The fedora offers a classic, yet timeless look for both men and women. It is elegant, stylish, and perfect for almost any occasion. You can wear it to a red-carpet event or a night out with your friends; either way, you will be sure to turn heads with a quality fedora. However, a fedora isn’t much good if it’s not positioned correctly. Despite their popularity over the years, most men and women do not know how to wear a fedora hat correctly.
In today’s guide, we are going to teach you how to wear a fedora hat so that you don’t let a great accessory go to waste!
Wearing a Fedora Hat For Men
When worn properly, a high-quality fedora exudes strength, intelligence, and style for men. It tells others that you have confidence and intellect, as well as a more adventurous side. While many people will say “a hat is just a hat,” those people have clearly never worn a fedora.
However, showcasing positive qualities with your fedora requires you to wear it properly. This does not just include the position of the hat, either. Your hair length, accessories, environment, and even the time of day can all dictate how to wear a fedora hat. So, let us look at a few different factors that can help you rock a fedora as a man:
Hair Length
Fortunately, men’s fedoras work well with both short and long hair. If you have short hair, wearing the hat lower on your head (with the brim of your fedora perpendicular to the ground) can often accentuate certain aspects of your hairstyle. At the same time, this position provides shade to parts of your scalp that may not have ample hair coverage. This will protect your scalp from the elements, which is particularly beneficial if you have sensitive skin.
If you have long hair, you are probably not as worried about protecting your scalp. However, depending on the style of your hair, it may be harder to wear your fedora low on your head. As a result, many men with long hair choose to tie it up in a bun that will fit snugly within the crown of the hat. This allows you to wear the hat at a perpendicular level, just like men with short hair. Alternatively, you can wear the hat loosely on top of long hair, with the front of the brim turned slightly upwards. This look is more casual, so it is best reserved for informal gatherings.
Accessories
Wearing a fedora is all about setting a tone for your entire look. Thus, the accessories you wear with your fedora can complement the style and affect the way you wear it. In the past, male fashion critics advised against wearing both sunglasses and a fedora. However, the combination has recently come back in style.
If you’re wearing your fedora with sunglasses, be sure not to wear the top of the brim too low. This can make it seem as though you have something to hide. It also means that a large percentage of your face will be covered, which is not a good look. So, if you are going to wear the fedora/sunglasses combo, make sure that the brim of your height is either perpendicular to the ground or turned slightly upward. If you add earrings to the mix, you can generally wear your fedora “flat” or inclined as well.
Environment
Whether you are male or female, learning how to wear a fedora hat requires you to “read the room,” so to speak. If you are attending a formal event, you will generally want to wear the flat style (brim perpendicular to the ground). On the other hand, if you are in an informal setting, you can go with the inclined look (front of the brim turned upward). The degree to which you turn up the brim will depend on your personal preference. That said, you do not want to overdo it; a slight incline is often more than enough.
Night or Day
If you’re going to wear your fedora outdoors (as most people do), you’ll want to know how to wear it at different points of the day and night. Generally speaking, a fedora can be worn in any position during the day. If it is particularly bright, you may wish to wear the brim flat or even slightly declined to help keep the sun out of your eyes. Just keep in mind that the declined look has fallen out of fashion (for the most part). So, the less you pull the brim down over your eyes, the better!
At night, you will want to be conscious of the impression you give with a fedora. A downturned (declined) fedora can look suspicious. Therefore, the flat or ideally the inclined look is best after the sun goes down.
Wearing a Fedora Hat For Women
Female fedora hats often exude a sense of curiosity, playfulness, intelligence, and offbeat style. However, depending on several different factors, they can also exude class, elegance, and grace. It is all about how you wear it.
Since the women’s fedora typically (though not always) has a wider brim, there is greater variety in how women can wear their hats. That said, it will still depend on a variety of factors:
Hair Length
Your hair length and style are particularly important when learning how to wear a fedora casually. Women with long hair typically wear fedoras with a steeply inclined brim. This is the most common “casual” style for a wide-brimmed fedora. Alternatively, women with short hair can easily pull off all three styles: inclined, flat, and declined. While men typically shouldn’t wear a fedora with a steep decline, women have more freedom to do so. That said, it may not be a very functional look, so it is best reserved for photoshoots!
Accessories
Both earrings and sunglasses can pair well with a women’s fedora. However, large or ostentatious jewelry should generally be avoided. Additionally, these accessories may require you to wear your fedora with a steeper incline. So, if you are not a fan of the inclined style, it would probably be best to leave the accessories at home.
Environment
The concept of women wearing fedoras within formal settings is still relatively new. Thus, there are no hard-and-fast rules for how they should be worn. That said, it is still best to follow convention in this regard. So, if you are planning to go to a formal event, wear the flat or slightly declined style. However, if you are just going shopping or hanging out with friends, you can opt for the flat or inclined looks.
Day or Night
The same rules apply to women that apply to men. If you need to keep the sun out of your eyes during the day, do not be afraid to pull the brim down low. At night, it makes more functional sense to keep the brim either flat or inclined, but it will largely depend on your personal preference.
What Clothes To Wear With A Fedora Hat
Learning how to wear a fedora hat also requires you to learn what goes well with a fedora. Typically, both men and women can’t go wrong with a sports jacket. In fact, suits and sports jackets are the two options that almost always look good when paired with a fedora. These styles are a little more formal, but they also look incredibly stylish.
Alternatively, both men and women can wear fedoras with casual wear, like t-shirts, blouses, and jeans. For men, it is best to accompany a fedora with some kind of sports jacket, even if you’re going to wear a t-shirt and jeans underneath. However, it is not a requirement. You can still wear a fedora with more casual clothing options — just don’t go too casual. Nobody wants to be the guy with cargo shorts, flip-flops, and a high-end fedora on top!
For women, there is a greater variation in the kind of clothes that can be worn. Generally, wide-brimmed fedoras pair well with sundresses and, in some cases, even formal gowns. In short, women can wear just about anything with fedoras — as long as the color scheme looks good!
We hope you found this guide on how to wear a fedora hat useful! If you’d like to acquire a high-quality fedora, be sure to check out Bellissimo Hats today!
