Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Fedoras
Fedoras

Learn English meaning of ‘fedoras’

Date: May 05 2020

Themes: Celebrity, Fashion

Grammar: Past Progressive Tense

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Throughout history, women have worked to be equal to men. During the Victorian years, women wanted to vote and receive education like men. Around the world, women worked together in order to receive these rights. Sarah Bernhardt was a popular European actress and a strong feminist at this time. She was famous for portraying Shakespeare’s Hamlet and other roles associated with masculinity.

In fact, Sarah Bernhardt practiced cross dressing for many of her roles on the stage, and a lot of feminist fashion trends originated with her costumes. One style trend is still very popular today. However, most people do not know that this trend began with Sarah Bernhardt. The next time you wear a fedora hat, you can thank Sarah Bernhardt for beginning the evolution of its popularity.

Listen to today’s English lesson as Kelsey tells Gary about this surprising history.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kelsey

Kelsey

Gary

Gary

Kelsey:  Hey, Gary. I see you’re wearing a fedora. Do you know where that name comes from?

Gary:  Yeah. To the best of my knowledge, it originates from Frank Sinatra, who made it super popular.

Kelsey:  You know, I’m really sorry to tell you this, but that’s actually false.

Gary:  Oh! Really?

Kelsey:  It was originally named for Victorian actress Sarah Bernhardt. She was portraying a Russian princess named Fédora Romanoff while wearing the hat, and it actually became a feminist symbol of the time.

Gary:  Wow! TIL… Today, I learned!

Kelsey:  It’s really interesting. This Sarah Bernhardt was actually very well known for cross dressing.

Gary:  That’s really amazing. I thought that the evolution of the fedora was just through Hollywood, and more and more people wore the hat and just associated it with, I guess, masculinity. And the history of that is… now that I know… all wrong. So, wow! I had no idea.

Kelsey:  Yeah, I was surprised to learn as well, but it really was a major style trend for females.

Gary:  That is so cool!

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Past Progressive Tense" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Gary is wearing a very popular hat, the fedora. He thinks that the fedora became popular because Frank Sinatra often wore one of these hats. For many years, people have associated it with men and male fashion. However, Kelsey tells Gary that this history is not complete. Gary is surprised and wants to learn more.

Kelsey explains that the fedora originates from Victorian actress Sarah Bernhardt. She was a famous feminist, and when she wore this hat on stage, it began a style trend among women. They named this hat style after Bernhardt’s character, Princess Fédora Romanoff, and wore it as a feminist symbol.

Which fashion trends are popular for men and women in your country? Do men and women wear the same styles of clothing?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

howdyhowdy

China

I am amazed that the fedora does originate from a female! I learn it.

03:42 AM May 26 2016 |

_kezz

Turkey

hi

12:18 PM May 23 2016 |

1 person likes this

Fatihurat

Fatihurat

Turkey

in past, the landowners had put fedora as a symbol of wealth for noble bloods 

09:52 AM May 23 2016 |

1 person likes this

Likes (7):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast