Who among us, if anyone, can pull off . . .

[Greybeard]

Is it possible to determine which style of hat would best work with one's face & head shape/size?

This is not meant to be patronising and is what I did. Go to a hatter dressed in the typical outfit you will be wearing with the hat. Try some styles on. Look in the mirror. If you can't decide, ask the salesman for an opinion. I ended up picking a Borsalino Como fedora.

- Peter

 

[Bertilak]

I have never seen or heard of a derby bowler hat before. I wanted to know if that was a good rep. of what that hat is.

Ah, I see. Yup that's a Bowler (aka Derby). Check Google for hundreds of pictures.

 

[Greybeard]

no one pulls it off well...

 

[Muirtach]

The closest I can get is a Homburg (while Milan straw in the avatar). My face is just too narrow for the full on Derby.

 

[Muirtach]

Just find a nice wool or fur felt one with a traditional hatband and you'll look superlative.

I have never seen a nice quality wool felt hat. Do they actually exist? My collection is all either Milan straw (find it breathes better than panama or others) or a variety of fur felts.

 

[richmondesi]

Were you proving my point

Cause I still stand by that statement

 

[Bertilak]

This round goes to Graybeard.

But I would say not everyone in the second picture is really pulling it off.

1. The guy seated in the middle is out because his hat doesn't fit (too small).
2. The guy standing on our left also has a too-small hat, just not as bad as #1.
3. The guy standing on our right wears it like he was drunk.

The remaining two (seated on left and right) look like they are quite in tune with their hats.

I notice the two standing guys have a wide-eyed look like they are a afraid to have their picture taken!

 

[richmondesi]

This round goes to Graybeard.

But I would say not everyone in the second picture is really pulling it off.

1. The guy seated in the middle is out because his hat doesn't fit (too small).
2. The guy standing on our left also has a too-small hat, just not as bad as #1.
3. The guy standing on our right wears it like he was drunk.

The remaining two (seated on left and right) look like they are quite in tune with their hats.

I notice the two standing guys have a wide-eyed look like they are a afraid to have their picture taken!

FWIW, I thought we were talking about people today. No one really pulls of the powdered wig today either, but I guess you could link me some pics of guys from the 1700s... If we get to a time and place where we wear 3 piece suits, pocket watches, etc. on a day to day basis (to go shopping, work, dinner, etc.), then my opinion might change... Until then...

 

[Obsessed]

Just find a nice wool or fur felt one with a traditional hatband and you'll look superlative.

Agreed. I'm still on the lookout for the right one. A good-looking hat is an unbeatable look. (The wrong hat, however, can be disastrous!)

 

[Greybeard]

FWIW, I thought we were talking about people today. No one really pulls of the powdered wig today either, but I guess you could link me some pics of guys from the 1700s... If we get to a time and place where we wear 3 piece suits, pocket watches, etc. on a day to day basis (to go shopping, work, dinner, etc.), then my opinion might change... Until then...

Actually I agree with you. I still think Liza Minelli wore it quite well but it's certainly a dated look that I don't think was ever attractive. The second picture was really for contrast and a joke. It's a picture of the real Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the rest of the Wild Bunch.


- Peter

 

[Bertilak]

FWIW, I thought we were talking about people today. No one really pulls of the powdered wig today either, but I guess you could link me some pics of guys from the 1700s... If we get to a time and place where we wear 3 piece suits, pocket watches, etc. on a day to day basis (to go shopping, work, dinner, etc.), then my opinion might change... Until then...

I see your point, based on the difference between "can" and "could".

 

[galopede]

I wear a bowler frequently in my alter ego of morris dance musician. Keeps my head warm in winter and also serves the dual purpose of being useful for collecting the cash!

Goes quite well with the white shirt, white knee socks and black britches and a leather waistcoat!

Gareth

 

[luvmysuper]

I have never seen a nice quality wool felt hat. Do they actually exist? My collection is all either Milan straw (find it breathes better than panama or others) or a variety of fur felts.

Scala makes pretty good quality 100 percent wool felt hats for reasonable prices. Probably not what the hat afficionado would get, but a very nice entry level hat nonetheless.

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/mens-scala-wool-felt-fedora-hat--the-new-yorker

 

[theperfectstorm]

FWIW, I thought we were talking about people today. No one really pulls of the powdered wig today either, but I guess you could link me some pics of guys from the 1700s... If we get to a time and place where we wear 3 piece suits, pocket watches, etc. on a day to day basis (to go shopping, work, dinner, etc.), then my opinion might change... Until then...

Poor loser.

And, I might just add, I KILL in a powdered wig.

 

[SilkySmooth]

I could pull it off if I could find one to fit my noggin. I've got the handlebar stache to go with it.

 

[richmondesi]

Poor loser.

And, I might just add, I KILL in a powdered wig.

 

[taprater]

And, I might just add, I KILL in a powdered wig.

Next meeting you better be wearing one then...

 

[Sullybob]

I can barely pull of a base ball cap. A derby is out of the question.

 

[bluefoxicy]

Don't know about a Derby, decent style but looks like crap on just about anyone except Lou Costello.

Now, a regular at the bar I frequent says chicks dig the Fedora....



These actually work fairly well for me.

 

[Bertilak]

The remaining two (seated on left and right) look like they are quite in tune with their hats.

Those two are Butch Cassidy (on our right) and the Sundance Kid (on our left). No wonder they were the leaders of the gang -- they knew how to "dress for success."