Would you ever buy a tapered hat?

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:24 am

I've worn hats and fedoras of all types and shapes ever since I could pull them out of my grandfather's closet. Suffice to say, I love hats! I don't consider myself a hat snob in the rude elitist sort of way, but I know what my personal preferences are when I look at a hat, be it wool, rabbit, or beaver. There is something I can enjoy from all of them. But apart from that, it's pretty noticeable that many folks here prefer a straight, non-tapered, stovepipe fedora. Since it's an Indiana Jones forum, it's pretty clear that it has to do with the characteristics of Indy's hat.

But I'm curious if that means you could never allow yourself to wear a tapered fedora? Some have begun to wear a hat based off the Indy connection alone, while others, like me, have worn hats for many years. Some of it is a matter of taste, but I'm curious how much is affected by your fandom of Indy?

So, I pose the question, would you ever buy or wear a tapered fedora, and if not, why? I ask that everyone respects each other's opinions and that we keep away from the "tapered hats stink" comments. Post if you have something to contribute. If you don't like a tapered hat, explain in words what it is that you don't like about them. If you do like tapered hats, share what attracts you to them. Discuss!

WarrenJones · Post by **WarrenJones** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:34 am

just cause my favorite hat gets some taper, doenst mean it wont still get worn 24/7

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:36 am

If you'll recall, all we HAD were tapered hats until Steve and Marc got it right, so what's the big deal?

Regard! Michaelson

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:28 am

Actually, I do like some taper in some hats. Just not my Indy fedoras. The right amount of taper with the right creases is pretty attractive to me personally. And face it, some people will never look quite right in a straight sided hat. Hatters used to recommend tapered hats to folks with certain facial shapes or head shapes.

When Bernie was working with the creases on the film hat, he was mostly concerned with what looked good on Ford. I have no doubts that if he had felt a tapered hat looked better on Ford, that is what we would be seeing in the new film. Thankfully, he did not put the TOD hat back on Indy.

Tapered hats look particularly good on cone heads.

Fedora

Piker · Post by **Piker** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:48 am

My Akubra Casual, a travel felt hat, has some taper built into it. I wear it and all, took it out to Las Vegas, popped right back into shape once out of the suitcase.

Mrs. Piker sez, "I like your other one better." The other one is a straight sided, tall C-crown.

I look better, at least in her eyes, in the stove-pipe than in the tapered hat. So, tappered styles will be avoided in the future.

Fink · Post by **Fink** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:50 am

I actually own and use both kind of hats...

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:59 am

I have to say the thing that got me hooked on Indy's hat was the Raiders hat. The Straight side, warped brim and tall crown. For a Indy hat it's a must for me. Thats not to say I don't like other fedora's. There are a couple of grey fedora's that are different that I like but don't have right now but will again someday.

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:14 pm

I once tried to give one of my old HJ's to my hat-enthusiast cousin, a very discriminating guy (in the best sense of that word, of course). He gave it back to me, saying it was too "stovepipe" for his taste. That was the first time I ever heard that word in connection with an Indy-style hat.

I wanted to point out how difficult, if not impossible it was to find that untapered look in the stores, but I knew I'd be wasting my breath. He knows what he likes.

It all comes down to personal taste, but for some fans, when you add the Indy factor into the equation, the question of which style you like best can be clouded by another question-- "do I like this hat because it looks good on me, or because it looks like the Raiders?" hat?"

That's where the objective opinion of someone you trust can be very helpful. For me, it all comes back to my cousin. He was the one who first pointed out that my old Indy style jacket looked terrible on me-- but that's another topic.

Jack

alanseijas · Post by **alanseijas** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:47 pm

I just flat out do not like tapered hats. Just my opinion. I have the Akubra Adventurer which is made from a tapered block (bought it before I knew what taper even was), and I put a wider top crease in it (which is not screen accurate) to avoid taper. The straight on look is more important to me, but I am aspiring to an AB in the future.

swcrazyfan · Post by **swcrazyfan** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:57 pm

I loved wearing fedoras before I wanted to buy a Indy one. Each of my fedoras are tapered, and I lvoe the way they look on me.

