Hat recommendation for a 30's Halfbelt Jacket

[Deleted member 16736]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but a long-time lurker in the outerwear section (horsehide leather jackets). I ordered a reproduction of a 1930's Sears Hercules posted elsewhere on FL and need a hat to go with it. Since I'm no expert on hats, I figured I'd ask the real experts. Here is the original jacket. Mine will be identical to this one, only in chocolate brown horsehide rather than black horsehide. The period is 1930's and the look is street casual. Thank you.

http://rivet-head.blogspot.com/2010/11/1930s-hercules-horsehide-half-belt.html

 

[Joshbru3]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but a long-time lurker in the outerwear section (horsehide leather jackets). I ordered a reproduction of a 1930's Sears Hercules posted elsewhere on FL and need a hat to go with it. Since I'm no expert on hats, I figured I'd ask the real experts. Here is the original jacket. Mine will be identical to this one, only in chocolate brown horsehide rather than black horsehide. The period is 1930's and the look is street casual. Thank you.

http://rivet-head.blogspot.com/2010/11/1930s-hercules-horsehide-half-belt.html

Well if your keeping the look casual, I would go with a newsboy/flatcap in a color that possibly matches the jacket, or a nice darker tweed. If you wanna step up the casual/bit dressier factor, I would go with a thin ribbon fedora with a high crown and maybe a 2 1/4-2 3/8 inch brim. But the kind of hat that I would wear with that jacket would be a brown fedora with a 5+ inch crown, center dent, wide front pinches, wide black 2+ inch band, and 2 3/8-2 1/2 inch brim. If you wanna get a bit flashier, a tan fedora with a brown ribbon in the same dimensions that I stated before.

 

[gtdean48]

Akubra Federation IV in Moonstone or Campdraft in Glen Grey...JMHO

and Welcome to the Lounge.... you have to buy the next round you know....

 

[zetwal]

You will get plenty of suggestions (opinion) from others.

All I can add is this, Welcome, Joel ... !

 

[Sam Craig]

Look at the tall crown, narrow brim fedoras that Cagney wore in the 30s.
It's a great look, and you can achieve it by narrowing the brim of many fur felt fedoras available today ... or you can have one custom made.

Welcome!

Sam

 

[monbla256]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but a long-time lurker in the outerwear section (horsehide leather jackets). I ordered a reproduction of a 1930's Sears Hercules posted elsewhere on FL and need a hat to go with it. Since I'm no expert on hats, I figured I'd ask the real experts. Here is the original jacket. Mine will be identical to this one, only in chocolate brown horsehide rather than black horsehide. The period is 1930's and the look is street casual. Thank you.

http://rivet-head.blogspot.com/2010/11/1930s-hercules-horsehide-half-belt.html

With a jacket like that just about ANY good quality fur felt Fedora hat would work! I'd stay away from the more modern stingy brimmed ones though at least nothing under 2.25" . As to color, Brown works with a wide range of hat colors, from greys, browns, tans and blacks. Modern or vintage really does not matter as long as you LIKE it as it will take on it's "attitude" like the jacket the longer you wear it

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Thanks, guys, for the suggestions as well as the warm welcome. It makes me feel good knowing there are people out there like me who are into this stuff. For your info, I also am a dedicated swing dancer, and if you're interested in 30's/40's vintage lifestyle, you should learn how to swing dance. It was the popular form of dancing in its day and just as much fun today as it was then.

Josh, do you have a hat in mind that meets your specifications? I am researching fur felt fedoras, including the Cagney one. Thanks again.

I also have a black vintage horsehide motorcycle jacket coming and I'll need a hat for that. Probably something like Brando wore in Wild One.

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Here's a Stetson hat. Is this like what you guys are talking about?

http://www.delmonicohatter.com/Merc...e=TF2210-PCKD&Category_Code=FED&Store_Code=DH

 

[Deleted member 16736]

And another Stetson:

http://www.dadshats.com/helhirosn2.html

 

[hatophile]

Joel,

You may have to go vintage in a hat to get the right proportions. Otherwise, I think a tawny
Akubra Federation IV would go with that jacket quite nicely. Most modern hats tend to be lower brimmed with more tapered crowns. Another possibility would be the Stetson Nostalgia, it has a little higher brim, I believe.

 

[dhermann1]

Mmmmmm . . . . then again a nice wide tweed newsboy cap might be cool, also.

 

[Joshbru3]

Josh, do you have a hat in mind that meets your specifications? I am researching fur felt fedoras, including the Cagney one. Thanks again.

The hat that I had in mind was actually a 20's-30's Stetson that I had owned at one time but then sold. Here's a picture. Its kind of like Cagney's.

It has the high crown and short brim, but if you were looking for a bit bigger of a brim, I would go with an Akubra or something custom made from Art or Optimo. Most off the shelf hats today have very tapered crowns and are not very high. What some people do, is they will buy a felt cowboy hat with a tall crown, and have the brim trimmed and thicker ribbon put on. I do know that if you look for a vintage hat, verses new one, you will have better luck finding one with the kind of proportions that your looking for. But the trick is actually FINDING a vintage hat to meet those specs.

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Wow, I love all these hats. The Cagney hat is gorgeous, but not feasible for me unless I can order a custom job from Optimo. The Federation looks very promising. The Stetson was only available in black.

Thank you again. I will post a picture when it all comes together. Should be in another month or so.

 

[Edward]

A lot depends on the rest of the outfit you're wearing with the jacket, IMO... If I'm wearing a halfbelt with jeans, I would tend to reach for a newsboy; with trousers, a decent fedora, and especially if I'm wearing collar and tie, the fedora. Unless it's an especially windy day - then it's a cap of some sort every time. The only reason to avoid a fedora would be if you are bothered by the inevitable Indy comments, but then if you are a fedora is unlikely to be a good idea under any circumstances..... [huh]

 

[Big Fella]

Joel Shapiro as in Doc Shapiro?? It's Hired *** asking.