What about hat proportions?

[whipcracker]

I have been thinking, and it seems like everybody wants their hat to be the same as the "hero" hat. Of course I could be wrong (and I probably am).
But not everybody has the same build, face shape, height, etc. as HF. So that got me thinking, has anyone figured out a formula for getting the right look per individual. I know that our expert hatters that we have here, the AB brothers, Bending Oak, could all get it in a second if we were all able to go and
be fitted. But what if you can't get to them?

I am thinking something like "the crown height should be x% of the face when measured from y and z locations, and brim width should be x% of your shoulder width.." That sort of thing... Any ideas???

I hope this all makes sense as I am writing in a brief moment at work... gotta go. Long live Indy!

[Chewbacca Jones]

It is true that general face shape and build can do a lot to make a break a hat on a specific individual. However, the art is not so precise. General info usually helps.
AB and Penman, who focus on the Indy hats, both have a system to get an indy hat right. Most custom hatters can be helped by sending reference photos. When I didn't know what worked best for me, I would send front and side pics of me from the chest up, with and without a hat on, and include the hat's brim and crown measurements. This worked out perfectly with my first custom hats, including an AB.

[DR Ulloa]

Trial and error, my friend. It takes a few hats to get what you think looks best on you. Chewie's suggestion is best. When I got my first AB, the brim was too short for my face and Steve offered to make me a new one free of cost. He hadn't screwed up, but the proportions didn't match my face. This is just one story of Steve's generosity. When I got the new one, the dimesnions were perfect. He later told me that it was the Raiders proportions. I guess the Raiders hat works for me. But it doesn't for others. Leave it up to your hatter. He will always know what will look better on you.

Dave

[BendingOak]

I change my crowns and brims based on size but you can't sway to much because the ribbon will not change.

[Chewbacca Jones]

I change my crowns and brims based on size but you can't sway to much because the ribbon will not change.

True, and at a certain point, you'll end up with a hat that just isn't an Indy hat. But it's amazing what a difference 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch of brim or crown can make on some people. Am I right?

[BendingOak]

I change my crowns and brims based on size but you can't sway to much because the ribbon will not change.

True, and at a certain point, you'll end up with a hat that just isn't an Indy hat. But it's amazing what a difference 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch of brim or crown can make on some people. Am I right?

Very much so.

[Fedora]

The biggest problem that I see is the hat fitting the head and facial shape. You can have two guys who wear the same hat size. And you send them identical hats. Then, when you see pics, one might look great, in perfect proportion to his face, but the next looks like the same sized hat is a wide bucket sitting on the top of his head.

Thin faced folks just never quite look right in a straight hat. And of course, if this person walked into a hat store back in the old days, the hatter would have steered him to the tapered crowns, and away from the square crowns.

But, we are Indy fans, and we want Indy's hat. And therein lies the problem. Some guys will never look right with a straight hat, that is just the way it is. I hate to have to say this, but its the truth.

Hats used to be fitted to the facial type, in order to look dapper. But when you are after a certain crown shape, we must accept the fact that it won't look as good on some as a tapered hat. That doesn't mean you can't wear it though. I see alot of old films where the hats looked too wide for the actor. Mostly in the actors that are not the stars of the film. I guess they fitted the stars better, and just gave the extras whatever they had on hand. Fedora

[rover smith]

I know this thread is ancient, (we are all budding archaeologists right?) but its something I've been trying to figure out as I'm in the market for hat.

Now I would like to get something which is Indy through and through but i also want something that suits me. From what I've read, something with a short to medium crown with moderate taper and wide brim is for me (thin face with a longish nose).

I know no one can really comment on me speciffically, but how about the hats from the 4 films to suit different faces? I know they are all for Ford but it has been well documented how differnet each hat is form movie to movie, even scene to scen in some.

regards

Scott

[Chewbacca Jones]

If I had to match a film hat to what you say you need, the Last Crusade hats would probably suit you best. Or one of the less tapered ToD lids (I'm not an expert on ToD, but I know there are a couple of scenes with hat's taper is fairly mild).

IF your sniffing around trying to calm your fears about ordering an AB or Penman, remember that those guys will work with you to get something suited to you. Photos can help a custom hatter.

McFly in rockin' the LC look here, and he might be considered a similar face type;

[rover smith]

Yeah, I'd say myself and McFly have a pretty similar build in general, As far as the Raiders look goesI feel not too many people can pull those hats off very well so thats my worry if I were to go for that style.

I'm certainly considering a Penman, Its just budget that may be the issue there, in which case I'm looking at The Henry. Its a little way off yet so no rush to decide.

thanks for the input.

[Chewbacca Jones]

Don't forget that Penman has a rabbit felt option which is less costly than his 100% beaver. If you do go with the Henry, though, and you feel it's "too much hat" you can always get a brim trim.

Good luck.

[rover smith]

I'm with you on that. Living in Scotland though the beaver would be a better choice for the weather.

We'll see what happens, like I said I'm in no big rush.

[fenris]

I never thought that hat proportions really do play a big role in how good a hat will look on you.

Last night I experimented with my hat and bashed it Raiders style. Higher crown height, tighter pinch in front; I looked stupid in it.

I bashed it back to my preferred bash which doesn't look like any movie bash. I'm not actually striving for SA; I'm not making the hat look like any hat from a particular scene or movie - I just want the hat to suit my face-type, build and height.