I am expecting the fed IV soon, and that will be my first un-tapered fedora. I hope that it will look as good on me as it does on Indy. *crosses fingers*

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:16 pm

BendingOak wrote:I have to say the thing that got me hooked on Indy's hat was the Raiders hat. The Straight side, warped brim and tall crown. For a Indy hat it's a must for me. Thats not to say I don't like other fedora's. There are a couple of grey fedora's that are different that I like but don't have right now but will again someday.

I forgot to vote when I posted. Good thing I didn't becase after reading my own post and others. It's funny that I pushed to get the Raiders ( no tappered hat) and not the other style's. I only ever wanted the raiders hat so badly the others could wait and have. I guess the only way I'm really going to know how i feel is to get another style hat and see if I wear it.

This didn't help me one bit.

I blame you bink for the headache

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:22 pm

BendingOak wrote:This didn't help me one bit. I blame you bink for the headache

Take two stovepipes and call me in the morning.

The reason I started this thread is because among some folks, there is a very strong preference toward the untapered hats. I'm curious to know if it is mainly an Indy-only bias, or otherwise.

alanseijas · Post by **alanseijas** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:39 pm

To me it's not an Indy-only bias. Just the look of the hat itself.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:56 pm

I prefer the untapered fedora, but have nothing against taper. Granted, I don't like too much, it has to complement me. I currently own two untapered fedoras and two tapered. It all boils down to what I want to wear that day. I will never buy a hat that makes me look like a cone head, I neither like the look nor does it complement me. The taper has to be just right. I've been wearing fedoras way before COW and always wore both styles.

Dave

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:14 pm

binkmeisterRick wrote:
BendingOak wrote:This didn't help me one bit. I blame you bink for the headache
Take two stovepipes and call me in the morning.

The reason I started this thread is because among some folks, there is a very strong preference toward the untapered hats. I'm curious to know if it is mainly an Indy-only bias, or otherwise.

very funny. I'm wearing one now but I don't think I can really vote.

DanielJones · Post by **DanielJones** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:34 pm

I have sever non-indy fedoras a7 a few of those have some sort of taper to them. It's just the nature of the beast. Depending on the brim width a little taper looks better on some hats because it balances the shape with my face. It all depends on the hat itself.
Would I purposfully purchase a tapered hat? No. But if in the shaping process it turned out that way & it looked good then it was to be.

Cheers!

Dan

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:40 pm

I have to agree squarely with Fedora on this. I don't like taper in my Indy hats, but otherwise I can be flexible. If the hat's nice and it looks good on me, I don't care if has taper. It just so happens that straight crowns are more likely to look better on me, but not always. I do own a couple of tapered hats - mostly straws, but I have two felt Stetsons with a taper (oh, the horror! I know!), and my most recent Art Fawcett has a barely noticable taper.

gi_canuck · Post by **gi_canuck** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:42 am

Curse my head shape!! I can't help but to wear my hat tapered!! My skull is round and both of my hats are for regular oval shaped heads... Even my AB gets slightly tapered on my head. Why oh Why couldn't I have born with oval shaped head... I think Fedora mentioned something about Marc having round hat blocks or something... May have to get another AB made by Marc and see it'll make any difference. Any expert hat makers out there who has any suggestions? (The taper on my AB is barely noticeable, but still, it's very annoying for me)

nicetrylaoche · Post by **nicetrylaoche** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:21 pm

Now if we're talkin' about tapered Raiders fedoras......then my answer is no....because they shouldn't exist.....Disneyworld obviously has another opinion

thatguyno1 · Post by **thatguyno1** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:01 am

Even though I have a Raiders and a KOTCS on order I like my TOD too.

Paul ô¿ô

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