Fedora

Designer Dobbs American
ca. 1958
Not on view
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Fedora
  • Designer: Dobbs (American, New York)
  • Date: ca. 1958
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: straw, synthetic
  • Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Bequest of H. Randolph Lever, 1964
  • Object Number: 2009.300.2865
  • Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

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