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Question about hat style.
- Thread starter Julian Hatcher
- Start date
Bob Roberts
I'll Lock Up
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- 11,201
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- milford ct
Straws n thunderstorms aren't the best mix. So you'll have to take your chances. I've a Stetson Brewster felt thats pretty light weight (but stiff) and I'm sure a good soaking would only loosen/soften it up. Probably what it needs! Its a casual C crown. Re Akubras, many swear they're meant to be worn in the heat...
I've been studying on the models that have the ventilation holes in the side. I just haven't settled on one yet though. I like the looks of the Stickman, but it doesn't have the vent holes (if I remember correctly).
I'm probably going to wind up with a canvas safari hat to go with the Tilley. Avoiding the rain isn't an option.
MothPrey
New in Town
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- Maryland suburbs of DC
I both sympathize and empathize with the OP.
Every time a subject like this comes up, a whole lot of folks chime in to say they're never self-conscious, as though they couldn't understand why anyone would be. Fine, they can pull off the pink tutus with aplomb, I'll watch with interest. From a distance. Me, I'm capable of feeling self-conscious or out-of-place, and I don't see that changing this late in the game.
I was brought up to consider some things proper and other things not, and although that's changed a lot over the years, some of it hasn't. I spent well over a decade wearing suit-and-tie to work every day, and while I don't miss that at all I still can't bring myself to wear a collarless shirt or legible clothing out in public unless I'm pretty much within walking distance of a beach. Maybe that's just me, but I'm still the one I have to deal with.
In my various stints of hat-wearing I've come to feel, as others here have said in different ways, that some hats just work better with casual than others. I really don't mind wearing a traditional broad-ribbon brown, gray or black fedora with any sort of jacket (well, no brown fedoras with leather jackets, it's just not worth it), but I feel silly wearing one of those in shirtsleeves, even more so with short sleeves.
Since pretty much nobody in my line of work even wears sports jackets anymore, my classic brown, gray and black fedoras have ended up mostly stored.
Here in the East I don't wear full cowboy hats unless I'm actually riding or arrived on a horse (I was born on the other side of the Mississippi, I'm fine with it there), and I don't wear cattleman creases because I'm not a cattleman (insert "big hat" reference), but I find that green, silverbelly and tan narrow-ribbon hats in other creases work pretty well for me, as do some similar hats with leather hatbands. I have Tilleys, straws, canvas and hemp hats that I wear in full summer with short sleeves, and for doing hard, dirty work.
I set up one of my bluegrass-green Campdrafts in a sort-of "RM" crease ("bash"), and that's been fine, but fairly recently I reworked the other with a teardrop crease, fedora brim-snap and a one-inch brown calfskin hatband in frank (if patently inferior) imitation of the Black Sheep Tumbledown, which I admired online (and still do). Right now that's my favorite for general-use casual. The wider brown band adds color and interest, the brown/green combo and leather seems to take it down another notch in dressiness, and the teardrop crease takes the tall crown down a little, which, although I like a tall crown, works better if I might be in someone else's car with a low roof. It's one of the few hats I have that has never gotten either snide "Indy" or cowboy comments, and seems to work well for just meeting friends for a few beers, it's that kind of "casual".
Every time a subject like this comes up, a whole lot of folks chime in to say they're never self-conscious, as though they couldn't understand why anyone would be. Fine, they can pull off the pink tutus with aplomb, I'll watch with interest. From a distance. Me, I'm capable of feeling self-conscious or out-of-place, and I don't see that changing this late in the game.
I was brought up to consider some things proper and other things not, and although that's changed a lot over the years, some of it hasn't. I spent well over a decade wearing suit-and-tie to work every day, and while I don't miss that at all I still can't bring myself to wear a collarless shirt or legible clothing out in public unless I'm pretty much within walking distance of a beach. Maybe that's just me, but I'm still the one I have to deal with.
In my various stints of hat-wearing I've come to feel, as others here have said in different ways, that some hats just work better with casual than others. I really don't mind wearing a traditional broad-ribbon brown, gray or black fedora with any sort of jacket (well, no brown fedoras with leather jackets, it's just not worth it), but I feel silly wearing one of those in shirtsleeves, even more so with short sleeves.
Since pretty much nobody in my line of work even wears sports jackets anymore, my classic brown, gray and black fedoras have ended up mostly stored.
