There’s hardly a person who doesn’t know what a fedora is, the sort of stylish hat worn by everyone’s favorite semi-aquatic egg laying mammal of action, but just as many are unaware of this hat’s name sake. A French play by the same name; Fedora.
Fédora, a play written by Victorien Sardou, was opened at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris on December 11th 1882. It ran for a total of 135 performances and was later adapted into an opera under the same name.
The plot revolves around Princess Fédora Romazoff whose secret fiancee is moratally wounded, and she swears vengeance on the man responsible.
Princess Fédora Romazoff is engaged to the son of St. Petersburg police chief. Vladimir Yariskin, in secret. Until he is found shot in a presumed anarchist attack again his father. The princess vows to take revenge against Loris Ipanoff, the perpetrator. She tracks him to Paris where she sends a letter back to St. Petersburg to incriminate Loris’s brother after he admits to the murder, not knowing who Vladimir was to Fedora.
W. & D. Downey, photographer; Croissant of Paris, printer – World Digital Library
Loris later explains that Fedora’s fiancée was having an affair with the his wife, causing Fedora to fall in love with him for saving her from such a man. Unfortunately the leading lady had sent a letter incriminating the Count’s brother in the murder, leading to his arrest and death in prison and his mother to die of a broken heart. Fedora confesses to her actions, and is promptly renounced, she then takes poison and dies in his arms.
What does any of this have to do with the hat? Very little actually! The only connection is that the leading lady wore a felt hat during the performance, one that does not match descriptions of what a fedora is, so most likely the modern fedora was simply named after the play as a publicity grab.
Howdy! I’m Bridget, the new On Campus Art News Blogger. What’s your favorite type of hat?