Black hats are tricky. They come with a whole host of associations and connotations, ranging from several religious groups to western outlaws to any number of pop-culture villains and antiheroes. Toht from Raiders of the Lost Ark wore a black hat, as did Walter White, The Shadow, Waylon Jennings, and Lee Van Cleef, to name just a few. Some people want to emulate those looks, but if one simply wants to wear a nice hat, that’s a lot of cultural baggage to carry around on one’s head.
Wide-brimmed hats are also tricky. They are unsubtle and draw attention to the wearer. Wide brims are dramatic; one might even say theatrical. Again, some people will enjoy leaning into those qualities, but they aren’t ideal for a hat you’d want to throw on for a low-key afternoon of running errands.
So, wide-brimmed black hats aren’t necessarily what I think of as my personal style. At least they weren’t until I came across one at an antique store this weekend and decided that it needed to come home with me.
The hat is nothing fancy, and despite being sold as an antique, I suspect it isn’t all that old. It’s a crushable wool felt Stetson. Basically, it’s designed to be an affordable beater that will stand up to rain and snow, roll up into a pocket if need be, and still (mostly) pop back into shape. Hats of that style sell for around $100-$120 new, so when I found this used one in decent shape for $30, I decided to take a flyer on it. If nothing else, it’s a warm, weather-repellent option that I can wear while walking the dogs this winter. And if I ever decide to venture into the world of Darkman cosplay, I’m all set.
Here are a few pictures of the hat immediately after I bought it, and then later after I cleaned it up and steamed some shape back into it:
a.k.a. V.J. 
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