Hats hats hats hats, and more hats! (Maybe one is magic?)

[WarKitty]

So in a fit of summer boredom, kitty has decided she ought to add hats to her wardrobe. The only problem is, kitty has no idea how to not look silly in her hats. Particularly since kitty's available fashion consultants are of the opinion that anything other than a baseball cap or winter snow hat look totally silly on anyone.

Here are some hats the kitty really likes but can't afford:

http://heavyred.com/images/products/detail/71292.jpg
http://www.retroscopefashions.com/images/hats/hat10.jpg
http://scentedhatter.com//images/models/blackheart1.jpg
http://topsyturvydesign.com/images/Minahat350.jpg


Now, Kitty is a fairly good hand with adding details to plain hats. However, Kitty's hats and such generally come from thrift stores, and Kitty is not sure how much time and effort she wants to spend on something she's not sure she can make look good.

Do any of our more fashionable members have ideas on how one wears hats and manages to look elegant rather than silly?

[Coidzor]

Well, ya gotta work 'em with your head shape and face shape and with the rest of what you're wearing.

And those hats in particular are going to be more demanding as to the rest of what you're wearing.

...Further than that, though, it's going to depend upon attitude and confidence in wearing it, especially since you've got such a uniformly hostile audience to begin with.

[DeadManSleeping]

Elegant? I wouldn't know about that. But I know how you can look cool (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&pwst=1&q=indiana+jones+fedora&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1280&bih=709&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi) :smallcool:

[WarKitty]

Actually thinking more plain black fedora or somesuch for everyday wear. Though my everyday wear tends to be more elaborate than many.

Unfortunately I can't pull off Indiana Jones cool, due to being cursed with the pale nerd appearance no matter how long I work out.

[DeadManSleeping]

A wide-brimmed fedora looks good on anyone. I've done a lot of testing on this. I can't imagine why they were phased out.

Just please, please don't buy one of those thin-brimmed fedoras that everyone wears these days. They don't look that good (although fancier ones with decorations are okay). If you're not sure what I'm referring to, here (http://www.kevinsaysthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fedora.jpg) is an image.

A wide-brimmed one, though, is a good investment. It even protects your eyes from the sun! Can you imagine?

[WarKitty]

A wide-brimmed fedora looks good on anyone. I've done a lot of testing on this. I can't imagine why they were phased out.

Just please, please don't buy one of those thin-brimmed fedoras that everyone wears these days. They don't look that good (although fancier ones with decorations are okay). If you're not sure what I'm referring to, here (http://www.kevinsaysthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fedora.jpg) is an image.

A wide-brimmed one, though, is a good investment. It even protects your eyes from the sun! Can you imagine?

Oddly wide-brimmed hats are the one thing I definitively do not look good in. Comes of being a very slim petite build - anything large or wide makes me look like I'm playing dress-up with my mother's clothing.

I was thinking something like

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21fHWj22zLL.jpg

[Mando Knight]

Hats? Silly?

Ah-ha-ha! (http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/hidden/hats/) They are as PRESUMPTUOUS as they are POOR and IRISH. Tarnish notte the majesty of my TOWER of HATS. (http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Towering_Pillar_of_Hats)
~Gentle Manne of Leisure

[Dr.Epic]

Something I want is a fedora but with chainmail hanging down from it like a medieval helmet.

Basically this:

http://www.styleretail.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/fedora01.jpg

plus this:

http://www.wulflund.com/images_items/norman-helmet-with-chain-mail_3.jpg

I'm even reading up on how to make chainmail to see if I can do it. Looks hard though.

[slaydemons]

~snips~

I'm even reading up on how to make chainmail to see if I can do it. Looks hard though.

if my chemistry teacher could do it in college you can do it as well, about making chain mail not chain mail fedora of pure awesome.

[WarKitty]

I would recommend getting aluminum links rather than steel, for weight considerations.

[Dr.Epic]

I would recommend getting aluminum links rather than steel, for weight considerations.

That would be lighter, but steel is cheaper. Although, this would just be a costume. What to do, what to do...

