Hat Question for the Gentlemen of the Lounge

[Grant Fan]

Gentlemen I am looking to buy my boyfriend a fedora a gray one but I am not sure where to even look. Can you all please point me in the right direction?

 

[KILO NOVEMBER]

What's the budget?

If your budget is in the neighborhood of $100, check out the Australian vendors of Akubra hats. Here is an on-line vendor I have used.

If your budget runs to the neighborhood of $300, check out Art Fawcett or Tony Brouner. I have bought hats from both.

 

[Spats McGee]

You might also consider asking this up in the Hats forum.

 

[handlebar bart]

You might also consider asking this up in the Hats forum.

Yep. With his hat size and a picture of his face the guys in the hat section may be able to stear you in a direction, and heck might even have one for sale that would work.

 

[Spats McGee]

Now that we've got this in the right place, some pics of your boyfriend would help. HBB is right on that. It would also help to know his size.

 

[Neophyte]

I would definitely suggest the Akubra hats. They are some of the best you can get until you're willing to spend over $300. The Federations, Fedoras, Squatters, Bogarts, Stylemasters, and Campdrafts are all available in one shade of grey or another. Here's an example:

Here's my recently (today) acquired Fedora, with a very quick shaping:

Of course, the best place to start looking is The Lounge itself. Good luck to you in your search.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

Get him a gift certificate or let him pick out what he wants at a hat store. Unless you're absolutely 100% sure of his hat size, style he likes, brim & crown sizes, etc., that's the better way to go. No sense in buying him a nice hat that you like and he hates, because he'll never wear it and you'll just be angry.

 

[danofarlington]

Gentlemen I am looking to buy my boyfriend a fedora a gray one but I am not sure where to even look. Can you all please point me in the right direction?

It seems like a simple question but actually is a complicated one. So many variables go into what each particular guy looks good in, and what he likes, that it's mind boggling. Everyone including me seems to think that the next guy will like what he himself likes, and that's false.

Important variables are crown height (the Akubra Federation IV hat has a high crown to look like Indiana Jones), and brim width, which makes a huge difference in the appearance of the hat. Less than a 2 1/2 inch brim is a "stingy brim," which is one kind of look, sort of like Kid Rock; and wider than 2 1/2 inches is a "wide brim" which when approaching 2 3/4 and out might look like a gangster hat. But I like wide brim. All of those brim sizes can be successfully worn by a given individual, but beware the third party buyer!

I think you have to resolve to buying on the Internet. But that's OK, because it's the only way in most cases to get a good hat. For reference, if your friend likes "men's dress hats," try the Hornets site in London:
http://www.hornetshats.com/f_hatview.php?link=Fur Felts That may be more what you have in mind for him.

Or, he may like more of a casual hat or country hat, and then there are other choices. Another good website is www.villagehatshop.com, and another is www.delmonicohatters.com. It turns out there is too much to say for any one post. Good luck.