Are Indy hats "formal" or "casual"?

Barcelona Jones · Post by **Barcelona Jones** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:08 am

Hi,

This question I put in a forum where the average member wears or collects hats, and some of these happen to be Indy fans, too. I thought it would be interesting to do the same here, where the reverse is true: here we have plenty of Infy fans, some of them being also hat aficionadoes in general (and many of them participate in both sites).

I have just an Indy hat, an excellent Penman. I find it hard to see it as a formal hat - I use it as a casual hat, and couple it with more casual clothing than I do with other fedoras. It is just that I do not see this hat working, for me, with more dressy clothing - not even sport suit jackets and ties, which is my more usual wardrobe.

Not that is is a problem - I have plenty of hats that I can wear with more formal clothing, is just I find odd this reaction of mine.

I have a couple of brown fedoras which are not that different to this one; similar height, similar brim. My Indy hat has the Raiders style, but, apart from the tight front pinch, it has a centerdent crease which is a very common crease. It has the "turn", but even this is not that far apart from what happens when you put your hat on off center. After all, the Indy hat is a fedora. I mean, it is not the same as, say, a cowboy or a safari hat.

May it be the dimensional cut? This is the only hat I have with this feature. Or that I inconciously fail to dissociate this hat from the adventurer image? It is simply some synaptic disfunction I have?

Any opinions? How do you consider your Indy hat? Formal? Casual? Both?

P.S. I do not mean "formal" in the sense of tuxedos and the like; I am referring to the range between what nowadays tends to be considered formal (or "more formal casual", so to say it), like, say, button-down shirt, tie and sports jacket, and up to, at most, 3-piece suits.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:53 am

Both.

I just make sure my hat is completely brushed and clean for formal wear. I also make sure the ribbon looks it's best. If stained or faded, it's regulated to casual duty until that is changed out at next rebuild/reblock, then it can return to 'both' again.

Regards! Michaelson

Long John Tinfoil · Post by **Long John Tinfoil** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:12 am

I tend to view it like my Grandfather did. The newest hat is the "dress" hat, any others without notable dirt/damage/wear would be for "everyday", and the old favourite/most disreputable of the bunch is the "gone fishin'" hat.

LJ

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:17 am

Both, as well. Some of my hats are definite beater or casual hats, but most of my hats I'll wear as either formal or casual, depending how the mood strikes me. ;-)

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:27 am

To me, any non turned fedora is a dress hat. But once you do the turn, you enter into another realm. IMO. And this is the reason I was attracted to this hat to begin with, plus it had more brim than most dress hats. Fedora

cowboy827 · Post by **cowboy827** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:44 am

Michaelson wrote: I just make sure my hat is completely brushed and clean for formal wear. I also make sure the ribbon looks it's best. If stained or faded, it's regulated to casual duty until that is changed out at next rebuild/reblock, then it can return to 'both' again.

I agree completely. I also try to color coodinate. For instance, I'll wear my brown fedora with khakis and a sport coat, and my carbon gray with a gray or blue suit.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:48 am

Thing is, back in the day, grey fedora were also considered correct for brown suits and coats.

Regards! Michaelson

cowboy827 · Post by **cowboy827** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:51 am

That's true, but it wasn't infrequent for men, particularly white collar professionals, to have a number of hats of different colors and styles.

Of course, people were generally more formal during that era. There was no such thing as business casual.

WConly · Post by **WConly** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:52 am

Michaelson wrote:Thing is, back in the day, grey fedora were also considered correct for brown suits and coats.

