7 replies to this topic

[JolietJoker]

The hat's Jake and Elwood wear in the first movie don't look like fedoras in my eyes. They look more like trilby hats, in fact.

http://codingpad.maryspad.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/fedora_hats.gif
http://www.fashionpicks.com/wp-content/gallery/118/paul-smith-hat-black-felt-trilby.jpg

Trilby's have narrow brims just like the hats Jake and Elwood wear. Fedora has a wide brim. I am not sure if their hat's are trilbys, but I am damn sure they are not fedoras.

http://www.centurynovelty.com/resources/images/BlueBrothers.jpg - Blues Brothers wearing their hats
http://www.liverpoolchamberblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/humphrey_bogart_smoking.jpeg - Humphrey Bogart wearing a fedora

See the difference?

[Blueblood]

Fedoras

Jake & Elwood

It's basically a blanket term for that style of hat, like people calling a tissue 'Kleenex' or 'Band-aid' for bandage.

oh, and welcome!

[TakkunEG]

They're more of a narrow-brimmed fedora, as the crown/top is dented like a fedora. We have 3 trilbys in the house and one BB hat (though squished) and the tops are done differently.

[JolietJoker]

Trilby also has dents, though they usually aren't as noticeable as in fedoras.

http://www.hatsandcaps.co.uk/images/products/medium/142310.jpg - Look closely and you can see the dent in this trilby.

[jaym8377]

Fedoras come in many shapes and sizes. Fedora is a term used to describe any hat, usually felt, with the crown creased lengthwise and a brim that can be turned up or down. There is a type of fedora called "stingy-brim" used to describe hats such as the Blues Brothers' where the brim is under 2".

To be honest, as a self-proclaimed hat connoisseur, I never heard of trilby hats. I tried looking up a few images of them, and though many of them are different, I can't find anywhere that tells me the exact distinction between a fedora and a trilby. Interesting observation.

All I can say though is the Blues hats definitely have all the characteristics of and can rightly be called a fedora.

[TakkunEG]

I found reference to trilbys by name in an old catalog image when looking up 1920s clothing references, though I wish I had saved it now to post (it wasn't what I was needing at the time so I didn't save it.)

[Wolf]

Trilby is mostly a British term now.
I think in the Blues Brothers books they were called porkpies, which I don't think they are.
I would stick with calling them fedoras.

[jaym8377]

Wolf said:

I think in the Blues Brothers books they were called porkpies, which I don't think they are.
I would stick with calling them fedoras.

Porkpies are definitely out of the question. Completely different hat style. Notice the difference.

Bailey Gangster Fedora
B2B Jaxon Brown Crushable Pork Pie