Louisville company shares fashion tips on latest Derby hat trends for men

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Women’s hats and fascinators are often the stars of Derby fashion. That doesn’t mean men can’t also shine in the hat department.

WAVE News reporter Josh Ninke got a behind the scenes look at the latest trends from a local company that ships men’s hats around the world.

Dapper Fam is an online hat business headquartered in Shelbyville, just a few miles away from the outlet mall. WAVE got an inside look of the warehouse, and the thousands of hats stored inside.

It all started about three years ago in founder Brandon Johnson’s basement, but it’s part of a family passion that goes back decades.

“My grandfather came, well, he fled one country to the next,” Johnson said. “He was an immigrant. My father made his way through Africa and came here to the states. Didn’t plan on sticking around, but was able to start a business of his own as a retailer selling men’s clothes, classic men’s wear, so I grew up into that.”

From timeless classics to more contemporary styles, you can find it all on their website. They’ll even help you measure your head and get the right fit.

WAVE got a quick in-person crash course, though.

“We’ll take that, work it around the back, and you’re about 23 inches,” Johnson said.

That works out to a large in some hats, or a 7 and 3/8ths in other sizing. Johnson was kind enough to pull a bunch of styles to see what worked best, and what would fit great at this year’s Kentucky Derby.

“This is a Panama Straw hat,” Johnson said. “It’s light, that actually looks really good. Typically, two fingers over the brow is where you want it, but that’s just a general rule. You can tip it if you like and create some asymmetry.”

The hat was hand-woven in Ecuador, and carries some of that history with it.

“This is special,” Johnson said. “The family has their crest stamped inside. You might not be able to see it very well as it’s traveled from there, here. But it’s there!”

“A lot of our customers like the timeless look,” Johnson said. “They also want their women to shine. They don’t want to outshine her. We do see a lot of the timeless looks, but we also have some more bold styles that are becoming more, the more fashion oriented.”

Get ready to see more of these Western styles this year, not just at the track but all around. You have one person to thank: Beyoncé.

“She’s having a massive impact,” Johnson said. “We’ve seen this trend develop over the last couple of years. Her influence on the world of fashion is massive. She’s going to be looked at in hindsight as a prime mover.”

So men, don’t let your date have all the fun this year. Keep it classic, or, if you’re feeling bold, try something a little more out there this year.

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