The title says it all; there is no hat that has stood the test of time.  From its height of popularity with Justin Timberlake, to its recession when Kevin Federline poisoned the trend, the fedora has survived almost anything imaginable.  Today the fedora is the most versatile hat in modern history.   The fedora has the look that says you’re all business, but its time to party when business over!

The beginnings of the fedora are relatively unknown.  The origin stems from 1889 during the play Fedora Sarah Bernhardt where the character Princess Fedora debuted the hat.  However, the inventor is not known to this day, adding to the sexy as eff mystique of the fedora.

Between 1889 and 1995 the fedora had a cult underground following in the hipster scene (which explains why you probably never heard of it).

JT Being GQ with the Fedora

That was until one man who was GQ enough set the world on fire with the fedora in 1995, that man was Justin Timberlake.  From that time on, the popularity of the fedora spread faster than a herpes infestation on a small university campus.

The fedora reached the peak of its popularity during 2002 when it appeared in the Justin Timberlake video Like I Love You.  Stores could not keep up with the demand of the fedora.  Extreme measures had to be taken to keep up with demand; prices for fedora were $100 minimum.  The fedora became so expensive; the average person could not wear this beautiful hat, which led to its downfall.

The fedora became exclusive to the rich like the D&G brand, a symbol of wealth.  This should have secured the popularity of the fedora.  However, one infamous d-bag was lucky enough to marry rich.

Kevin Federline nearly taking the Fedora off the map

That man was the ex-bf of Britney Spears, Kevin Federline.  From that point on, nobody wanted to touch the fedora.  Not even Justin Timberlake who trailblazed the trend.  The fedora’s popularity faded faster than HD DVDs or croc rubber shoes.

Stores were backed up with the inventory of fedoras; they couldn’t get rid of them.  The fedora nearly saw its extinction when store’s had to burn most of their supply to make room for other products.  With the absence of the fedora, men needed a new hip headpiece.  Everything was tried, trucker hats, flat caps, upside down visors, one by one they all failed to replace the fedora.

All hope was lost, until one man’s dedication to the fedora paid off.  That man was Ne-Yo.  His gentlemanly appearance was the ultimate counterbalance to K-Fed’s douchebagery.  With Ne-Yo giving the fedora credibility, the conditions for the fedora to return came together.  Society regained its respect for the hat.

Ne-Yo Bringing the Fedora Back

Store’s ensured than fedoras were only sold to respectful men.  Which leads us to today. When you see a man wear a fedora, you will know he carries the qualities of a gentleman.  You know that man will understand what cutlery to use at a table, how to serenade royalty, likes his martinis shaken not stirred, and you know he will ‘always return the favor’.   We owe a great deal of gratitude to the Ne-Yo.  Thank you good sir.