Regards! Michaelson

Quite correct! I think like Mr. M. here as long as it is brushed out and clean, it works for dress as well as adventure. If it looks dirty, it is not for dress. That simple and that easy to understand. W>

basilbakerst · Post by **basilbakerst** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:01 am

I can envision an Indy-style fedora as a formal hat with the right suit combination. I tend to think of the grey and black fedoras as being more formal. I wager that's why they had Indiana Jones wearing a different hat on the sea plane and the train. However, if the hat is well kept, which Indy's were not for the most part, it would look swell. I'm using that kind of logic to talk my wife into me getting another brown fedora -- one for play and one for dress.

basilbakerst

Wolfwood · Post by **Wolfwood** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:22 am

Already responded on that "other forum", but let's repeat here: I see my Akubra Fed Deluxe IV as a very versatile hat and would be willing to wear it also with a suit - if I actually ever wore them (I'm pretty good at avoiding such situations where suits are needed).

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:55 am

My first AB is so dirty and beat up ( and it looks so Indy right now) ,is my daily hat. I have another 2 AB ( 1 brown and 1 grey) that I use for suit. Both of those hats are turned. I keep both of them clean and brushed , where my daily I do not.

To answer your question, I'm with Michealson on this one. Scary we are thinking alike , again.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:59 am

BendingOak wrote: To answer your question, I'm with Michealson on this one. Scary we are thinking alike , again.

Yep!

;-)

Regard! Michaelson

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:03 am

Don't make a habit of it, gentlemen. ;-)

As far as the Indy hat being formal...of course. I wear my hat with a tan or blue suit, though the blue suit looks much better with a grey hat, and it looks great. Yes, the hat is turned. Yes, it rocks.

Dave

maboot38 · Post by **maboot38** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:14 am

I rock my Fed IV brown with my charcoal overcoat, most often worn with dark suits. It works pretty well, even though I had reservations about it at first. I'd really like the moonstone, but no more hats for me until I'm sitting on a mortgage.

Nicolas Jones · Post by **Nicolas Jones** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:28 am

Definitively FORMAL!

Guys who wear a "cheap" stetson made of wool have a casual hat.

We are not those guys, we know the value of what we hat on our head...

Regards,

Nicolas

Post by **Dr. Nebraska S.** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:28 pm

Also, you might want to check out this somewhat related thread:
viewtopic.php?p=536205#536205 It's not the same topic (i.e. doesn't have much on the dressier side), but has some discussion about the more casual examples.

best wishes,
Nebraska Schulte

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:14 pm

Overall, it looks like the answers are very similar to the thread on the other forum. To quote a totally unrelated movie; "Truth is Truth."

theinterchange · Post by **theinterchange** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:52 pm

I may look at things differently but I find that the bash also plays a part in a hat being dress or casual.

Such as my Crystal Skull Keppler, it oftentimes feels a bit dressy for casual situations. So I usually wear it with more rugged/worn looking clothing to keep it casual since I hardly ever have need for a dressier hat.

With the exception of the seaplane hat, I find the Raiders hats to be more casual looking overall.

That's just me.

Randy

Indy35 · Post by **Indy35** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:07 pm

Personally any fedora can be formal, and just making sure it "fits" with whatever you decide to wear. Generally, i make sure the tie and hat look presentable with each other and then the suit. The suit colors don't vary much, hats can. I personally prefer dark hats with most suits, however the moonstone lids has begun to change my attitude, that contrasting ribbon looks cool with my dark blue or black suits. All my hats are kept cleaned and brushed (except for the PB) because they're used for work. THe PB is "run it over with a tank" tough and great when doing firewood or working.

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:17 pm

I wear my AB informal, as it has been kinda beat up over the years. So it is my adventure hat, the hat I take on my trips abroad.

Besides that, I rarely dress formally, my usual outfit is t shirt and blue jeans. But I have a nice Art Fawcett black fedora for the rare occasions I wear a suit...KC

theinterchange · Post by **theinterchange** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:24 pm

Indy35 wrote: THe PB is "run it over with a tank" tough and great when doing firewood or working.

You don't hear much about PB's. I take it you own the helmet stiff version?

Randy

tym · Post by **tym** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:43 am

I'd say that any clean fedora would be considered formal by today's (lax) dress standards.

I yearn for the olden days, and I would love to look like James Stewart's character from 'Vertigo.' Having a Kim Novak dangling from my arm would be a necessary part of the accouterments, of course.