[Mina Kobold]

Oddly wide-brimmed hats are the one thing I definitively do not look good in. Comes of being a very slim petite build - anything large or wide makes me look like I'm playing dress-up with my mother's clothing.

I was thinking something like

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21fHWj22zLL.jpg

I own several pairs of those, pretty snazzy for wavy hair.

I have no idea what tips I could give, though. As I generally dress in quite colourful clothes, which I believe you have mentioned not doing.

I also have no fashion sense, but that may be evident from that fact. :smalltongue:

[Dr.Epic]

You could also just glue some googly eyes onto a fedora.

[Coidzor]

That would be lighter, but steel is cheaper. Although, this would just be a costume. What to do, what to do...

Your neck is a valuable limb, be nice to it. :smallwink:

[Dr.Epic]

Your neck is a valuable limb, be nice to it. :smallwink:

But what if I want to become a vampire. Not the sparkly kind. Although, I might find out I'm a Highlander immortal so that could be useful.

[Seffbasilisk]

A girl I recently took to climb a mountain had a hat like that.

It may have influenced my decision.


I do have a fedora-akin hat, to the point where people call me Indiana Jones when I wear it. However, I used to keep a peacock feather in it, the mockery ensued, and while it was amusing when girls stole it, I nearly gave a fellow a righteous beat-down for taking it at a halloween party.


Now-a-days, it sports a red-tailed-hawk feather, and I think is rather dashing. However, as it is black, it's associated with my more nefarious deeds, so I'm trying to buck the stereotype.


As for you, Warkitty, I recommend buying the cheapest base hat you can (that will fit your head [I tend to have a big head]) and from there, accessorizing or building to your specifications.

[Coidzor]

Mmm, Accessorizing... :smallamused:

[WarKitty]

Strike 1 for kitty finding a hat. Went to the mall - every single thing there was too big for me.

[Shpadoinkle]

The only two hats I own are a black fedora, which I only wear when it's cold out, and a grey winter hat I have for when it's REALLY cold out. My usual style (jeans and a plaid shirt) isn't especially conducive to the addition of hat, and I don't like baseball caps.

[Adumbration]

A wide-brimmed fedora looks good on anyone. I've done a lot of testing on this. I can't imagine why they were phased out.

Just please, please don't buy one of those thin-brimmed fedoras that everyone wears these days. They don't look that good (although fancier ones with decorations are okay). If you're not sure what I'm referring to, here (http://www.kevinsaysthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fedora.jpg) is an image.

A wide-brimmed one, though, is a good investment. It even protects your eyes from the sun! Can you imagine?

I too have a fedora-type hat... but unfortunately, after seeing this picture, I'm not so sure if it's a good fit for me. :S
http://i.imgur.com/O6h9Y.jpg

[Coidzor]

Strike 1 for kitty finding a hat. Went to the mall - every single thing there was too big for me.

Really, in order to acquire a nize hat, one has to find a specialty shoppe, I've found to be the general case. Which is why I'm always sad that the one in my old hometown got bought out and closed down to build a skyscraper that wasn't actually ever built because it was a scam.

Of course... Amateur haberdashery is always a fun summer project. :smallwink:

[Teutonic Knight]

I still can't find proof of distinctions between trilbies and fedoras. All I know are that trilbies are flipped up at the back, while fedoras are usually flat all the way around, and have a wider brim.

This all began when trilbies began becoming popular at my high school, and the Internet considers trilbies to be modern hipster hats. The worse part was that everyone called them fedoras when they looked nothing like Indy Jones.

Also, how do you know your hat size?

[Morph Bark]

This thread reminds me how sorely I need a fedora. :smallfrown:

[Alchemistmerlin]

I have a tricorner I wear everywhere. Its been with me for a while, so it's just reaching that comfortable point of wear between "New hat" and "well loved". My first tricorner fell apart from too much wear/weather.


I've never really worried about looking silly, but I don't wear it to professional functions, just social ones/every day non-work things.


This thread reminds me how sorely I need a fedora. :smallfrown:

I've never understood the fedora obsession, everyone wants a fedora.

