Everyone Has a Reason to Choose Fedora! What’s Yours?

Thanks to Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, and the like, fedoras have done wonders when it comes to popularity. But do you know how famous the classic hat is? It turns out women were the key behind this one. In 1882, a French author’s drama called “Fedora” described the fictional story of princess Fedora Romanov and her elopement with a traveling circus performer. When the play was happening in America, actress Sarah Bernhardt appeared in a specific soft-brimmed hat with a center crease, precisely like the fedoras you know today. Once people realized just how great these hats were for their fashion statement, popularity followed shortly afterward. The hat trend became a rage.

Regardless of how they came into the limelight and who wore them, men love their fedoras. Their wardrobes feel empty without a fadora hat. So, if you are new to hat fashion or keen on learning more about this style, you need to dig deeper into different aspects of this stylish accessory. Here is a glimpse of this.

The fundamental things about Fedora 

In the past, most fedora hats used wool or fur felt. But nowadays, traditional fur felt is not that common due to environmental concerns. Synthetic and natural materials are becoming more famous. These modern-day fedora hats come in many different shapes and styles without losing on the element of being lightweight. For example, you can consider lightweight and breathable straw all at once. Despite the progressions in terms of materials or style, the signature elements of a hat have stayed intact: indented crown, flexible brim, and a crease that looks pinched on each side.

The new designs of the fedora are tremendous and incredibly different from the alternatives out there. Rather than having a narrow brim that doesn’t allow your face to receive adequate sun protection, the fedora has an almost cylindrical design with a broader bill, thus protecting your face from harm by increasing your coverage. Keep in mind that there are other men’s hats with distinctive shapes; hence, you’ll want to identify what kind of hat you’re interested in before purchasing one, or else you may feel unsatisfied with what you choose. It is critical to notice because many people confuse trilby with a fedora and get disappointed when their choice doesn’t offer them the expected amount of sun protection or style enhancement.

Materials and care for fedoras

Regardless of the season, you can find hats that suit your style and mood. These headwear pieces can use synthetic or natural fiber materials. Of the numerous options, wool felt fedoras are among the most popular for dressing up during colder winter months or breezy fall days. Although wool stands out for its durability, you should take extra steps to ensure your hat stays in tip-top shape. Wash it by hand (cold water) over dry cleaning per label instructions as a first choice. If machine wash is permissible, put it on a gentle cycle and lay your hat flat to dry for best results. 

Alternatively, hot days are for straw fedoras. You may not realize that there are varying materials that construct these hats, and these different materials tend to influence their pros and cons. For example, Panama and natural straw fibers are the proof. It’s essential to read the labels of these types of hats as some can be more resistant than others. Also, some straw hats offer higher safety from UV rays. You may also want to ensure you purchase a hat in the right size for your head in height and circumference, so get out those measuring tapes.

Apart from felt and straw, fedoras for men can also be available in leather, hemp, fabric, and other types of bases. You need to select them based on your taste, occasion, and weather. 

Fedora brim styles

How you choose to style your fedora comes down to what suits you best. The brim of a hat can be as crucial and essential a feature as the rest of your hat. Picking up a wide-brimmed fedora can be a wise decision for summertime as it can keep you looking suave and sophisticated while protecting you from harmful sun rays. And the best thing is these hats go with almost every face cut. Hence, you don’t have to bother having too sharp or soft features. But you also get a shorter brim, which again offers exclusivity to your overall look and fashion. Short-brimmed fedoras can have a more formal or prim vibe. Anyway, make sure the brims are not less than one or one and ½ inches. Anything shorter will look more like trilby. 

Choosing between different fedora hats shouldn’t be too difficult if you’re willing to take some time and think about what will complement your face shape. Since fedoras are pretty flexible, your selection becomes far more comfortable and hassle free.