Fedora Color

[Guest]

Are there any colors that one should avoid such as navy, dark green or black?

[Guest]

Are there any colors that one should avoid such as navy, dark green or black?

Navy and dark green hats are, generally, an abomination but a black hat, surely, is never a bad choice.
NJS

[Guest]

Are there any colors that one should avoid such as navy, dark green or black?

Navy and dark green hats are, generally, an abomination but a black hat, surely, is never a bad choice.
NJS

... for evening wear.
Lock has a nice dark green-grey (the green is just a shade, no forest green) that proves anything can work if tastefully made.
I confess to owning a dark blue waterproof crushable "Borsalino Traveller" that goes fine with townwear and when travelling (easy to take on a plane - but not because it is dark blue ).

[Guest]

Are there any colors that one should avoid such as navy, dark green or black?

Navy and dark green hats are, generally, an abomination but a black hat, surely, is never a bad choice.
NJS

... for evening wear.
Lock has a nice dark green-grey (the green is just a shade, no forest green) that proves anything can work if tastefully made.
I confess to owning a dark blue waterproof crushable "Borsalino Traveller" that goes fine with townwear and when travelling (easy to take on a plane - but not because it is dark blue ).

I agree about the Lock green-grey - but mine didn't really suit me so I gave it away.
NJS

[Guest]

Are the fedora colors of choice grey and brown, in their various shades?

I don't understand when a black hat is suitable or not....?

[Guest]

A black fedora is suitable for business or afterhour affairs if you are wearing a black overcoat or a black-and-grey herringbone overcoat. It's the dressiest color for a hat and it need not be confined to formalwear.

If you're building a wardrobe of hats, here in no particular order are the
basic colors to have: Black, Navy Blue, Slate Grey, Dark Brown, Dark Tan. The next tier includes: Medium Grey, Porcelain (an off-white leaning toward beige). After that you can add some sport hats and caps in tweed and straw--nothing dorky, mind you. You want to look smart in whatever is on your head. No Peruvian knit caps with flaps. If you need a warm hat in winter, consider a fur hat from Russia. Most of them look like leftovers from the Cold War, but if made properly using the best pelts they are
sensational and oh so warm. Avoid lesser fur-bearing animals and go straight for high-quality mink or sable.

JMB

[Guest]

Why the antipathy towards navy colored fedoras? It would seem like a very nice choice for a hat along with the browns and grays. Is it a matter of versatility?

-pbc

[Guest]

Are there any colors that one should avoid such as navy, dark green or black?

Navy and dark green hats are, generally, an abomination but a black hat, surely, is never a bad choice.
NJS

are you serious? a black hat is for a funeral.

[Guest]

Why the antipathy towards navy colored fedoras? It would seem like a very nice choice for a hat along with the browns and grays. Is it a matter of versatility?

-pbc

AGREE! 100%

[Guest]

I personally do not find navy hats to be that versatile. Grey is far more compatible with other items of clothing.

Cordovan

[Guest]

Why the antipathy towards navy colored fedoras? It would seem like a very nice choice for a hat along with the browns and grays. Is it a matter of versatility?

-pbc

Navy is a splendid hat color! And you are correct as to it's versatility.


DFV.

[Guest]

If you need a warm hat in winter, consider a fur hat from Russia. Most of them look like leftovers from the Cold War, but if made properly using the best pelts they are
sensational and oh so warm. Avoid lesser fur-bearing animals and go straight for high-quality mink or sable.

JMB

I like this advice as, in Winter, a fedora won't keep you warm enough; fur is needed, and mink/sable sounds great. But where to find a proper Russian fur hat?
And what does one do about covering the ears?; elegance may suffer but honestly the ears suffer more in the Winter in the city.

On another note, what is a fedora made of?; is it typically rabbit fur? Are there other options? Beaver?

Also, re. Summer straw hats, I once had a Panama; it rained on it slightly and the damn thing shrunk, never was able to get it back to my proper size though I took it to Bates, where I bought it, for stretching several times without luck. No more straw hats for me unless I can really ensure that it is never going to rain on it, which I can't.

[Guest]

Where to find a proper Russian fur hat?
And what does one do about covering the ears?

Also, re. Summer straw hats, I once had a Panama; it rained on it slightly and the damn thing shrunk, never was able to get it back to my proper size

The fur hats (called an ushanka) can actually do a great job of keeping your ears warm without covering them. I've worn them in very cold climates and only during extreme winter storms was I required to use the ear (and neck) flaps folded down. They are very warm. I found that just having the hat touch the top of my ears kept them warm enough. Sometimes I would even have to remove the ushanka to let the heat out.

The issue with the straw hat seems odd since they originate from humid tropical climates where an afternoon rainstorm occurs almost like clockwork. Are Panamas strictly to be kept dry?

-pbc

[Guest]

Yes, fur is certainly the warmest covering that I have worn on my head. It can also get too warm very quickly. I have worn fur (though rabbit or muskrat) at some high altitude ski resorts late at night in the dead of Winter and have never been kept so warm. And like you, had to take off the hat periodically to cool down. Everyone else , with their wool knit caps, was chilled to the bone.

But where can one buy a genuine, elegant Russian mink/sable hat. Any of our Russian collegues have an idea?

[Guest]

With Bates closing (does anyone know when?), where should one shop now for hats/caps in London.