Club Obi Wan

So, last year I decided I wanted to start wearing a proper hat to work on cold days. I shave my head so I need some cover up there to hold in the heat. My wife loved the idea since her dad is a hat man and she's got a flair for nostalgia and proper fashion. I've had tons of baseball caps, but I wanted something more formal. So, I went on a search for a nice hat. I found a nice dress fedora at a Sach's outlet that my wife and I really liked.

At that time I hadn't discovered this site, didn't know that Indy gear was so readily available, and wasn't even trying for an Indiana Jones look. My jacket of choice at the time was an old A-2 that I've had since 1986. It's really well distressed and has a LOT of character. I wasn't going for an Indy look at all, heck I knew Indy's hat didn't look anything like mine. But sure enough, the first day I happened to wear the hat and jacket in to work, someone commented that I must be going for an Indiana Jones look.

Now I have a Wested ROTLA, and am saving my pennies for an AB or similar proper Indy Fedora, but until then I'm still wearing the dress fedora with my jacket. OF course today I got another "Hey Indiana!" comment from a coworker.

It doesn't bother me in the least, I'm more than comfortable with my self image, and sense of style, I just can't believe more people don't know what Indiana Jones' hat looked like!

Seriously, who would mistake this for Indy?


At least I've gotten a lot of positive comments on my Wested

JRabbit

I wore the new hat that John made me out to dinner over the weekend and someone commented that it looked like Indy's hat. On top of the fact that the hat has completely different specs, it is grey. Don't ask me how this happens. It seems that no matter the dimensions or color of the hat, if you are wearing a fedora you are bound to get the "Hey Indy" at some point.

Dave

My experience has been slightly different, Dave. If my hat is brown, Indy/cowboy comments can ensue....but any OTHER color, and either I get a compliment, or it isn't even noticed, even though the hat may be exactly the same block/style as my brown ones.

Weird.

JR, you wear that 'stingy brim' well! Not too many can pull that look off....even back in the day, and I remember them well, as I used to wear one myself in the early 60's, and was proud of it. I couldn't pull that look off now, though.

Regards! Michaelson

The weird thing is that almost every time I get and Indy comment on one of my hats, it is followed by a compliment. I guess most folks down here just don't know hot to segue into a compliment. Its very rare that I get simply a "Nice hat." It is typically phrased "Nice Indy hat." Some guys will talk about the quality of the hat and how it looks to be of a high caliber. But this is rare. Even more rare are "Bogie," "Ness," or "Dillinger," all of which I have received at one point or another. The important thing is that someone has noticed my hat and wants to compliment it, whatever the wording. I appreciate it every time.

As for stingy brims, it does take a certain facial structure to pull it off. JRabbit, I do think you pull it off well. I have two stingy brims, one a Bailey's that was gifted to me and the other a vintage 50's era Dobbs. I really like them but I'd rather wear a hat that I think suits me so I rarely reach for them. When I do, its normally the Dobbs. I know someone on here had an stingy brimmed AB that suited them quite nicely. Can't remember who, though.

Dave

Thanks guys!

The more I think about it, the more I think that it's a case that most all men secretly think fedoras are really cool and would love to wear one. But because baseball caps are the currently accepted fashion, and fedoras are considered accessories of a bygone era, to wear one would be either non-conforming to today's society, or somehow "weird". The fedora is one of the most stylish and masculine pieces of apparel a man can wear and much more practical than things such as ties. But there's this gut reaction from most people to associate wearing one with playing "dress up" or costuming a movie character (Indy, Bogie, etc.)

It's silly really. And just like y'all said, after the "Hey Indy" comment, a genuine compliment seems to always follow. I think a lot has to do with the wearer's reaction to the comment. If you look embarrassed, offended, or defensive about it, their instinct will be to snicker or think "yep, the guy's playing dress up as Indiana Jones". If the wearer's reaction is open, honest, and unapologetic, their reaction is more of "cool, this guy's got individual style and isn't afraid to wear what he likes, wish I could do that".

