Fedora sizing question...

[Rick Deckard]

Recently I purchased a Downtowner for $79 to experiment with as this is my first experience with wearing a fedora. I want to wear it while doing yardwork, etc. and get a feel for whether I even liked wearing such a hat and so went a rather inexpensive root.

So here's the problem...The measurement of my head, taken by me and my wife, is 59 cm. So I ordered a 60 cm hat thinking that it might be nice to have a little more room. Well, the fedora arrived today and it's rather tight in the front. So tight that it leaves an impression on my head after having worn it for maybe ten minutes. I measured the inside circumfrence (over the leather sweatband) and got 58 cm. I measured it twice to confirm and both times got 58 cm. Also, when viewing the hat from the side, it appears to sit about 1/2 inch above my ears.

Sounds to me like the hat is mislabeled. Anyone care to chime in? Can you measure the inside of a hat like I did and get it's true size? Or could it be that my head is oval shaped and is therefore making the hat fit differently? Do I exchange for a 61 cm, or ask for a refund and experiment with a Christy's (or something not too expensive) and bash it myself?

I don't want to go a too expensive root yet as I'm not even sure I am going to like wearing a fedora.

Regards, and thanks for any advice you guys and gals can provide.

Rick

[BendingOak]

You can't get an accurate measurement that way. Here's what to do.

Take some tape that you use for painting. The blue tape, if you know what I mean. Take a strip and place it in the sweatband. make sure to make a mark on the tape. Make sure the strip goes all the way around the inside of the hat ( sweatband) near to the bottom ( near the sweatband stitching to the reed). over lap the marked area and mark on the same spot. Then pull the strip out of the hat and lay it out flat on a table. Measure from marc to mark. That should give you a good measurement of that hat.


John

[Rick Deckard]

Thanks, I'll try that. Since you're a hat maker (and from all appearances a darn good one), can you think of any reason why a 60 cm hat would not fit a head that consistently measures 59 cm?

Regards, and thanks for the answer.

Rick

[jlee562]

As far as generally getting used to fedora wearing, the more you wear it, the more you get used to it. Especially with wider brims, because they're not common, it takes a while to get used to it.

1/2" above the ear is by no means "too far" up on your head.

As far as the sizing, I would shoot an email to Todd and see what he thinks. Even given the difficulty of measuring the sweat that way, 2cm seems like a big difference. It is possible you might have what is known as a "long oval" head, the indicator would be the hat being substantially looser on the sides than in the front.

[Rick Deckard]

You know, there is space on the sides of my hat. I think that could be it. I bet a hat without so much stiffener would conform to my head better.

I'll shoot Todd a message as well.

Rick

Edit: I can fit approx. 1/4 of my index finger in the sides... . Should the hat stretch and conform over time to my head, or will I need to go up a size? It is rather tight across the forehead.

[BendingOak]

You could very well be a long oval and that could be the problem. On a stiff hat, this will be a problem but not a big one. You can change the oval on a hat but would need to be sent to a hat maker.

I like taking things one step at a time.

1st, check the size of the hat to make sure it's a 60cm.
2nd, have someone else check your measurements.

If the hat size is truly a 60cm and you head measurements are correct.

I would say you are a long oval. Heck, Ill take the bet already that you are a long oval.

Again. When buying a hat. The best thing to do is have someone take your measurements and contact the seller/vendor and have them size you up. I have yet to this date have seen a hat size chart that is accurate or correct.

If you are a long oval. A soft felt hat will conform to your head shape in just a couple of weeks of wearing it. A stiff felter hat will not but you can change the shape but you need some tools that most hat makers have.

I hope that helps.

[Chewbacca Jones]

Take some tape that you use for painting. The blue tape, if you know what I mean. Take a strip and place it in the sweatband. make sure to make a mark on the tape. Make sure the strip goes all the way around the inside of the hat ( sweatband) near to the bottom ( near the sweatband stitching to the reed). over lap the marked area and mark on the same spot. Then pull the strip out of the hat and lay it out flat on a table. Measure from marc to mark. That should give you a good measurement of that hat.


John

OK. That's is so simple it's brilliant. Why did I never think of that!?!

Rick, I'd say John is dead-on with the long oval thing. It was my first thought. If that is the case, you need to get a softer hat, or buy a long oval (not easy without going custom). Christy's are a little softer, but they also run slighty snug. I bought a 60cm, which is my size, and it just barely fits. If I ever buy another, I'll pad a 61.

[BendingOak]

Sometimes I do have my moments.

[Rick Deckard]

I'll measure the hat today. I'm beginning to think that the hat most is a true 60 cm, and the problem is my big bulbous head.

One other thing I noticed is that there is approx. one inch of space above my ears when viewing the hat from the side. Originally I said 1/2, but it's more like a full inch. Is that any indication of the hat being too small, or could that mean I need a taller crown as not only is my head oval shaped but also perhaps tall? I mean, it has to fit my ginormous brain...right?

[BendingOak]

I think you will get a better idea after measuring.

[Rick Deckard]

The blue tape comes out to 59 cm. So it sounds like the hat is a size smaller than what it's labeled. My head measurment is just about 59 cm. I'm assuming that the hat is tight in the front with space on the sides due to my head being oval shaped. Otherwise it seems like it would be a good fit.

Do I bump up to a 61 cm hat assuming the Downtowners are a bit small, or do I ask Todd to find a true 60 cm hat for me? Or do I return it and pony up for a Fed IV or perhaps a Christy's?

[Chewbacca Jones]

In addition to what I said in my PM - if a Fed IV is in the running against only the Christy's and the Downtowner, I would say go with the Fed. However, if you do, I recommend contacting Hatsdirect first and asking them which size to order.

If you decide to exchange for another Downtowner, I say call Todd and chat about the sizing.

[Dalexs]

To get back to the long oval for a moment, one thing you can try is, whilke wearing the hat, try squeezing the hat a bit from the sides and manually shape it into a long oval, and see if it feels any better.

On PB website, I think they have you wrap a white towel around hat line of your head and photograph it form above.
It allows you to clearly see the shape of your head, (or pretty close...)

[jkdbuck76]

Deckard,

You have a long oval head like me. That is why it is tight on your forehead but have space at the sides. I have had this on my Fed IV (which back when I bought it was stiff as a brick). It later conformed to my skull (which is so oval, it looks like the skull from Akator!).

See what Todd says, but I bet that you need for your head to stretch it out a bit. But that is my $0.02.

Good luck!

[BendingOak]

I would contact the selling and let him know before doing anything to the hat. Let them help you.

[Rick Deckard]

I e-mailed Todd and asked him if I could return the hat and use the refund as store credit since I'm going to buy one of his XL standard jackets as soon as they come back in.

I could pinch the sides of the hat to see if it fits better, as is suggested above, but the hat is so stiff I think it might crack if I do that. (Just a bit of hyperbole. But it is a STIFF hat.) I've emailed Hats Direct and explained to them my measurments and explained how my current hat fits. I'm going to guess they're either going to want more info. or will say buy a 60 cm hat. Hopefully if it's a bit softer it will conform to my head better.

Anyway, thanks for the responses everyone. If I get a Fed. IV I'll post pics in the Fed. IV thread.