The Traditional Fedora Origin Story

Fedora Hats were first seen as a feminine hat with masculine undertones in 1883, inspired by a drama called “Fédora,” created by the French playwright Victorien Sardou. Sarah  Bernhardt, a French Actress, played the star role of Princess Fédora Romanoff who was wearing a stylish, center-creased, soft brimmed hat. Sarah was known for adopting men’s fashion and acting roles that shocked audiences. The play’s first review named the style of Bernhardt’s hat  “fedora” after the play title. This review coined the name “Fedora Hat” into womenswear of the time, and later menswear too. Soon after, fedora hats became a popular fashion statement and symbol for women’s rights activists, standing for liberation and assertiveness. Before long, the fedora style spread to all women and fashion-forward men like Oscar Wilde and Prince Edward VIII.