Some observations of hatwearing

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 3:43 pm

I was looking at some pics, from the 20's and 30's, and noticed how high many men wore their hats. I mean, some wore them way up on the top of their heads. It just got me to thinking. If I wore mine like that, I would have to wear a 7 1/8 instead of my usual 7 1/4 size. When the wind blew, these guys would have to tug that hat down. What, wait a minute. I think I now know why so many bad things happened during that time period. Oxygen deprivation, to the brain.

And also, why Indy always came out on top. He was one of the few who bought his hat big enough. Plenty of O2. Ok, ok, perhaps I have been working with too many mercury bodies.

But, I still find it interesting that hats were worn in so many different manners. Personally, I never liked a cocked hat, to one side. Yeah, I know, Bogie did it, but it must be the cowboy in me. I basically have two ways of wearing my hats. I either toss it back on my head, telegraphing a jovial, carefree attitude, or I pull it down low, over my eyes, ready for business. Used to, my wife insisted that I take mine off at night, at bedtime. Nowadays, not having a wife around, I just pull it over my eyes and snooze. There is an extra benefit to do this. Generally during the night, I end up using it for a pillow, which does wonders for a new hat that you want to break in, to give it a new, but used look.

Fedora

Post by **Mike** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:06 pm

Hey, guys have told tales of sleeping in/on their new leather coats to help them break in, so I don't think a guy using a hat for a pillow will attract too many odd looks around these parts!

Mike

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:09 pm

Yeah, it's a great idea. Maybe that's one of the things Ms. Noodleman...er...Nadoolman had Harry do to break in his HJ. Of course, she didn't mention that on the DVD, so probably not.

And also, why Indy always came out on top. He was one of the few who bought his hat big enough.

It also explains why his hat never blew off.

:junior: -IJ

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:13 pm

I've noticed this, too. If you look at Indy several times during Raiders, his hat is farther up on his head than you'd expect. I really think that this is partly the reason why the hat looks the way it does. I've worn my hat like this several times, like Fedora said, showing that carefree, relaxing kind of attitude, and when it's time for business, pulling it down taut.

I can't count the amount of times I've fallen asleep with my Adventurebilt pulled down over my eyes and ended up underneath my head over the course of the time I was asleep.

I've never really liked the cocked to one side look either.

Regards,

Post by **Jens** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:17 pm

Interesting storie 'bout the 30s-way to wear a hat.
The way I wear my hat depends on what I have to do. Working and walking in the sun - I pull it just deep enough to cover my eyes in shadow.
Relaxing - I push it back.

Also thought about "sleeping in the hat" (like Indy did on the plane in ToD), but was afraid to ruin it. But then again ... if Mr. Fedora himself does it, hmm ... I'll give it a try.

Regards,
Jens

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:25 pm

if Mr. Fedora himself does it,

Yes, but I have the tools to fix it too.

Seriously. I have so many hats that I can afford to have beat up ones, and pristine looking ones too. Back when I only owned a couple of hats, I doted over them like a newborn. Nowadays, I have so many that I mistreat them, with the knowledge the cosmetic surgery is free.

It was not always thataway.

Fedora

Post by **Jens** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:32 pm

Okay, so you wanna say I just need more hats, hm?

Well, if that's the point ... I was thinking about buying an AB, just need to save some money.

The hat you donated for the European Summit fitted looked great on me (and on Tom, and Marc, and everybody around), it was hard to let it go

- but with Ace it's in good hands ...

-- Jens

Alabama Jones · Post by **Alabama Jones** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:50 pm

Fedora wrote:I was looking at some pics, from the 20's and 30's, and noticed how high many men wore their hats. I mean, some wore them way up on the top of their heads. It just got me to thinking. If I wore mine like that, I would have to wear a 7 1/8 instead of my usual 7 1/4 size.

Steve,

I've thought about this too, and have wondered maybe I got mine 1/8 " too big. When I send mine in for a reblock is it possible to take a 7 1/8" down to a 7? I think the slightly tighter fit would help with a more Raiderish look.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:51 pm

When I send mine in for a reblock is it possible to take a 7 1/8" down to a 7? I think the slightly tighter fit would help with a more Raiderish look.

Sure, no problem in reducing the size. regards. Fedora

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:08 pm

If you look at Indy several times during Raiders, his hat is farther up on his head than you'd expect. I really think that this is partly the reason why the hat looks the way it does.

There is a reason they did this and it was fully intentional. They knew Ford was going to sell the movie just coming off of being one of the coolest screen characters of all time, Han Solo. They couldn't have the hat low on his head beacuse the camera would lose his face in some of the shots and it was his face that was selling the picture. So, the moved the hat higher up to ensure they'd see his face in every shot needed.

In doing this though, they did create one of the little nuances of getting the exact look of the Raiders hat down. Only until my hat shrunk and I was forced to wear it higher did I finally get the look I was always aiming for. It also nicely evened out the crown hight to the correct porportion to my face after I had to move it up, just as Fedora mentioned. NEVER could have gotten any of this out of my old PB because it was just too large for my head, plus the felt was much thicker. Only now can I get the mushroom effect that we all talk about, cuz' the hat is sittin' high and tight, but not so tight that it hurts. Still, tighter than what most hat experts will tell you is on the money.

Ark Hunter · Post by **Ark Hunter** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:43 pm

Good, maybe that's why I can't get a good deep top bash...I'm waring my hat too low. It was about a 1/8 too big as I got it from some one else for a good price and figured I could fix an 1/8, so I doubled the head band to snug it up some...maybe not enough.

