Vintage Men’s Hats – What Are The Styles You Need To Know?

We went to our 2nd auction.  My purchases included a couple of gifts (because we believe in giving thoughtful thrifted gifts), a coyote fur coat we posted on our Instagram, and a lot of men’s vintage hats. 

Vintage hats are one of the things that sell quickly up at Vintage Roots. If you are unfamiliar, it is our booth at the Vermont Antique Mall. I’m always looking for ones in good condition and have helped connect a few dozen with new homes in the last year. While hats were traditionally made with gender limitations in mind, clothes don’t have genders.  Overall, we believe everyone should wear whatever makes them feel fabulous.  Hats originally made for either gender are often universally flattering. 

Styles We Watch Out For

Pre the 1960s men commonly wore hats outside the home. Style and quality varied dramatically between those of different stations. 

Some of our favorite kinds of men’s hats to source and sell are:

Fedoras

Fedoras are felt hats with pinched sides and a lengthwise crease down the crown. Their brims are wide and flexible and can be angled up or down.

Homburg

Homburg is like a dressy Fedora. It took me a bit to learn the difference between a fedora and a homburg.  It doesn’t have the pinch on the crease and has a turned-up brim.

Bowler

Bowler like a Homburg but with no lengthwise crease. Features a rounded top. Commonly worn by the working-class.

Cowboy

Cowboy hats. You know the ones seen in any western. Stetson is almost synonymous with a Western. They made other types too though, like the black and white in our featured picture.

Some Brands To Know

Some of the quality brands we look for are Mallory, Dobbs, Stetson, Resistol, Cavanagh, and Knox. All the men’s vintage hats we’ve sold so far have been felt or fabric.  We just picked up our first straw hat!

Overall, hats can be great statement pieces! They can be dressed up or down, are great for costuming, and can become part of a signature look! Do you have a featured hat or a style you love? We’d love to hear about it or see pics! Drop a comment here or send us some Instagram love!