually gone - except for a few old grandpas and lawns bowlers. If we were fashion-slaves we wouldn't be wearing fedoras.

Style: Ah...now you're talkin'! Fedoras definitely make a style statement. Fedora wearers are all about style, class and quality.

So there you have it - function and style all in a felt lid. Groovy.

Ephraim Tutt said:

Function: Not too many of the clothes we wear have nothing to do with function. The same is true of hats - be it fedoras or otherwise. So function is obviously a part of it.

Fashion: Fedoras began to fade out of fashion in the post war era and by the the 60's were virtually gone - except for a few old grandpas and lawns bowlers. If we were fashion-slaves we wouldn't be wearing fedoras.

Style: Ah...now you're talkin'! Fedoras definitely make a style statement. Fedora wearers are all about style, class and quality.

So there you have it - function and style all in a felt lid. Groovy.

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Hi all,

I do like the points of Ephraim. In my experience with hats (I've just started ) it's more likely people will notice your hat and start a conversation then when your wearing a baseball cap like I did for a very, very long time.

Apart form the points Ephraim mentioned, I also like the social aspect and short and nice conversations with people I really don't know due to the fact I'm wearing my Stylemaster....

Regards,

Gusman

How's that stylemaster working out for you Gusman?

I should have added that I also enjoy the connection with the past that comes with wearing a vintage fedora (and, for me, antique/vintage pocket watches). So, that's another reason on top of function and style.

ET has it; function and style, plus everyone worn western hats where I grew up and it was just the thing guys did. So I did.

elvisroe said:

How's that stylemaster working out for you Gusman?

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Elvisroe,

I have to say I've bought (and start wearing) my first hat last July in France. It is a Stetson Traveller and as a souvenir from my holiday in France I also bought a French Crambes hat (I thought, but it seems the hat is manufactured at Tonak in the Czech republic as I learned for the FL forum). Both hats have cotton sweatbands and the crown is rather low, my head touches the top of the crown.

After joining the fedora lounge I've learned quickly that there are a lot of other brands, types and other hat related stuff. I've decided then to order an Akubra Stylemaster. I was also thinking of buying an Akubra Federation IV but preferred the Stylemaster above the Fed IV because I've felt rather "new" in the hat-scene and the fact you have to bash the crown yourself contributes also to the decision to buy the Stylemaster. Apart from that I was not sure which size would be for me the best fit (the people at Hatsdirect did a great job finding the right size for me).

I received the Stylemaster two weeks ago and I love the hat. The crown height and brim size is perfect for me and it's pre-bashed so no worries for me to get the right bashes . In the beginning I have to get use to the leather sweatband (it sticks to you head) but now the perfect fit starts to form. May be in the (near) future I will order a Fed IV or another model but for now I'm quite happy with the Stylemaster.

Regards,

Gusman

It started with function. I wore ratty straw numbers when I worked outside for a living. I wore them until until they weren't recognizable as hats. I slowly shifted towards nicer models as my job and peers shifted towards nicer models. I wouldn't say my choices have become stylish, just nicer.

I always liked hats, but when I started getting minor skin cancers that gave me the final push to wear hats. I should have done it earlier.

Here in the US with the large Western Stetson influence there has always been a balance between function and fashion with hats. Take the young adventures and entrepreneurs. a large brim hat was a necessity, but for the large part the wearer took pride and in their hat. It was an insult and might end in a serious fight just touching some one’s hat. At the same time the farmer or small rancher had more important thing to consider than the style or condition of his hat, like feeding his family in the winter and water in the summer. Fast forward to the present day active lounger, some of us who own ten + hats; I would have to say fashion is the main motivation. We are past the point of buying a new hat each season and retiring last year’s hat for beater type tasks. Than again and this “might be off topic” but I sense we have collectors in the lounge where function and fashion is irrelevant their hats are never worn. The enjoyment comes from owning and admiring the hat on display.

chicken, then the egg...

For me, it's a little bit of both.

When I was younger and worked outside every day, a large brimmed hat was a necessity. (I hate sunscreen), and thus then it was "function".

Fast forward to recently, I thought a fedora would be pretty neat to try because it looks different. Alas, after buying one (or 2, or 3...) I remembered how nice it is to carry your own shade with you, and the function showed back up.

100% style. I just like the way fedoras look.

The fact they keep my head warm in the winter and the rain off my head are just bonuses... but very good bonuses.