The Aviator · Post by **The Aviator** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:32 pm

Personally i myself dislike the cocked hat.... to michael jackson thriller meets indiana jones

....not my cup of tea

I bash my hat about all the time and use it as a pillow when camping or hiking....I have a few pics of me out that ill have to post them.My hat really goes from the relaxed to down on my forehead depending on my mood.......

3thoubucks · Post by **3thoubucks** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 3:05 am

This guy is working on a style.

The Aviator · Post by **The Aviator** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 8:34 am

Ye have to admit those are pretty nice hats wouldnt take to much to turn one into an indy fedora......he really has his own style quite different..

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 8:44 am

I am a big fan of Bogart wearing his hat cocked on one side of his head at that rackish angle, with that overcoat and his hand stuffed deeply into his pockets. To me that was the height of cool.

BTW, the hat in this pic looks like it could have served as some inspiration for the Indy hat, though I am pretty sure it was a tear drop, but look at that front pinch.

However, that's Bogart. If I were to try to do that, I would look like a fool. Like Steve, I have two looks: hat down over the eyes and hat pushed back. I tend to push it back a lot.

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:13 am

How to wear that hat! Good observations.

I have seen pictures of men from the 19th and 20th century who are photographed wearing their hats way back on their head. I used to wonder if they did that for photographic purposes only or in their normal lives? It seems there would be a lot of lost hats due to wind this way.

I think Hollywood positioned the hat for photos and movies to show off the actors face.

I tend to wear my hat forward unless it is too warm and I want to expose my face and get some air.

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:28 am

Somebody needs to teach Depp to snap the brim down in the front.

Hemingway Jones wrote:I am a big fan of Bogart wearing his hat cocked on one side of his head at that rackish angle, with that overcoat and his hand stuffed deeply into his pockets. To me that was the height of cool.

To me it just looks crooked.

Ark Hunter · Post by **Ark Hunter** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:34 am

rick5150 wrote:Somebody needs to teach Depp to snap the brim down in the front.

Instead of up like he's done?

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:45 am

Depp looks a bit silly with his brim up like that...

Baggers · Post by **Baggers** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 10:08 am

Feraud wrote:I think Hollywood positioned the hat for photos and movies to show off the actors face.

Photographers don't like hat brims pulled low. It makes lighting the face, particularly the eyes, difficult. Every time I've worn a hat in front of the camera, I've always been told to push it back on my head. I've even had a couple ask "can we lose the hat?" Personally, I've always wondered why they couldn't just bounce some light off a reflector or something just to throw some illumination up under the brim as a fill, but then I'm not the expert.

Cheers!

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 10:57 am

rick5150 wrote:Somebody needs to teach Depp to snap the brim down in the front.

Hemingway Jones wrote:I am a big fan of Bogart wearing his hat cocked on one side of his head at that rackish angle, with that overcoat and his hand stuffed deeply into his pockets. To me that was the height of cool.
To me it just looks crooked.

On this, my friend, we must disagree. Even John Steed wore his derby (or was it a bowler? -And what is the difference afterall?) to the side. I think it looks dashing. When Bogart did it; it looked dangerous, mysterious. And he is Bogart afterall.

Baggers · Post by **Baggers** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 12:08 pm

I tend to wear mine cocked slightly to the side. It adds a casual, "devil may care" look. A sense of style that I find appealing.

I'm wondering if this way of wearing a hat may have been a reaction (in part) stemming from the days when most young men had to serve in the military. There, one has to wear a hat in a certain fashion -- centered square on the head, brim two fingers width from the nose, that sort of thing -- so wearing a hat tilted slightly to the side or back might have been considered one of those small "rebellions" perpetrated by the common soldier whenever possible to maintain his sanity. All one has to do is look at any number of images of troops from any country when out of formation in a relaxed context.

Then again, I could be overthinking this whole thing.

Cheers!

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 3:19 pm

hemingway I don't like the half cocked hat look but, bogie can do anything and look like a heinie.

Dakota Ellison · Post by **Dakota Ellison** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 3:33 pm

To each his own.

Indiana Wayne · Post by **Indiana Wayne** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 4:13 pm

I like to wear my fedora high on my head.

Henry Jones Sr. · Post by **Henry Jones Sr.** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 4:29 pm

Dakota Ellison wrote:To each his own.

Indeed. De gustibus non est disputandum.

Regards,

Henry Jones, Sr.

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 6:15 pm

Baggers wrote:
Feraud wrote:I think Hollywood positioned the hat for photos and movies to show off the actors face.
Photographers don't like hat brims pulled low. It makes lighting the face, particularly the eyes, difficult. Every time I've worn a hat in front of the camera, I've always been told to push it back on my head. I've even had a couple ask "can we lose the hat?" Personally, I've always wondered why they couldn't just bounce some light off a reflector or something just to throw some illumination up under the brim as a fill, but then I'm not the expert.

Cheers!

I've had the same experience! We were filming the narration for our rock art site, and they made me tilt my hat back. The sun was so bright that my eyes were tearing like mad. They had to keep cutting because it looked like I was crying! Now I love rock art, but it doesn't move me to tears!

3thoubucks wrote:This guy is working on a style

Yeah, Che Guevara meets Jed Clampett.

Ark Hunter · Post by **Ark Hunter** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 6:46 pm

3thoubucks wrote:This guy is working on a style

Yeah, Che Guevara meets Jed Clampett.[/quote]

Maybe the neighbor dog got ahold of it.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:00 pm

I believe that's a fedora that Depp has worn since early on in his career. It holds alot of sentimental value to him.

Hey, he's one of the biggest movie stars on the world. He can do what he wants, fasion-wise.

Some observations of hatwearing

Some observations of hatwearing

Re: Some observations of hatwearing

hat