Fedora

Dobbs

ca. 1958 · straw, synthetic · Costume Institute

A growing informality of American dress after World War II meant fewer men owned an array of hats, but several basic styles endured as men returned to work after their war service. Suits had a more tapered fit in the 1950s and a trimmer hat, like this narrow-brimmed fedora, complemented the trend. The rising fame of Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), who favored this style, ensured the fedora's appeal for the men who admired the singer's suave and confident manner. Dobbs, the maker of this example, produced high-quality men's hats for a discerning clientele.

Artist

Dobbs

Date

ca. 1958

Medium

straw, synthetic

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Bequest of H. Randolph Lever, 1964