Fedora

A fedora /fᵻˈdɔərə/ is a felt hat with a wide brim and indented crown. It is typically creased lengthwise down the crown and "pinched" near the front on both sides. Fedoras can also be creased with teardrop crowns, diamond crowns, center dents, and others, and the positioning of pinches can vary. The typical crown height is 4.5 inches (11 cm).

The brim is usually approximately 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) wide, but may be wider, can be left "raw edged" (left as cut), finished with a sewn overwelt or underwelt, or bound with a trim-ribbon.

The term fedora was in use as early as 1891. Its popularity soared, and eventually it eclipsed the similar-looking homburg.

History

The word fedora comes from the title of an 1882 play by dramatist Victorien Sardou, Fédora being written for Sarah Bernhardt. The play was first performed in the United States in 1889. Bernhardt played Princess Fédora, the heroine of the play. During the play, Bernhardt – a notorious cross-dresser – wore a center-creased, soft brimmed hat. The hat was fashionable for women, and the women's rights movement adopted it as a symbol. After Prince Edward of Britain started wearing them in 1924, it became popular among men for its stylishness and its ability to protect the wearer's head from the wind and weather. Since the early part of the 20th century, many Haredi and other Orthodox Jews have made black fedoras normal to their daily wear.

Fedora (KGB agent)

Fedora was the codename for Yerbas Lichi or Victor Mechislavich Lesovski (Russian: Виктор Мечиславвич Лесовский), a KGB-agent who infiltrated the United Nations during the Cold War, from where he very successfully sabotaged American intelligence agencies by supplying false information. His cover was his work as a Soviet ambassador in the United Nations' headquarters in New York. Fedora was also a close associate and special assistant of the Secretary General of the United Nations, U Thant.

Successes

Fedora (1918 film)

Fedora is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Edward José and written by Charles E. Whittaker, after the play with the same name by Victorien Sardou. The film stars Pauline Frederick, Alfred Hickman, Jere Austin, William L. Abingdon, and John Merkyl. The film was released on August 4, 1918, by Paramount Pictures. Its survival status is classified as unknown, which suggests that it is a lost film.

Plot

As described in a film magazine, Fedora (Frederick), a Russian princess of wealth and beauty and engaged to Count Vladimir Androvitch (Merkyl), vows to bring the murderer of the Count to justice after he is mysteriously slain. She traces the assassin to Paris and poses as a Russian exile. By the practice of her wiles she induces Louis Ipanoff (Austin) to fall in love with and wrings a confession from him. Ipanoff goes to Fedora's house and reveals the truth of her fiance's death, he having discovered Vladimir in Mme. Ipanoff's bedroom. When Fedora learns of her late fiance's perfidy, she declares her love for Ipanoff and screens him from the police until the Tsar can pardon him and they are finally married.