Here in the East I don't wear full cowboy hats unless I'm actually riding or arrived on a horse (I was born on the other side of the Mississippi, I'm fine with it there), and I don't wear cattleman creases because I'm not a cattleman (insert "big hat" reference), but I find that green, silverbelly and tan narrow-ribbon hats in other creases work pretty well for me, as do some similar hats with leather hatbands. I have Tilleys, straws, canvas and hemp hats that I wear in full summer with short sleeves, and for doing hard, dirty work.
I set up one of my bluegrass-green Campdrafts in a sort-of "RM" crease ("bash"), and that's been fine, but fairly recently I reworked the other with a teardrop crease, fedora brim-snap and a one-inch brown calfskin hatband in frank (if patently inferior) imitation of the Black Sheep Tumbledown, which I admired online (and still do). Right now that's my favorite for general-use casual. The wider brown band adds color and interest, the brown/green combo and leather seems to take it down another notch in dressiness, and the teardrop crease takes the tall crown down a little, which, although I like a tall crown, works better if I might be in someone else's car with a low roof. It's one of the few hats I have that has never gotten either snide "Indy" or cowboy comments, and seems to work well for just meeting friends for a few beers, it's that kind of "casual".
Monte
A-List Customer
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The Open Road's versatility was a selling point. "East or West"
Monte
A-List Customer
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Just chiming in on an older conversation.
Bob Roberts
I'll Lock Up
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The Open Road's versatility was a selling point. "East or West"
Yup.
Benzadmiral
Call Me a Cab
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A good part of why I like the Open Road. I've spent most of my life in Da Swamp, but was lucky enough to live in Denver for 4 years and to visit New Mexico multiple times. As far as I'm concerned, I belong out West. Since I can't financially manage that, I wear an OR (brim snapped down fedora style, usually), collared shirts, jeans, and boots when the nasty weather here permits.
"it looks like a fedora and a cowboy hat fell in love" -- good phrase!
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SLOshank
New in Town
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- San Luis Obispo, CA
Exactly what sort of hat would a young person (24) wear while attired in a business suit in Chicago this coming winter?
I don't want to look like a dweeb, but as a native Californian I'm very cold-sensitive. Thanks.
I don't want to look like a dweeb, but as a native Californian I'm very cold-sensitive. Thanks.
jlee562
I'll Lock Up
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If money is no object, go get yourself set up at Optimo, they'll help you choose a hat to suit your face and the Chicago weather.
If on the other hand, you don't feel like dropping $1k+ plus on a hat, check out Akubra hats. They're obviously not quite as finely appointed as a luxury Optimo, but for >$175, they're a great value and very resilient. A popular choice around here is the Fed 4 and another is the Campdraft. The latter is more or less a vintage styled Open Road (Akubra once held the Stetson license in Australia).
If on the other hand, you don't feel like dropping $1k+ plus on a hat, check out Akubra hats. They're obviously not quite as finely appointed as a luxury Optimo, but for >$175, they're a great value and very resilient. A popular choice around here is the Fed 4 and another is the Campdraft. The latter is more or less a vintage styled Open Road (Akubra once held the Stetson license in Australia).
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What do you wear as a coat over your suit? The hat should be in congruence with your over coat not your suit as that is what you wear when outside.
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I even like their lower crowned, narrower brim Stylemaster/Sydney models.
Pellie
One Too Many
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....or the Akubra Bogart.
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Yes, I can see that. I have never seen one or held one in my hands but I do own all the other models mentioned....plus a 25 year old Madison.
Mm25
One Too Many
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Flat cap is the actual answer here.
It won’t bow off in high winds downtown.
You can stick it in a pocket when you go inside.
Dresses down well for casual after work.
Will keep your head warm, can get models that will cover your ears too.
It won’t bow off in high winds downtown.
You can stick it in a pocket when you go inside.
Dresses down well for casual after work.
Will keep your head warm, can get models that will cover your ears too.
Last edited:
GHT
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Rmccamey
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Absolutely! My wife would be a lot more supportive of my hat collecting if it made me look more like him.
He also shows how versatile hats can be as his collection isn’t huge but he always looks great and has the right hat to complement his ensemble.
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If I looked more like him my wife would not recognize me!Absolutely! My wife would be a lot more supportive of my hat collecting if it made me look more like him.
He also shows how versatile hats can be as his collection isn’t huge but he always looks great and has the right hat to complement his ensemble.
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