DoubleOhSeven · Post by **DoubleOhSeven** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:41 am

Since I've moved to a job where I have to wear a suit and tie to work, a few of my fedoras have seen more wear than I ever thought it would.

Lately, we've had some weather that has been cold and rainy. I found the brown of my Legend matches well with my khaki overcoat, and just works wonders for keeping the wind/rain out of my head. At first some of the guys at work ribbed me a bit for being Indy, or Columbo, or whomever, but within a few days a few of them were wearing hats with their overcoats and rain coats, too.

They definitely work with a suit, and the look is nostalgic to say the least. Many, many people refer to it a being "sharply dressed". I had one judge tell me he liked my "gentleman's hat".

Russian Raider · Post by **Russian Raider** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:50 am

For me fedora is great thing to add to a suitable outfit. Lets say when i wear suitable type of clothes i wear fedora also, but when i am in the mood for sportwear (sneakers and a hoodie) i leave fedora at home.

Barcelona Jones · Post by **Barcelona Jones** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:33 am

It was interesting to read so many interventions. And it is remarcable, as Chewie noticed, that in general the balance of opinions is similar to that expressed at The Fedora Lounge. Common interests result in like answers, I would guess...

Well, today I took one step up and wore my Penman Raiders with a slightly more dressier outfit... one step at a time...

It seems to work!

Regards!

Cammer · Post by **Cammer** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:34 pm

That's a great look Barcelona! It definitely works.

Dutch_jones · Post by **Dutch_jones** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:07 pm

Barcelona i'm very sorry to say, but that hat looks like its wearing you! sorry.

Post by **Dr. Nebraska S.** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:04 pm

I have to disagree with Dutch--I think the hat looks quite good on you!

best wishes,
Nebraska Schulte

Post by **Holt** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:15 pm

I agree with Luke.

it looks good!

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:21 pm

I think Barcelona wears the hat well and I think it suits him. Barcelona, pay no attention. I think it looks great. ;-)

Dave

Tremolo · Post by **Tremolo** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:52 pm

I would also say that the hat looks good on Barcelona!

DanielJones · Post by **DanielJones** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:02 pm

I tend to think that this particular hat can do double duty. I have worn mine out surveying & then turned around that evening & have worn it to dinner (after cleaning up of course). And I'm sure many men did so back in the day because they didn't own a slew of hats.

Cheers!

Dan

Mark Brody · Post by **Mark Brody** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:25 am

I'd say it's casual. Brown hats to not lend themselves to be worn with formal suits, which are usually black, grey, or blue. Also, the centerdent is more casual than a teardrop. That's not to say that you couldn't pick up a brown suit and make it more formal, but most earth tone suits are on the casual side, too.

maboot38 · Post by **maboot38** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:43 am

So I think the consensus is that there IS no consensus. I've worn mine in casual situations as well as formal. If I had a moonstone hat and was wearing a suit, I would choose that one over the brown if that means anything. If I was wearing jeans and a sweater, I would choose the brown.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:22 am

Mark Brody wrote:I'd say it's casual. Brown hats to not lend themselves to be worn with formal suits, which are usually black, grey, or blue.

I disagree. They make brown suits, too, remember? ;-) I've seen brown hats worn successfully with blue suits. It can be done. Doing a quick search, I came across this on the miller hats website:

Clothing: Brown Hats are best worn with brown or green suits and coats. Dark Brown hats are acceptable with dark gray and dark blue suits. In medium and lighter tones, brown-blue, and brown-gray combinations should be avoided.

Also keep in mind that color trends were different before WWII than they are now. Where grey is now considered the neutral, beige was often the neutral color back then.

maboot38 · Post by **maboot38** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:25 am

Good points Rick. Also, I think the ribbon on a correct Indy hat in brown lends itself well to coordinating with darker suits.

Are Indy hats "formal" or "casual"?

Are Indy hats "formal" or "casual"?

Formal lids

Re: Formal lids