Cowboy Hats and More

The term fedora is derived from a play by Victorien Sardou.  In the play, a heroine princess named Fedora wore a hat similar to the fedora hat.  The hat was being called fedora in the late nineteenth century, characterized by its front pinched on both sides, its wide brim, and often a hat band.  In the 1920s and 1930s, the hat was thought common to mobsters and gangsters running illegal alcohol and moonshine due to the prohibition.  Modern films like The Untouchables featured several characters wearing fedora style hats, including the main characters of Andy Garcia and Kevin Costner. 

Fedoras are still popular today, though fortunately not often associated with crime or mob activity.