Fedoras are indisputably beautiful finery and can be a perfect addition to almost any formal or casual ensemble that men wear. The hat stands out for itssoft yet firm brim and notched-in crown. Some can have linings, and others can be available without linings.Lining masks the stitches, raw edges, and other details while lending the finished look to your hat. Fedoras also come with decorative elements like ribbons, feathers, etc. Hat makers staple leather or fabric sweatband to the hats to keep your face and neck protected from sweat, even when you are out in the sun. Essentially, choosing this hat means looking at all the aspects – practical and aesthetic – to make the best use of the accessory.
Do you own a fidora hat or plan to buy one soon? While expecting it to elevate your fashion mainly has to do with its overall appeal and aura, you would want to examine it closely if you have some specific practical goals to achieve. For example, the summer has already set in, with the sun shining brightest on everyone. Although sunbathing is good, too much exposure to heat or UV rays can damage your skin and cause severe illnesses. Hence, you would want to be careful with your outings in the sun without compromising your fashion. You don’t have to think about the style enhancement part with fedoras. But you would want to check its details, especially if you are looking for a hat to provide substantial coverage from harmful sunrays.
For this purpose, you would want your fedora to have a few much-needed traits, of which UPF factor and brim size can be pretty critical. Let’s delve into them a little.
Protection from UV rays
UPF Rating
Everyone knows what sunscreen does. Ithas become an essential invention in human history because it’s a way for people to ensure that vitamin D production doesn’t exceed what’s healthy for the skin. While brief exposure to intense sunshine a few times per week might help produce vitamin D, excessive amounts of UV light from natural and artificial sources can be harmful. Too much vitamin D through the sunlight can cause painful sunburns, but many don’t know that it can also be the cause of deadly skin cancer later on down the line.
You need to use products with SPF ratings anywhere between 15 and 50 depending on your internal genes and external environmental factors such as time spent in direct sunlight to safeguard yourself from the skin cancer that could come from too much sun exposure. You must know that while sun protection factor or SPFshows theprotection level offered by sunscreens,ultraviolet protection factor or UPF rating system shows the fabrics’ capability to provide coverage from the sun, and it is more relevant for hats.
Protection from the sun is what you should aim for in any situation. When you’re searching for a hat to shield you from the sun, it is important to check the UPF rating. The figure on the UPF rating shows how much a piece of fabric can absorb UV radiation. For example, if your hat has a UPF rating of 50, the material will allow only 1/50th of the sun’s rays toenter. It can be a steal if you encounter a fedora with a 50+ rating.However, that doesn’t mean you cannot opt for anything with a lower rating. Fedora hats made with fabrics offering 15-20% UV ray protection can be a good buy, and 25-35 can be extremely good. If you get your hands on a hat with a 40-50+ rating, you don’t have to think twice before buying it.
Brim size
Although some companies claim that all hat sizescome with UPF ratings, the shorter brims cannot adequately offer enough protection. For example, a hat measuring less than 2″ in brim circumference is not large enough to protect your face throughout the day. For this, you would want the brim size to be at least 2 to 3 inches wider. And if you know, it will be a long day in the open space, going with wide brims can be wiser. They usually tend to be more than 3 inches, and some can be wider extending up to 4 inches or more.
There is no doubt about your love for fedoras because men have been inseparable from this style for years. The primary reason for this is its stylish and rich look that can easily blend with any outfit, contrary to popular beliefs that these are only for a formal appearance. However, you may still have some specific expectations from it apart from the fashion goal. No matter what it is, make sure to analyze your choice with that particular motive to make it the best buy for you and your wardrobe. After all, it is an investment.
