Would you believe that if it were not for the amazing acting talents of Sarah Bernhardt, there would not have been such a term as Fedora hat? The history of Fedora hats is intriguing in that it all started when this talented actress played the part of Princess  Fedora in an 1882 stage play that no one even remembers. What stands out peculiarly was the actress and her hat, the Fedora hat.

The year after she played the American version of this French play, Fedora hats were all the rage in the United States and Europe. However, what started as a woman’s hat quickly turned into the epitome of what a gangster would wear. This move suddenly changed the trend of the Fedora hat from being fashionable to being stylishly mysterious. Men were seen wearing this hat as a sign of their desire to seem tough. It was a fashion phenomena that has stuck to this day. For some reason, when men wear the Fedora hats, they exude the bad boy image, and for some geeks, this is a great way to get some much needed confidence and self esteem.

The history of Fedora hats also had Jews wearing the black version as part of their wardrobe and it gave them distinct flair and stature that even up to this, many Orthodox Jews can be seen wearing them. Most of them are of the more senior age, and they have become so used to wearing their Fedora hats, it’s almost like a part of their person already.

With the advent of film and TV, the Fedora hats got even more recognition and use, although this was eventually overshadowed by the casual baseball sports cap which Americans now favor more. Still, as much as media influences the trends and fashion today, Fedora hats continue to pop up as a style statement every once a while. Recently, when music icons like Michael Jackson and Britney Spears started to use the Fedora hats, it broke all barriers, and became popular among the youth again.

The same thing happened when Justin Timberlake wore his Fedora hat and proved that the classic look lives on. Fedora hats are truly a part of our fashion history since it has never been out of style. The difference between the later 2008 Fedora hats and the original ones are in the materials used. Today’s Fedora hats are now lighter and easier to care for. They even have straw Fedora hats which are incredibly chic and elegant. 

The trend today is more casual but baseball casual if you want to paint the town at night. This makes the Fedora hats simply perfect for capping the sublime  and well-groomed look that’s acceptable in any social setting. Even teenagers today have been seen wearing the inimitable Fedora hats for their everyday look because they can easily switch to party mode with it.

Fedora hats have come a long way since it was first used as a costume prop. Now, it’s a staple in every fashionista’s closet.