The Fedora Hat: A Timeless Piece of Men's Fashion

The Fedora

A common staple in men's accessories.

A Fedora is a hat made with soft felt. The crown design makes it distinct. It has a crease down the middle and is pinched on both sides in the front and back of the hat.

The name Fedora came from a character in a play in 1882. Victorien Sardou wrote a play called Fédora, which starred French actress Sarah Bernhardt. Sarah's character wore a fedora hat during the play. At that time, it was somewhat unusual to see a woman wearing that type of hat. So from that point on, the hats were referred to as fedoras. Bellissimo gives us the full history of the Fedora.

Hollywood's Influence

Fedoras took over the silver screen in the early 1900s. In the 1930s, fedoras became such an important prop that "Fedora Handlers" became a job! Directors also started using Fedoras to play on a character's archetype.

• If the Fedora was tilted down, they were a mysterious person, maybe a detective.
• If the Fedora was on straight, they were a stand-up guy or a businessman.
• If the Fedora was pushed back, they were a charmer and had a lot of luck with the ladies.

Two of the most iconic men in movie history wore a Fedora. I'm sure you are already aware of who they are!

Indiana Jones, of course, is the number one Iconic Fedora wearer on the silver screen. His adventures always took him to different places with different climates, but he was always prepared with his Fedora and whip at the ready!

And who could forget Casablanca? The foggy silhouette of a man in a Fedora is probably the most remade scene in movie history!

Musical Inclination

If that wasn't enough, musicians also had a time when Fedoras took over the music scene.

Fred Astaire is known for his dance routines, where his Fedora hat is included in his choreography. He influenced many people and how they use their Fedoras in a performance.

Frank Sinatra was another musician known for wearing a Fedora. He always wore it in animated ways. He is known for the casual flip of the hat. Once the 1950s rolled around, Fedoras were a key component in music groups, like the Rat Pack!

Moving closer to modern times, the late Michael Jackson also used to wear a Fedora during some of his performances. He would do all kinds of tricks and dances with his Fedora, making it just as much of the star of the show as he was!