How to recognise it
The crown is dented and pinched at the front but lower than a fedora's, and the brim is narrow, 3–5 cm, turned up at the back.
Where it comes from
The name comes from George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby, whose stage heroine wore such a hat. In the 1950s it became a men's fashion classic and returned to youth fashion in the 2000s.
Who and when it suits
Lighter and more casual than a fedora, it goes with jeans, a blazer, shirts and summer dresses.
Variations and look-alikes
A trilby comes in tweed, felt, straw or cotton, plain or checked, with a narrow band and a brim turned up at the back or almost flat. A trilby with a very narrow brim is sometimes called a stingy brim. It differs from a fedora in its lower crown and narrower brim, and from a bowler in its dented rather than round crown.
How to style it
- Wear it tilted slightly back.
- With jeans and a blazer.
- Straw for summer.
- Do not bend the brim.
Similar styles
Frequently asked
01Where does the name trilby come from?
From the 1894 novel Trilby and its stage adaptation.
02How does a trilby differ from a fedora?
A trilby is lower, with a narrower brim turned up at the back.
03How do you wear a trilby?
Tilted slightly back, with a relaxed outfit.
04Which face shape suits a trilby?
The narrow brim suits oval and narrow faces best; a round face does better with a fedora's wider brim.