Request for Advice: Hat proportions

[stevemahaffey]

A few months ago, I bought a Henry from Oak, and ordered one of his hats. My question is one that I have seen many ask, but few seem to get answers. I'm not asking for anything definitive; everyone has their own taste, but I want to get the collective opinion of COW on matters of crown height and brim width for me. The link below is to a collection of photos of me wearing my Henry for the past couple of months. I know my bash is nowhere near SA. I did it myself and I like the way it turned out. What I am concerned with, though, is that when I look in the mirror, I see a VERY large hat that seems too big to suit me well. I could be wrong, though. Some have told me that it suits me well, while others have simply commented "That's an awfully big hat you've got there".

Indy is a large part of the reason I like this style hat, but not the only reason. For my custom hat from Penman, I want just that. MY Custom Hat. I have no doubt that John will be able to do this for me, but I want to hear what you all think. I don't want a hat that wears me, but one that well compliments me, while is still Indy-esque.

I want people who are not fans at all to say "That's a Great Looking Hat"
I want people who are Indy fans to say "That's the best Indy hat I've ever seen" (At least those fans who don't know about AdventureBilt)
I want GearHeads to see me out somewhere and say "That's a nice Penman you've got, there"

BTW, my Henry is a little large. It is a 59 and I probably need just a small touch bigger than a 58, Long Oval. I have felt nearly all the way around my Henry to get it fitting a little better.

Sorry for the long post, I tend to get a little wordy and not say much. That's why I normally just read everyone else's thoughts, instead of interject my own.

http://web.me.com/stevemahaffey/Hat_Pic ... _Pics.html

[jnicktem]

Honestly, I think it looks good on you. I think most people aren't used to seeing a larger size hat (higher crown and wider brim) so their initial reaction is that it looks huge. When I received my Penman Raiders Grey Seaplane by father thought it looked really big on me! But once we both got used to it he agrees that it really suits me.

It really is a matter of perspective, I believe. Most people that do wear hats now usually wear the small crown/brim fedoras. Anything else seems to catch people off-guard.

[jlee562]

Yeah, I agree. Since these these types of hats aren't really in style right now, people get thrown off. I notice that if I put my Fed IV on and stand close to the mirror I think it looks huge on my head, but if I step back about 10 ft, it looks proportional.

Personally, I think the Henry suits you quite well.

[Chewbacca Jones]

It looks fine. However, the Indy style can be a rather "big" looking hat as a first hat, or when graduating from smaller styles. Give time to get used to it, for one. Also, because the size is off, that could effect how you see it. The other thing is personal tastes. It could end up that, no matter how good the hat looks on you, YOU might like care for it on you. Hopefully, that won't happen, but it can.

So, like a new pair of jeans, give the hat style and yourself time to get used to each other.

[BendingOak]

The people who should judge your Indy hat are other gearheads from right here. Most people out of the gearhead world will say any straight side tall crown and wide brim hat is to big for anyone. Let the fellow COW members chime in. I think it looks ok but might take down the brim just a tad. I would need to see more shots like the ones outdoors.

[Indiana Bugs]

When I read your post I was expecting to see the BHLH (big hat little head) syndrome, but in all the pictures, the hat seems perfect for you, imho, although it does sit a bit low. I guess thats because its too big, as you has stated. Sometimes sizing tape doesnt work perfectly, especially if you have it all around.

[Indiana Jeff]

I think the second picture in your slide show (outdoors in the blue shirt) is the best representation to show the true proportions and the hat is just right. I agree with jlee562, if you are looking at yourself in a mirror at a "normal" distance the hat can look too big, but if you stand back it falls into better proportions. I really like the night time shots in front of the Christmas lights on your(?) house.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[JRabbit]

I got a Fed IV for Christmas (thanks Wifey and Mom), and have struggled with the way it looks on me ever since. I'm used to wearing a stingy brim, and the jump up to the open crown & wide brim is a bit much. Added to that, I have a long oval head and a V shaped face, so the hat just looks big.

I've posted pics here and everyone says it looks fine, but as you stated in your OP, I want to be able to look in the mirror and think "yeah, I'm wearing the hat, it's not wearing me". I don't know that I can do that yet.

I wore it to work today and got a "what's happening Crocodile Dundee?". Too funny. That didn't bother me at all, I'm very comfortable in my own skin. But I have been considering trimming the brim down some.

If I WERE to trim the brim, what's the best process and tools for doing so? Should I not risk it and send it to a professional? Should I just chill out, keep wearing it as is, and get used to it?

I'd post a pic, but I'm at work and can't access any photo sites. I'll try to do so later tonight.

Anyway stevemahaffey, I think the pics of your hat look fine on you.

JRabbit

[Edit with pics]

[BendingOak]

Just looking at those two pics I would say leave it. I would like to get a better view. From more of a distant would really help.

[jnicktem]

I agree with John... have someone else take a picture (or set the camera on a timer) and take the picture from about 10-15 feet away. It can look big on you because you are looking at it too closely.

Edit- OH! At 700 posts I added another hat! Now I am a professor of Archaeology!

[jlee562]

Hard to tell from those close ups, although it doesn't look too large. If you've got a hat store in your area, they should be able to trim it for you, or point you in the right direction, you won't necessarily have to send your hat out anywhere.

[Indiana Bugs]

I'd leave it alone. It looks great on you.