What's even funnier, is that in the year since I started wearing my "stingy brim" fedora (never heard that term before) to work, two other guys have started to wear dress hats in to work. One's a Indy adventurer style from Cabella's, the other's similar to mine, but black leather with the brim flipped up all the way around (reminds me of the one Sly wore in Rocky). I guess some lead, other's will follow.

What's also funny is that here in Houston, we have a Livestock and Rodeo show every spring that's HUGE. It's over a week long and people come from all over the world to attend. There's live music concerts each night and typical rodeo events. I always crack up at all the "cowboys" that come out of the woodwork during the rodeo week. Suddenly every banker, stock broker, carpenter, accountant, and Starbucks barrista is wearing western wear. From boots, tight Wrangler jeans, huge hats and belt buckles, even leather chaps and spurs. Most of these people have never even sat on a horse, yet they have nearly a thousand dollars spent in "costumes". And NO ONE has snide "Hey there Hopalong, where's the posse Marshall Dillon?" comments! It's like Halloween at the OK Corral.

But wear a fedora and a brown leather jacket......


sigh, gotta laugh sometimes.

JRabbit

Hey, I've worn my fedora and leather jacket twice to the Houston Rodeo, and never got a second look from anyone.

As a sidenote, stingy brim wearers, 'help' may be on the way. I've seen several commercials of a new show on SciFi (or SyFi, what ever they're calling themselves this week ) with the main character who WEARS a stingy brim as his regular wear. There was even a commercial where his partner makes some snide comment about the hat, and the guy tells him to 'grow up!' and that's the end of THAT conversation.

Can't remember the name of the show, but it's up to start either next week or the first of December. I don't pay much attention to 'formula' type shows, but that commercial made me laugh and take note.

Regards! Michaelson

Ahhh what fun. I do think that most if not all Fedora comments coming from strangers "on the street" are initially tongue-in-cheek making fun of you, whether you choose to recognize that or not is up to you. Those that are "followed by a compliment", I almost guarantee, are just them covering their own ##### to make them feel better about making fun of you.

I do, however, agree that many men wish they could wear hats without being made fun of, and that might actually be the ROOT of the taunting that we get when wearing our classy lids.

Michaelson wrote:As a sidenote, stingy brim wearers, 'help' may be on the way. I've seen several commercials of a new show on SciFi (or SyFi, what ever they're calling themselves this week ) with the main character who WEARS a stingy brim as his regular wear. There was even a commercial where his partner makes some snide comment about the hat, and the guy tells him to 'grow up!' and that's the end of THAT conversation.

That won't help. Now folks will just say we are trying to look like the guy on that SyFy show.

Michaelson wrote:Hey, I've worn my fedora and leather jacket twice to the Houston Rodeo, and never got a second look from anyone.

As a sidenote, stingy brim wearers, 'help' may be on the way. I've seen several commercials of a new show on SciFi (or SyFi, what ever they're calling themselves this week ) with the main character who WEARS a stingy brim as his regular wear. There was even a commercial where his partner makes some snide comment about the hat, and the guy tells him to 'grow up!' and that's the end of THAT conversation.

Can't remember the name of the show, but it's up to start either next week or the first of December. I don't pay much attention to 'formula' type shows, but that commercial made me laugh and take note.

Regards! Michaelson

are you thinking of the USA show White Collar? they may have been showing ads for it on scifi, as scifi and usa are owned by the same parent company. the main character on white collar wears vintage suits and stingy brims in every episode.

Nope. That's not it. I'll see if I can find a listing.

Regards! Michaelson

WalkingEye wrote:

Michaelson wrote:Hey, I've worn my fedora and leather jacket twice to the Houston Rodeo, and never got a second look from anyone.

