# Are fedoras dorky? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037 "2013-10-12T00:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/21 "2013-10-12T10:56:49Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > \*All these statistics are for men. Sorry for being so gender biased but I’ve never read any serious research into women wearing fedoras. Oddly enough, shopping in Asda last night I was confronted by a rather severe looking woman in a fedora and black (skirted) suite with much makeup. I assume it was a woman anyway. Looked scary rather than dorky. ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/22 "2013-10-12T11:00:07Z")
[Fedoras image vs reality](http://i.imgur.com/C6UlwPW.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/23 "2013-10-12T11:05:21Z")
**This** is a great look, especially when you wear an extra-long overcoat over your suit jacket. Carrying a Thompson or a service revolver makes it even more awesome: [http://www.futureshop.ca/multimedia/Products/500x500/M21/M2152/M2152093.jpg](http://www.futureshop.ca/multimedia/Products/500x500/M21/M2152/M2152093.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/24 "2013-10-12T11:43:09Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I have to agree with the ageist position above. The younger you get, the less likely you are to pull off a fedora. > > OTOH, there’s nothing more dorky than caring what other people think of your clothes. I wear a straw cowboy hat if it’s sunny or raining and I’m out. I’m sure people think I look like a dipshit. Who cares? It’s the only hat that _I_ feel comfy in. You’re a musician; we tend to try out hats as part of that. I’ve tried many hats over the years and looked like an idiot in most. However, finding a hat that works - meaning, per **scabpicker** , that I can wear it and not give a shit what others think - is a very good thing. Style, like anything worth doing, takes time and practice - and failed attempts. Getting a hat right is part of that - but most folks just grab something they think looks cool and assume it looks cool _on them_ (hint - it usually doesn’t) - add Hipster Backlash and you have a recipe for Dorkiness. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/25 "2013-10-12T12:17:08Z")
Moved Cafe Society --\> IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/26 "2013-10-12T12:20:30Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > [Fedora or trilby](http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=john+lee+hooker&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=john+lee+hooker&sc=8-4&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=102E0B9D85ABFEED663D207430671528DC945430&selectedIndex=5)? > > Bluesman John Lee Hooker if you don’t recognize him Neither. Looks more like a homburg. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/27 "2013-10-12T19:34:47Z")
I think it’s more accurate to say that dorks are fedora-y. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/28 "2013-10-12T19:46:14Z")
I have a coworker, a guy who’s in his 30s or early 40s, who wears a fedora. He looks fine in his. ---
**Author:** ![Passengernumber4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Passengernumber4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Passengernumber4)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/29 "2013-10-12T20:02:11Z")
It’s even more dorky because most of the people who wear them think they are cool. Fedora =very dorky, always. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/30 "2013-10-12T20:02:21Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > What many guys think are fedoras are actually trilbys. The width of the brim is a defining factor. I own two fedoras, and a couple of panama hats in fedora style. My wide face does not fit properly under a trilby. I have a fedora and a panama, but no trilby. Trilbys look dorky to me, on any age. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/31 "2013-10-12T20:48:58Z")
> [@Passengernumber4](#): > > It’s even more dorky because most of the people who wear them think they are cool. > > Fedora =very dorky, always. This puzzles me. I own 2 fedoras, 2 panamas, a trilby, a fez, a top hat and a pith helmet (among others). I have a great time and I love to dress sharp. I have never had anything but compliments about my hats. To each his own I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/32 "2013-10-12T20:56:24Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > \*All these statistics are for men. Sorry for being so gender biased but I’ve never read any serious research into women wearing fedoras. It’s been a trend for women in Japan to wear fedoras (or at least fedora-ish hats). Or it was a trend in 2010. Fashions there seem to change daily. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/33 "2013-10-12T21:00:36Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > [Fedoras image vs reality](http://i.imgur.com/C6UlwPW.jpg) Ain’t that the truth! ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/34 "2013-10-12T21:03:00Z")
I like fedoras-but a straw boater is much nicer! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/35 "2013-10-12T21:19:40Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > This puzzles me. I own 2 fedoras, 2 panamas, a trilby, a fez, a top hat and a pith helmet (among others). > > I have a great time and I love to dress sharp. I have never had anything but compliments about my hats. > > To each his own I suppose. Do you wear them with anime t-shirts? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/36 "2013-10-12T21:27:11Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Do you wear them with anime t-shirts? No, a suit. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/37 "2013-10-12T21:34:09Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I realize I’m in the minority here, but I think _any_ hat that doesn’t actually serve a purpose – like keeping your head warm, or protection from rain, sun, or falling bricks – looks pretentious at best, dorky at worst. That being said, there are many occasions where deliberately looking pretentious or dorky is perfectly acceptable. I disagree. Even hats that serve a purpose look dorky. This is something that dogs can instinctively sense, like vampires and cyborgs. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/38 "2013-10-12T21:41:22Z")
Perhaps my fedora (and my other hats) look dorky on me. What my daughter finds deeply upsetting is that I don’t care. I’m 57. I wear whatever I want. The dog has learned that when I put on the hat, it’s walk time. He’s happy, I’m happy, life is good. It’s not dorky -it’s _post-ironic_. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/39 "2013-10-12T21:42:52Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > [Fedoras image vs reality](http://i.imgur.com/C6UlwPW.jpg) Ha! How right you are. Yes, not everyone can wear one well. I do love the way they look on the right person. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fedoras-dorky/671037/40 "2013-10-12T21:51:58Z")
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