The Trilby Hat

Frank Sinatra

A trilby hat (or simply trilby) is a type of hat. Although also used as a synonym for a short-brimmed fedora in the United Kingdom, the trilby is distinguished by a very narrow brim that is sharply turned up in the back and a short crown, which is pinched in the front and indented into a teardrop shape in the center. The hat's name derives from the stage adaptation of George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby; a hat of this style was worn in the first London production of the play, and promptly came to be called "a Trilby hat".

Traditionally it was made from rabbit hair felt, but is now sometimes made from other materials, including tweed, straw and wool. The hat reached its zenith of popularity in the 1960s, when it supplanted the wider brimmed fedora; the steadily lowering roofs of previously taller American automobiles made it impractical to wear a hat with a larger brim and tall crown while driving. It faded from popularity in the 1970s when any type of men's headwear became obsolete, and men's fashion instead began focusing on highly maintained hairstyles.

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The Pork Pie Hat

A pork pie hat or porkpie hat is a type of hat made of felt or, less commonly, straw. It is somewhat similar to a trilby or a fedora, but like the boater it has a flat top. The crown is short and has an indentation all the way around, instead of the pinch crown typically seen on fedoras and homburgs. The pork pie hat originated in the mid 19th century. Originally referring to a type of woman’s hat, it gets its name from its resemblance to a pork pie.

The pork pie hat was a staple of the British man-about-town style for many years. Commonly worn by American Civil War soldiers and the US Army (unofficially) through the 1880s. Pork pie hats are often associated with jazz, blues and ska musicians and fans. Charles Mingus wrote an elegy for jazz saxophone great Lester Young called "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat". Many artists have performed this tune, including Jeff Beck, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Derek Sherinian, and Joni Mitchell. In Jamaica, the hat was popularized by the 1960s rude boy subculture, which traveled to the United Kingdom and influenced the mod and skinhead subcultures (although Jamaican and British pork pie hats are more similar to a very short-brimmed trilby rather than the US style). Jamaican ska artist Laurel Aitken performed the song "Give Me Back My Pork Pie Hat".

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The Fedora Hat

Indiana Jones

A fedora is a men's felt hat that is creased lengthwise down the crown and pinched in the front on both sides. The creasing does not define the hat, however. Fedoras can also be creased with teardrop crowns, diamond crowns, center dents, and others, and the positioning of pinches can vary if they are found at all. Early on, fedoras were sold open crown, meaning they were uncreased, with the owner creating his/her own crease manually. By the 1950s, hat makers started blocking the various creases into the hats when they were made. This is now the standard. The brim goes all the way around the crown and can be left raw edge, finished with a sewn overwelt or underwelt, bound with grosgrain ribbon, or finished with a self-felted cavanagh edge. Traditionally, fedoras have grosgrain hat bands. A trilby hat is similar to a fedora, but typically has a narrower brim, and the back of the brim is distinctively more sharply upturned as a result.

The term fedora was in use as early as 1891. Originally a women's fashion into the 20th century,the fedora came into use in about 1919 as a men's middle-class clothing accessory. Its popularity soared, and eventually it eclipsed the similar-looking Homburg by the 1920s. Fedoras can be found in nearly any color imaginable, but black, grey, tan, and brown are the most popular.

Michael Jackson

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The Boater Hat

 

A boater (also basher, skimmer, cady, katie, somer, or sennit hat) is a kind of hat associated with sailing and boating.
It is normally made of sennit straw and has a stiff or soft flat crown and brim, typically with a ribbon around the crown, which is often in colours representing a school, rowing crew or similar institution. Boaters were popular as summer headgear in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and were supposedly worn by FBI agents as a sort of unofficial uniform in the pre-war years. Nowadays they are rarely seen except at sailing or rowing events, period theatrical and musical performances (e.g. barbershop music) or as part of old-fashioned school uniform, such as at Harrow School.

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Lanvin Fall/Winter 2011-2012 Men's Bags and Accessories

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Look of the day - Part 95

Star Style - Matt Bomer

Matt Bomer looks dapper in a suit as he walks to the set of his TV show, White Collar, on Monday (May 23) in New York City.
The 33-year-old actor filmed scenes with his co-star, Willie Garson, during the day.


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Johnny Depp Owns Enough Hats to Fill Two Rooms

We knew Johnny Depp loved hats. In fact, he's even been honored for his devotion to his toppers. But we underestimated the scale of his collection. Johnny apparently has two full rooms in his Paris apartment devoted to his favorite accessory.

The collection has gotten so large, that longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis has had enough. She's reportedly told the fedora-loving star he has to get rid of them. What would Johnny be without his hats? Hopefully he doesn't decide to keep his collection and get rid of his girlfriend!

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Fedora and Trilby Hats – What’s the Difference?

A debate is beginning to develop over what constitutes a fedora. The two have almost become homogeneous due to the changes they have gone through since they were regarded as de rigueur for any self-respecting gentleman. In fact you would be more than forgiven should you not be able to pick out the aesthetic differences between the two.

So next time that impeccably dressed man at the bus stop asks you the differences between a fedora and trilby, simply quote the following. A fedora is conventionally defined by its wider brim, band and bow. Trilbies in contrast possess a narrower brim and ribbon. The confusion between the two has really developed as more American designed trilbies have a wide ribbon similar to that of the classic fedora.
The wide ribbons are not the only feature that has muddled many a man; brim size and crown heights have also become part of the grey area. This trilby-fedora hybrid has laid waste to the pronounced wide brim fedora of yesteryear. Luckily in this case half measures very much do avail with the modern fedora suiting 21st century sartorial dress to a tee – combining very well with the clean cut and slim line approach that so often epitomises the term well dressed.

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Etro Spring Summer 2011 Mens Bags, Shoes And Accessories

For Spring Summer 2011, Kean Etro is proposing that his Etro guys flaunt more colours, adorn more patterns and start having a rolling good time... be it at the clubs or at the beach! The shoes are the most impressive of the collection, with the patterned canvas versions in checks and prints some of my most coveted!

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Lagomarsino Sombrero Tiroles

Argentinian hat purveyors Lagomarsino have been in the hat business for over one hundred years. Since 1891, the hatmakers have created a wide range of hats with their Tiroles coming in as one of the brand’s most notable offerings. A roped detail is combined with a nice feather arrangement for colorful contrast against the felt. Available now at FLAG SHOP.

Look of the day - Part 14

Star Style - Demi Lovato [ wearing Marc Jacobs Sunglasses ]

Actress/singer Demi Lovato was recently spotted shopping in LA with a pair of Marc Jacob 305 sunglasses ($325) covering her eyes from the sun. These aviator shades have black square shaped frames, sliver metal on the bridge and temples, black gradient lenses, and Marc Jacobs branding engraved on the temples.  
See pics below.

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My Polyvore Looks - Grey & Studded

Grey & Studded by izandrew featuring h&m hats

Star Style - T.I.

Rapper T.I. was seen out wearing a BBC/Ice Cream Cones and Bones sketch logo New Era fitted cap ($60), a True Religion Jimmy Jacket with an attached heather grey hoodie($268), and a pair of Maison Martin Margiela sneakers ($595). T.I has been a hot topic for the media lately but it’s good to see he is not letting that slow him down.