Fedoras are the worst. The only good thing about the fedora is that it allows you to pinpoint exactly who you should avoid at all costs, but the hat hasn't always had this reputation. Broadly, in very important work, has put together the comprehensive history of the reviled hat to find out where exactly it went wrong.

While the fedora rose to prominence in the early 20th century, and was seen as indispensable to a man's outfit, it fell out a favor sometime around John F. Kennedy's presidential inauguration in 1961. While the hat popped up occasionally in ska subcultures, it was really its popularity among pick-up artists, and the nerdy, white, middle-class men they coached, that fully brought the hat back into the fold and gave it the stigma it carries today.

Many pick-up artists suggested wearing something showy that would help men stand out in nightclubs, including items like cowboy hats and glowing necklaces. Broadly points to one widely-reblogged tip from a pick-up artist forum as a huge reason for why they are so often worn by swagless individuals:

"If you wear a hat, make it memorable, easy to spot, and something to work with your style. This is usually easier than it sounds. Try the fedora...it portrays you're a stylish man that knows what he's doing, and it's a great lock-in prop."

The fedora's current reputation for being worn primarily by thirsty men actually has a lot to go off of. Broadly also notes that the headwear's popularity among douchebags led to entire blogs chronicling the awful behavior of men on Ok Cupid who wore a fedora in their profile pictures.

Read more about the fedora's heyday, the all-encompassing definition of the word, and how JFK took the blame for its initial downfall here.