Hats have been worn for both fashion and function since Egyptian times. Soft felt hats gained in popularity as the city hat of choice after 1907. This style complemented the trend toward dressier men's clothing and the lower crown was also more practical for getting in and out of low-slung automobiles with limited headroom. Prior to World War II, anyone walking hatless out of doors in a town would have been very conspicuous.

All the classic city hats were traditionally sold with open crowns, to be creased or bashed when sold. The standard crease was a center crease with dents near the front. Hats with this crease and the brim snapped down in front became known as Fedora hats after the style was popularized in the 1888 play Fedora by V. Sardou, and worn by such well known real and fictional characters as Humphry Bogart's character in Casa Blanca and The Maltese Falcon, Al Capone and Dick Tracy. The term Fedora hat eventually expanded to include similarly shaped panama hats and straw hats, as well as the traditional soft fur felt hats.

In the 1950's Fedoras and men's city hats in general saw a decline in popularity. More recently we have seen an increase in the interest in Fedora hats. The Fedora's practical wide brim and classic shape provide good sun protection and great style. It's popularity has been further increased by Harrison Ford's character in the Indiana Jones movies, who wore a fur felt hat with a modified Fedora bash.

View our Fedoras and City Hats

City Hats by Akubra
Australia has been one of the most urban countries in the world since the 1850's, with more than 90% of the people living in the big cities. Akubra has always served this urban population as well as the needs of drovers, stockmen, pastoralists and outdoorspeople. Akubra hats combine the best of Australian style with durability and function. We have been selling Akubra Hats here in the US since 1965 and are pleased to offer five classic city hats in fur felt by Akubra:

• The Sydney is a soft Fedora with a snap brim. This hat is a classic Fedora, with an open crown for you to personalize with your own crease.

• The Squatter is a firmer felt, with a drop brim. This shape not only stayed in use in Australia as a dressy country hat, but also developed in Africa as the Safari hat.

• The Bushman, with snap brim, is again a firmer style that stayed in use in Australia as an all-round hat. The Bushman is one of Akubra's first hats, still popular today.

• The Adventurer, again in Akubra's firmer Imperial Quality fur felt, is an open crown fedora similar in style and color to that worn by Indiana Jones in the Indiana Jones movies. Add an Indy Bash, or your own individualized crease to have your desired style of Fedora.

• The Casual, from Akubra's Lifestyle Collection of crushable hats has a precreased crown in the classic Fedora shape.

All the classic city hats were traditionally sold with open crowns, to be creased or bashed when sold. The standard crease was a center crease with dents near the front although this varied by individuals. You will enjoy creasing your hat into your own personal shape. Detailed instructions are given for several types of creases on our Bashing Your Open Crown Akubra page and in our Hat Manual (pdf). We recommend the Casual if you prefer the convenience of a precreased crown.

More Fedoras
We offer three Panama Fedoras, stylish and practical for sun protection and warm weather wear: a Panama Fedora , Feather-Weight Panama and the Cafe Panama.

The Tilley Fedora is a pre-shaped fur felt fedora designed for winter use. No more cold ears - it has a tuck away ear flap. This Fedora by Tilley Endurables is desinged in Canada, made in the USA.

Fedora Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the questions we receive regarding Fedoras. For more general questions about hats, please check our Hat FAQ page.

How do I determine my hat size?
Heads come in all sizes, and a surprising variety of shapes. Please check our Hat Sizing page for detailed information on determining your hat size.

How do I crease my open crown Fedora?
The Akubra hats with an open crown allow you to put your own personal bash or crease in the crown. Detailed instructions are given for several types of creases on our Bashing Your Open Crown Akubra page and on our Indy Bash page.

Can I wear my Fedora in the rain?
The Sydney, our fur felt Fedora by Akubra, can be worn in the rain, as can all our Akubras. Akubra Hats are made to be worn by active outdoorsmen. They are made to give full satisfaction during years of service, through sun and rain. There is no need to baby your Akubra, but if you treat it with understanding, it will look better and last longer. Likewise, the Tilley Fedora can be worn in the rain.

Panama hats, including our Panama Fedora, are designed to be worn in the sun and should not be worn in the rain. For more information please see our Hat Care page.

Do you carry the hat worn by Indiana Jones?
No, but we do carry the Adventurer by Akubra, in the same genral shape, style and color as the fedora worn by Harrison Ford's character Indiana Jones in the Indiana Jones movies. The hat worn by Indiana Jones was a custom-shaped hat. The Bushman and Squatter, also by Akubra, are basically similar shapes. We did supply the handcrafted whips used in the Indiana Jones movies.

For more information ...
Please follow the links below for more information about dress hats and related items.

Bashing Your Open Crown Akubra Hat
Indy Bash for Open Crown Hats
Akubra Hats
Panama Hats
Hat Sizing
Hat Care
Hat FAQs
Hat Manual (pdf)