The Fedora Resurrected
If it weren’t for that meddling Maria Grazia Chiuri, the artistic director of Christian Dior, the fedora, with its storied history, had the potential to be lain to rest alongside acid wash jeans and popcorn shirts. But with her AW17 Dior Couture show in Paris, the designer resurrected the never-say-die accessory. Dare we say, the fedora is back, and we’re going to investigate the matter.
Not to be confused with its more accepted, widebrimmed brother, the basic, short-brimmed fedora was seized circa 2008 by Reddit and 4Chan alike as their debased accessory of choice. The only mid-aughties celeb that continued to wear the hat rather flawlessly was Justin Timberlake, and he’s since limited his usage to on-stage performances only.
Today, you’re most likely to catch fedoras on babies in photoshoots, #TBT pics of Kevin Federline, and the dapperest celebs – Bruno Mars, Janelle Monae, and, occasionally a star who didn’t want to wear a snapback while dodging the paparazzi.
In order to bring the jaunty headgear back, Dior featured the fedora in its most archetypical environment: atop the head of 1930s detective look. Dior’s grayscale runway paired wool coats with equally demure wool hats, making this a closed case: The hat has returned, un-ironically. It’s Nancy Drew once she outgrew her tween gumshoe years and became a chic sleuth worthy of big time crimes. It’s “Dick Tracy” meets “Murder, She Wrote.” Agatha Christie would be proud; Carmen Sandiego, eat your heart out.
The fedora was not the only accessory Dior revived. While typically reserved for the always-chilly Matron of Honor, the silk shawl was also diaphanously displayed. To keep it from looking too mother-in-law chic, it was styled with Dior’s signature combo: a sheer dress and underwear, naturally. It is wedding season, after all.
But I digress. If nothing will finally convince you that the once meme-fodder fedora is back, here are two words that will: Rihanna would.