As a sidenote, stingy brim wearers, 'help' may be on the way. I've seen several commercials of a new show on SciFi (or SyFi, what ever they're calling themselves this week ) with the main character who WEARS a stingy brim as his regular wear. There was even a commercial where his partner makes some snide comment about the hat, and the guy tells him to 'grow up!' and that's the end of THAT conversation.

Can't remember the name of the show, but it's up to start either next week or the first of December. I don't pay much attention to 'formula' type shows, but that commercial made me laugh and take note.

Regards! Michaelson

are you thinking of the USA show White Collar? they may have been showing ads for it on scifi, as scifi and usa are owned by the same parent company. the main character on white collar wears vintage suits and stingy brims in every episode.

That is what I thought of too, cause I actually watched that episode of White Collar, his partner says something about his hat. Both SyFi or SciFi and USA are owned by NBC I thought. If its not white collar I wonder what the show is.

IndianaChris

I'll have to watch and see if I catch a commercial, as it was only one word...but that said, if there are two shows, it only goes to show folks are taking a different view of the 'hat'. MadMen is doing the same 'service', so to speak.

Regards! Michaelson

The "Observers" on Fringe also wear black stingy brim hats. Along with shaved heads. Hmmm, JRabbit....


In the latest episode you can see the sweat of one of the hats. I first thought it said Akubra, but upon closer observation it doesn't, though I can't tell exactly what it does say.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Suddenly every banker, stock broker, carpenter, accountant, and Starbucks barrista is wearing western wear. From boots, tight Wrangler jeans, huge hats and belt buckles, even leather chaps and spurs. Most of these people have never even sat on a horse, yet they have nearly a thousand dollars spent in "costumes".

You've really got to wonder about the kind of people who would spend that much money dressing up like someone else. Cowboys are popular cultural icons, and some of the gear has practical day-to-day wearability, but what's next? Trying to match the saddlebags from a particular John Wayne movie?

LJ

Long John Tinfoil wrote: You've really got to wonder about the kind of people who would spend that much money dressing up like someone else.

Um, have you LOOKED at the people around here? (Or even in your own closet, perhaps?)

Oh...

I agree with the comments that a fedora is one of the most masculine articles of clothing a man can wear.

I think that a fedora blends well with modern fashion. For example tomorrow I will head out to Black Friday shop in my Fed4, a tee shirt, brown cargo shorts, and sneakers.

I have received lots of compliments on the hat. I think hats like the fedora are seeing a resurgence in part to the recent Indy films.

John

maboot38 wrote:Ahhh what fun. I do think that most if not all Fedora comments coming from strangers "on the street" are initially tongue-in-cheek making fun of you, whether you choose to recognize that or not is up to you. Those that are "followed by a compliment", I almost guarantee, are just them covering their own ##### to make them feel better about making fun of you.

I do, however, agree that many men wish they could wear hats without being made fun of, and that might actually be the ROOT of the taunting that we get when wearing our classy lids.

I have to agree with that mostly.

The odd thing is people wear some of the ugliest 'baseball' style caps with strange graphics or some one's adverting, (and to some inappropriate venues). I never hear any 'comments' from strangers toward them.

A few days back, I was wearing my Keppler, and stopped in at Target to shop for Christmas cards. I also made a sweep through the dvd/blu ray section as I usually do [shopping for bargains]. While looking at the Blu Rays, I had a guy peeking around the corner of the aisle at me. It was one of those "feeling" someone staring at you things, so I naturally looked over, when I did, he ducked down and hid. By that point, I was more than a bit creeped out, so I left that section.

I left one odd situation for another. While looking at wrapping paper, some "gangsta" wannabe type walked past staring at me wide eyed.

The only things that saved the awkwardness of this trip were two very complimentary smiles from some very nice looking ladies.

Funny thing is, I normally never get that weird reaction from people while wearing fedoras. BUT seem to get those smiles from the girls.

Randy

Maybe that store just has some pretty bad plain clothes security people

I don't think so. The plain clothes security rotate with the uniformed security, so I know them when I see them... just out of uniform. haha

Randy