# How did "Fedora" wind up taking on its current connotations? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155 "2018-07-18T16:46:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/1 "2018-07-18T16:46:18Z")
From a post in the incel sex robots thread: > [@Sex robots for Incels?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-robots-for-incels/817783/210): > > Incels rage against the stereotypes about them… that they are fat, neckbearded, tendies-addicted, fedora-wearing titty baby basement dwelling losers. Now throw “sex bot-fucker” in the mix. Does their image improve or become even more pathetic? So I have a hard time imagining how a sex robot will make the Incel problem better. Yeah, a fembot probably would bring hours of joy to some lonely dudes. I don’t think these are the dudes the rest of us are afraid of, though. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen the word “fedora” appear in the company of those other words. Actually, I’ve seen it for the past, like, 5 years. I’ve never even seen a fedora in real life, only in old movies. Is this actually a thing? If it is a thing, how did it wind up taking on this connotation? ---
**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:** [July 18, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/2 "2018-07-18T17:03:27Z")
They aren’t fedoras, they are trilbys. Skinny brimmed hats. A certain breed of losers deluded themselves into thinking that wearing them was sophisticated or something. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/3 "2018-07-18T17:06:30Z")
[Probably stuff like this](http://pilerats.com/written/deep-meaningful/the-slow-death-of-the-hipster/) (scroll down to the third image). Note the caption. _Ladies, if you’re looking for me, I’ll be playing Magic and chugging Mountain Dew in the park._ [And this.](https://derpibooru.org/432561) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/4 "2018-07-18T17:13:53Z")
To keep “trilby” and “fedora” straight, remember ones comes from the [title](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilby#History) of a play while the other comes from … the … [title](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedora#History) of a play. Oh. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/5 "2018-07-18T18:39:42Z")
That’s the great thing— you don’t have to keep them straight. Someone will _always_ correct you. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/6 "2018-07-18T18:49:27Z")
One of the things I hate most about the incel/MRA guys is that they’ve ruined trilbies for the rest of us. When I get dressed up on cold days in a nice suit, with my long black topcoat and gray scarf, I want to be able to keep my head warm with my nice gray wool tribly, dammit! I look like Don Draper!! Now I have to wonder if everyone thinks I’m about to break out a “m’lady” or something. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/7 "2018-07-18T20:31:37Z")
[Fedora twins!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8nKX7GfERw) eta: read the comments. m’lady ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/8 "2018-07-18T20:36:54Z")
I think the fedora=loser MRA type is a creation of the internet/media. I know a couple of people who can pull off a fedora, and they’re both pretty cool. Haven’t seen anyone give them too much shit over it except in a very mild way. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/9 "2018-07-18T21:09:11Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > [Probably stuff like this](http://pilerats.com/written/deep-meaningful/the-slow-death-of-the-hipster/) (scroll down to the third image). Note the caption. > > _Ladies, if you’re looking for me, I’ll be playing Magic and chugging Mountain Dew in the park._ > > [And this.](https://derpibooru.org/432561) Fun fact: this is a headshot from the actor who played Pugsley in the third 1990s Addams Family film (went direct to video). He’s just messing around, not seriously being a neckbeard. Like [Bad Luck Brian](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/bad-luck-brian) an intentionally bad photo gets interpreted as serious. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/10 "2018-07-18T21:16:07Z")
m’lady ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/11 "2018-07-18T22:00:33Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I think the fedora=loser MRA type is a creation of the internet/media. I know a couple of people who can pull off a fedora, and they’re both pretty cool. Haven’t seen anyone give them too much shit over it except in a very mild way. The problem is that a lot of these guys wear them with freaking everything. A fedora generally looks good if worn with a nice wool suit and tie. NOT with jeans and a just a ratty old shirt. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/12 "2018-07-18T22:47:45Z")
Yeah. Many Orthodox Jews wear fedoras on Saturdays and holidays and during prayer services, and are generally wearing, if not a full suit, at least a sport jacket and a collared shirt. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/13 "2018-07-18T23:24:30Z")
I need to get my fedora blocked. Stetson Mallory in olive. It didn’t make the move to Florida all that well. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/14 "2018-07-18T23:51:54Z")
[_Tips Fedora_](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/tips-fedora) ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/15 "2018-07-19T00:43:15Z")
Is the “Heisenberg hat” from _Breaking Bad_ actually a fedora? Just to my layman’s eye it looks like a slightly different kind of hat from the ones that come up when I google Fedora. The top looks flatter. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/16 "2018-07-19T01:25:06Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Is the “Heisenberg hat” from _Breaking Bad_ actually a fedora? Just to my layman’s eye it looks like a slightly different kind of hat from the ones that come up when I google Fedora. The top looks flatter. It’s a pork pie hat. > **[Pork pie hat](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_pie_hat)** > > A pork pie hat is one of several different styles of hat that have been worn since the mid-19th century. The pork pie hat gained further popularity in the 20th century, being worn by famous actors and musicians. This style of hat features a flat crown that resembles a traditional pork pie, thus earning its name. > The origins of the pork pie hat in Western fashion lay in the 1860s. Initially an item of women’s wear, this accessory was identifiable through its shape, particularly the narrow brim wh... ---
**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:** [July 19, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/17 "2018-07-19T01:25:45Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Is the “Heisenberg hat” from _Breaking Bad_ actually a fedora? Just to my layman’s eye it looks like a slightly different kind of hat from the ones that come up when I google Fedora. The top looks flatter. That us a pork pie hat. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/18 "2018-07-19T02:06:13Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > The problem is that a lot of these guys wear them with freaking everything. A fedora generally looks good if worn with a nice wool suit and tie. NOT with jeans and a just a ratty old shirt. Depends on who’s wearing it. My wife loves me. However, if Harrison Ford shows up at our door and asks her to run off with him, the fact that he’s wearing jeans, a ratty old shirt, and a fedora that’s beat up from chasing the Ark of the Covenant will only hasten her departure. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/19 "2018-07-19T05:14:52Z")
Fedoras somehow became associated with atheism (google “fedora wearing atheist” for examples), and then underwent a swift process of demonization since\* anything \*associated with atheism is pure evil. Since then the taint of “evil” has spread to anyone else wearing anything that looks like a fedora; “fedora” became an insult. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155/20 "2018-07-19T13:55:45Z")
Not much to add to the discussion, but. . . In the old "Beverly Hillbillies’ program, when Mr. Drysdale wore a hat, it was almost always a Homburg (which was not named after a play). However, in a few eps, maybe a half dozen or so, he wore a trilby instead. Maybe they had misplaced the Homburg at filming time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-fedora-wind-up-taking-on-its-current-connotations/818155.md?page=2)