[Form]

I've never understood the fedora obsession, everyone wants a fedora.

But a fedora is a classic! It goes really well with a trenchcoat of matching color too!

Though I suspect I'd look somewhat ridiculous with one.

[Mina Kobold]

I've never understood the fedora obsession, everyone wants a fedora.

Fashion works in mysterious ways.

Or in this case, lots of cool fictional people wear them and we like cool. :smallsmile:

[Elder Tsofu]

I still can't find proof of distinctions between trilbies and fedoras. All I know are that trilbies are flipped up at the back, while fedoras are usually flat all the way around, and have a wider brim.

This all began when trilbies began becoming popular at my high school, and the Internet considers trilbies to be modern hipster hats. The worse part was that everyone called them fedoras when they looked nothing like Indy Jones.

Also, how do you know your hat size?

Hat size. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat_size#Hat_size) Boring old wikipedia is useful. ^^
They seem to be correct too since they say the same thing for the different measurements presented in my fedora.

And the differences are probably as small as you've found them, it seem a bit blurry what a fedora is too except a medium-brimmed felt hat with a sort of crease in the crown and pinched in the front. On the same lines I know that I could easily make my fedora into an acceptable pork-pie or homburg if I fancied that.

Oh, and I wear my fedora because I think it is stylish and suits my coats. Men have so few accessories that I grab at the chances I get. :smallsmile:

[Brother Oni]

I'm even reading up on how to make chainmail to see if I can do it. Looks hard though.

My brother was an apprentice blacksmith for a time and traditionally you used to rivet the rings together to make proper mail.

What you've linked to is actually linkmail and is much easier to make, since the links can be bought cheaply from any re-enactment fair (or made yourself) and all you need to put them together is two pairs of pliers and some hand strength (done it myself for backing for a pair of gloves).

How many you'd need is dependent on the link diameter and weave - at a rough guess that's about 7-8mm links in a 4 weave, so you'd need about 500-600 for that helmet. 5mm links in 4 weave, you'd need about a thousand.

Obviously what you pick will dramatically affect the weight of the mail so in all likelihood, you'll need to strengthen the fedora's brim, ala Oddjob's hat from Goldfinger.

Link for making mail from scratch. (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chainmail)

[Artemis97]

I've tried my hand at chainmailing. It's not hard. As Brother Oni said, all you need is some pliers and hand strength (although I don't think I have much of that) and I'll add lots of patience. It takes time.

I used this site (http://theringlord.com/cart/default.asp) to buy rings, this one (http://www.chainmailbasket.com/index.php) for some project ideas, instructions, and the sheer wow factor of some of those projects, and lastly this site (http://www.mailleartisans.org/articles/articledisplay.cgi?key=4041) for basic instructions and some good visuals for weaving rings step by step. Good Luck!

As for the original point of this thread, Hats! I love hats. I bought my favorite hat at a proper haberdashery and would suggest you do the same, just for the sheer variety they'd offer as well as the higher quality, oh and they'd definitely be able to help you find the right hat. Of course, I'll admit that might be a touch on the expensive side. So instead I'll offer a guide (http://artofmanliness.com/2008/05/28/the-perfect-hat-for-your-ugly-mug/) from a favorite site of mine. It's geared towards men's fashion specifically, but I think they have some pretty good tips and I don't think face shapes are that gender specific. There's more articles on hats on there too, I'm sure. search around a bit. Good stuff there, I think, lots of good life advice too, even if you aren't exactly 'manly' (like me:smallwink:)

I hope that helps.

[WarKitty]

Kat in hat:

http://tinyurl.com/3vtfynj

[Pika...]

Kat in hat:

http://tinyurl.com/3vtfynj

Aww. You look quite lovely. :smallsmile:

[Nix Nihila]

Kat in hat:

http://tinyurl.com/3vtfynj

Ooh.. Very nice! You totally rock the look.

You're making me want to try my hand at fascinators and hats.. Alas, I have 6 masks and a dress I want to finish by September, so it's a bit out of the question for at least a couple months.