How to Wear a Fedora

Since the days of Humphrey Bogart and “Casablanca” the fedora has been a staple in the wardrobe of a well-dressed man. At least, it was a staple until sometime in the 1970s when, for whatever reason, the style died out. However, the fedora is making a return to style; whether Indian Jones wears it while uncovering ancient secrets, or by an R and B star strutting down the red carpet to another award. If you decide to bring back the classic style, there are a few simple rules that you should follow to look your most dashing.

History: You may not think that the history of a fashion item is a “must-know” factoid, but it never hurts of know these things. Okay, first off, it came into fashion around the turn of the century as a women’s fashion item, and was adopted by men around the 1920s. In the sixties it began to be seen as a non-essential clothing item for men due to suits with thinner lapels and ties. As of late, it has come back into fashion for women. And finally as an accessory for men who (instead of wanting to appear classy) want to dress “apart from the crowd,” and that, my friend, means you.

Color: You don’t have to be a genius to figure this out; match the hat’s color to the predominate color of what you are wearing. Black suit means a black hat, mostly brown colors means a brown hat. Feel free to stray from these guidelines when you are not wearing predominately black or brown colors though, as there is a whole world of colors and fabrics out there.

Size: You want to hat to fit snuggly on your head. If it is too big it will slide down your face and make it look like you have a tiny head. On the other hand, if the hat is too small, not only will it look like you have a massive noggin, it will also leave a red line on your forehead, just to add insult to injury. Additionally, the hat should be short enough so that it does not bump against the ceiling of your vehicle while driving. And you do not want a hat that is so small your head bulges out the top.

How to wear it: Make sure that the hat is snug on your head. It should neither be so tight that it creates a red line on your head, nor so loose that a slight breeze could blow it off. You should tilt the brim down towards your eyebrows, and it isn’t against the rules to wear it cocked off to the side.

Etc: After you have the basics down, you can elaborate with the hat. For example, wear a feather or a card in the hatband. You should also remember to remove the hat when in any situation were it would be appropriate. Fortunately the rules on hat wearing have slackened over the years and pretty much the only place it is still frowned upon in a church.