Fedora: Difference between revisions
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{{dablink|For the Linux distribution, see [[Fedora (operating system)]]. For other uses, see [[Fedora (disambiguation)]]}} |
{{dablink|For the Linux distribution, see [[Fedora (operating system)]]. For other uses, see [[Fedora (disambiguation)]]}} |
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[[Image:Fedora line drawing.svg|thumb|A fedora that has been pinched at the front and is being worn pushed back on the head, with the front of the brim bent down over the eyes.]] |
[[Image:Fedora line drawing.svg|thumb|A fedora that has been pinched at the front and is being worn pushed back on the head, with the front of the brim bent down over the eyes.]] |
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A '''fedora''' ({{pron-en|fɨˈdɔrə}}) is a men's [[felt]] [[hat]] that is creased lengthwise down the [[Hat#Parts of a hat|crown]] and pinched in the front on both sides.<ref>Elizabeth Cotton, "Hats" (Published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang) 1999</ref> The creasing does not define the hat, however. Fedoras can also be creased with teardrop crowns, diamond crowns, centerdents, 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, |
A '''fedora''' ({{pron-en|fɨˈdɔrə}}) is a men's [[felt]] [[hat]] that is creased lengthwise down the [[Hat#Parts of a hat|crown]] and pinched in the front on both sides.<ref>Elizabeth Cotton, "Hats" (Published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang) 1999</ref> The creasing does not define the hat, however. Fedoras can also be creased with teardrop crowns, diamond crowns, centerdents, 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. |
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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 (hat)|Homburg]] by the 1920s. Fedoras can be found in nearly any color imaginable, but black, grey, tan, and brown are the most popular. |
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 (hat)|Homburg]] by the 1920s. Fedoras can be found in nearly any color imaginable, but black, grey, tan, and brown are the most popular. |
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Revision as of 20:15, 20 August 2010
A fedora (Template:Pron-en) is a men's felt hat that is creased lengthwise down the crown and pinched in the front on both sides.[1] The creasing does not define the hat, however. Fedoras can also be creased with teardrop crowns, diamond crowns, centerdents, 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.
History
The word fedora comes from the title of an 1882 play by Victorien Sardou, Fédora, written for Sarah Bernhardt.[2] The play was first performed in the U.S. in 1889. Bernhardt played Princess Fédora, the heroine of the play, and she wore a hat similar to what is now considered a fedora. The fedora became a female fashion which lasted into the early part of the twentieth century. When the fedora became a male fashion item, it was popular in cities for its stylishness, ability to protect the wearer's head from the wind and weather, and the fact that it could be rolled up when not in use. Since the early part of the 20th century, many Haredi and other Orthodox Jews have worn black fedoras and continue to this day.[3] The hat is sometimes associated with Prohibition, Great Depression-era gangsters and the detectives who sought to bring them to justice. Popular stars in the 1950s such as Gene Kelly wore fedoras often in their movies, like Singin' in the Rain. In Hollywood movies of the 1940s, characters often wore a fedora, particularly when playing private detectives, gangsters, or other "tough guy" roles. A trench coat was frequently part of the costume, a notable example being Humphrey Bogart's character in Casablanca. The fedora is widely recognized with the characters of The Blues Brothers, The Spirit, Daisuke Jigen, Freddy Krueger, Dick Tracy, Rorschach and especially Indiana Jones. The fedora is also closely associated with film noir characters.
Like the bowler hat, the fedora was popular from the early 1920s to the mid 1960s on the east coast. In the late 1950s the hat began to lose favor on the west coast of the United States, which is known for its more casual clothing. The late 1950s switch from wider lapels and ties to thin ones resulted in shorter-brimmed hats, diminishing their practicality. This likely played a role in the fedora eventually being deemed a non-essential item. Also playing a part were the shrinking automobiles of the mid-1950s, which often made it difficult to wear a hat while driving. By the early 1970s, the fedora was seen as a dead fashion, typically only worn by older and/or more traditional men. However the fedora has seen a revival in recent fashion seasons. In the early 1980s, pop stars Daniel Newton and Michael Jackson began using black and white fedoras which became one of their trademarks. Famous Dallas Cowboys head coach, Tom Landry, was also known for wearing one, and the English novelist Terry Pratchett also wears one. Fedoras have become a part of youth fashion in the 2000s due to their retro appeal and are normally associated with indie rock/bohemian hipster scenes.
See also