[stevemahaffey]

That's part of the problem with me judging for myself how it looks, though. Even with felt strips in the back and on the front 'corners' the hat is still too big and actually Does sit on my ears. Actually, because of my long head, one ear actually slips inside the hat unless I constantly reach up and adjust the thing. It is fitting Much better now, though, than it did when I got it. I talked to John several times and emailed back and forth for a couple of weeks before I ever set any kind of crease in the hat because I just couldn't get the thing to fit right. Now after a LOT of wear, it has started to conform to my head more, but I still would like the COW community to try to use this Henry as a point of reference for how this basic hat style 'works' for me, so that my Penman will be Perfect.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. Keep 'em coming!

[jnicktem]

So you're getting a custom Penman? If so, this is what I would do if I were you.

I would take a few more pictures, from a distance, of you wearing the hat. Take pictures from a few different angles. Then send those pictures to John and ask for his advice. If there is one thing I learned about hatters, they know their skill well. When I ordered my first hat from John he asked if I had any pictures of me wearing a hat so he can get an idea of what specs would work best for me. So I sent him some and he made me a fantastic hat that looks great on me!

[stevemahaffey]

John called yesterday and told me my hat is on it's way! I'll be sure to post a few pics when I get it.

[Michaelson]

Glad to hear your Penman is on it's way.

That said, and coming late to the party, based on the photos, you're a big man, and the current hat is, to my eye, proportionally perfect to your face and body shape/size.

Nothing more I can say. You're there. All you can do now is wear it until it becomes part of you, rather than just a hat sitting on your head, if you follow my meaning.

The sweat band eventually shrinks with wear and evaporation perspiration, so that looseness will go away.

Regards! Michaelson

[Fedora]

I was expecting to see a really big hat on a small head. Not the case. The hat looks fine.

The thing about trimmng a brim, is once its gone, it ain't coming back. I had a reblock recently where the customer had trimmed the brim, and now wanted it back. Nope, can't do it. Not enough crown to do so.

With the Indy hats, especially the Raiders and CS, it takes some wear to get used to the larger proportions. But once you do, if you wear a short crowned, stingy brim hat, it makes you want to run and hide! That has been my own experience anyways.

The Henry has a brim that is 2 1/2 on the sides which will fit most all facial shapes except the really slim ones. For the slimmer faces, the 2 1/4 to 2 3/8's side brim is needed.


I watch alot of old films. You get to see alot of hats in those films. Some hats, look "off" to me, the ones that have really wide crowns, but back then, these were very acceptable. And, I might add, even stylish. So, no hard and fast rules on hats, if you watch the old films. If you are after an Indy fedora, you have to get used to the proportions, except in certain cases of really wide faces, or really slim ones. Those require some adjustment. Fedora

[IndianaSean]

I agree. Your hat looks great. I have a little collection of fedoras as most gearheads do. However when I got my Fed IV I was a little apprehensive over the brim and size as well. However I finally got over it. Remember, especially in this hobby it what makes you feel good. Your Henry is great! Can't wait to get one myself. As Oak stated don't worry about what folks have to say. My mantra is this: Wear the gear, don't let it wear you. A positive way of not being to self-conscious.


Sean

[Fedora]

You know, one example of big hats, are western hats. No matter what you facial shape is, you are gonna get a wide brim!! This is because of the style of hat this is. We tend to try and balance out the brims and crown heights on Indy fedoras though, as most want to have the hat in proportion with their facial and head shape. You can about bet that when D.L. made that first fedora for Ford, she was looking for specs that fit his face. Bernie was doing the same thing with Indy 4. For some reason, he went with the fuller crown, when we had other crowns in that were not as full. Same with the brim width. They even film tested various ABs to arrive at what Spielberg thought was the best dimensions, later on. But Bernie started out trying to fit the hat to Ford. He liked the shorter crown with wider brim. And that was not what Spielberg chose. He chose the taller crown with the narrower brim. Fedora

[stevemahaffey]

At long last, my Penman has arrived! Well, actually, it arrived a couple of weeks ago, I've just been too busy lately to take any pics (sorry, John). I have been living in the hat, though. I don't believe there has been a day I haven't worn it.

Anyway, there's nothing I can really say for the quality of this hat that hasn't been said already by others, but I am certain that nobody has exaggerated. John, wow. You are a master.

Anyway, here are the few pics I have, plus a few extra 'Henry' pics we took just for fun. I probably should post these over on the Penman Post 'em page, but I thought this thread could use some closure. I didn't think to take any pics of the wonderful hat box, but it, also, lives up to every expectation.

http://web.me.com/stevemahaffey/Hat_Pic ... enman.html

[BendingOak]

stevemahaffey,

Nothing to be sorry about. The photo's look great. I would like to use a couple if I could?

[Garrett]

John knocked that one out of the park just like he did with mine

Congrats and welcome to the Penman Owners Club

[stevemahaffey]

John, any pics you want, feel free. I can send you higher resolution ones if you like, just let me know.

[TenuredProfessor]

Wow!! You are a lucky man, stevemahaffrey!!! Is that the rabbit felt? Any details about your order would be appreciated. But, maybe it would be best to continue this at the Penman post'em page. Man, I'm driving myself batty looking at John's hats while waiting for mine. It looks great on you....fedoras can take time to get adjusted to if you're not used to them.