Bowler Dimensions

[MattC]

Hi Folks. I've been a fedora guy for years. I finally decided to try out a Bowler, and picked up a NOS Knox 20 pretty cheaply on an auction site that is pretty popular among loungers. I didn't much like the look of it on my head. It may be that the dimensions are wrong, but it may be that I am really not accostomed to the look. What's a typical brim width and crown height on Bowler?

 

[Dinerman]

What's the brim like on it? The early derbies have a very tight, almost flat curl in the front and back, with a larger one on the sides. Ones post '30s or so have a more homburg-ish same all the way around curl. The first type looks good on me, the second type, not so much.

Derbies came in just about any brim width and crown height and shape, so it's just a matter of finding one that looks right to you.

 

[MattC]

The curl and steam

There is very little curl in the front and back; the brim just pops up a bit in the front and back. There is a large curl on the side. I just realized that if the brim dipped a bit in the front and back, and curved up to the curl a bit more, it would be perfect. Steam?

 

[Dinerman]

is it possible to post a picture of it, and a picture of you wearing it?

If you were going to go that route, steam would probably work. I've steamed a crushed one back into shape, and it worked well.

 

[MattC]

The pic

May take a while. But I'll try.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

You're probably working with a pretty stiff brim. I have a Homburg whose brim I just could not reshape with steam. If that is your case, you may have to resort to the DREADED COLD WATER SOAK! (I know it's scary, but hey we're getting close to Halloween.)

 

[MattC]

Cold soak

Scary. Tell me, what is it?