What Is a Fedora Hat?
The fedora personifies classic men's style. It was popularized in the Roaring Twenties as the gangster's hat of choice. In the 1940s, many hard-boiled detective movies in the film noir genre featured private investigators wearing fedoras and trench coats, which became the standard dress for fashionable men of the era. A well-dressed man would never leave home without a hat, and in the mid-20th century that hat was almost always a fedora. Does this Spark an idea?
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Origin
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In the 1880s Sarah Bernhardt, unquestionably the world's biggest star on the stage, appeared in a play called Fedora by Victorien Sardou. Bernhardt played the leading role of Princess Fedora and wore a similar hat that would eventually become known as the fedora. Into the 20th century, the fedora was worn by women. Men began wearing the style in the 1910s.
Appearance
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The Fedora is usually made of soft felt, but it can be found in straw or other materials. A prominent crease down the center and a pinch toward the front are unique to this style. The brim is usually turned down in the front. They were made in many colors, but the most common were versatile tan, gray, brown or black. Some were embellished with a small feather on the side or stylish bands in a pattern or contrasting color.
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Size
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The fedora was a more compact hat than men had worn in previous generations. It easily lent itself to the modern man's lifestyle. Because of its low profile, the fedora was ideal for riding in an automobile. It was perfect for protection against the elements and was a popular and stylish choice among city dwellers.
Famous Ties
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The fedora was worn by Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, Bing Crosby and many other leading men on the silver screen in the 1940s. Humphrey Bogart's character in Casablanca is the quintessential example of a fedora-clad movie star. The fedora is a signature trademark of modern movie characters Indiana Jones and Freddie Kreuger, as well as actors Hugh Jackman and Johnny Depp.
Modern Style
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The black fedora has been the traditional hat for Orthodox Jews for generations. However, hats fell out of fashion for mainstream American men and women after the 1960s. Hats began to disappear as early as the 1950s on the west coast, where fashion is usually less formal. Today the fedora is returning as a classy finishing touch for the fashionable man. Solids in traditional colors continue to be popular, but plaids and pinstripes can also be found today.
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