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Trendlet: Wide-brimmed fedoras

First, the well-fitted suit made a chic comeback. Then the full beard was in vogue. Even the grandpa-style, flannel button-down shirt enjoyed a rebirth of cool.

Kyrstofer Pinock of North Philadelphia wears a wide-brimmed fedora that he purchased from Zara.
Kyrstofer Pinock of North Philadelphia wears a wide-brimmed fedora that he purchased from Zara.Read moreJessica Griffin

First, the well-fitted suit made a chic comeback. Then the full beard was in vogue. Even the grandpa-style, flannel button-down shirt enjoyed a rebirth of cool.

The trendlet

Now, wide-brimmed fedoras are a mark of a fashion-conscious man.

Where's it come from?

Fedoras were introduced to menswear (and women's wear) in the 1890s and were named for the soft, felt fabric blend they were fashioned from. During the early 1900s, however, the word fedora was used to describe a style of hat that was small and short of brim.

Old Hollywood and gangsters inspired menswear from the 1920s through the '60s. And all men - whether going to church or the supermarket - wore their hats outside the home.

By the 1970s, casual looks were well on their way to becoming the norm, and by the 1990s, we were a baseball-cap nation.

To the chagrin of fashion police everywhere, Pharrell Williams rocked a Vivienne Westwood fedora at the 2014 Grammy Awards. (Oh, did we relish the Smokey Bear jokes.)

After that, women, surprisingly, stepped up their fedora game. And by June, men had caught on, thanks in large part to the rapper Future, who turned the wide-brimmed fedora into his trademark.

Who's wearing it?

Like the Philly beard, the wide-brimmed fedora is now a classic male favorite, whether he skateboards, runs a start-up, or both. Speaking of the classic man, R&B artist Jidenna (who this year saw his tune "Classic Man" climb the pop and R&B charts) is a fedora-wearer, as are rapper T.I., singer Justin Timberlake, and Philadelphia-bred Yazz the Greatest, also known as Hakeem on Fox's Empire.

Would Elizabeth's dude wear it?

I'm not opposed to it at all.

Should you wear it?

Absolutely. It adds a nice dose of class to a pair of selvedge jeans and a fitted flannel, or a Tom Ford suit.

ewellington@phillynews.com

215-854-2704

@ewellingtonphl

Kyrstofer Pinock, 24, of North Philadelphia,

is wearing a wide-brimmed fedora that he purchased from Zara.