How to Buy a Fedora

The fedora is a men's hat that dates back to the early 1900s. Silver screen icons like Humphrey Bogart popularized the fedora and still today imbue the hat with a sense of class and elegant cool. Fedoras continue to be popular today, with rock stars like Kid Rock sporting them at concerts and awards shows. So, follow these steps to buy a fedora.

Instructions

1. Take a look at the colors and styles. Start with the basic shape of the fedora, which varies in styles such as "gangster," "Bogart," and "Stetson." Then look at the material of the hat, which is most often soft wool. Check out straw and rougher wool as well. Finally, consider color. Black, gray and brown are the most popular colors. But, auburn, white and olive green are also widely available.

2. Think about small accessories. Many fedoras have a silk band around the crown of the hat. Others have elegant or brightly colored bird's feather tucked into a band or wide, colorful ribbons as in the porkpie variation of the hat. Check out the different kinds of accessories that come on fedoras so you can make a good purchase.

3. Try the hat on. The smallest difference in a fedora's shape or size can have a big impact on how the fedora feels and looks. You should try on a number of different hats before you buy one. Pay attention to how the hat feels, if it sits soundly on your head and what other people think of the hat's appearance on you.

4. Buy the hat. There are a number of places you can buy a good fedora. If you want some expertise and a quality guarantee try a dedicated hat store. Otherwise, local haberdasheries are sure to carry a decent selection of fedoras. For the biggest selection and the cheapest prices, though, look to online hat shops such as Hatsinthebelfry.com, which specializes in well priced and high quality hats.