About to purchase my first 'real' hat! Need help

[vinnypolston]

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing well.

I've been wearing cheap Walmart fedora's for the past couple of years and am finally to the point in my life where I want something better. I've been told and researched that Stetson is a great brand. Long story short: I found a hat on eBay that claims to be authentic Stetson that I really like, but wanted your opinions before purchasing.

I see that this hat is a milan braid which I am completely fine with. It states to be from the "Stetson Soft Touch Milan Braid Collection for 2010" but when I search for that in Google I find nothing; In fact I can not find this specific hat anywhere online. . which makes me leary on this actually being a Stetson. But man, do I like this hat..

What's your takes on this? It's in my price rang and I love the style. Is it truly a Stetson and a good buy?

Thanks,
Vince

 

[danofarlington]

Man, you asked for it now. Stand aside while the blast of opinion blows through your computer.

 

[Bourne ID]

Yep, that's a Stetson all right! Check out a shop like The Fedora Store under Stetson-straw-dress and you'll find 'em going for a bit more than that!
Good luck!

 

[Rick Blaine]

Is it paper or genuine milan braid? I suspect the former. Pop over to Miller & see what Biltmore has done for them in a similar style.

 

[Fedora Jay]

Looks real close to an older straw Stetson I picked up last year. I'll bet this is the newest version of what I have. I get more compliments on it than I do my new Stetson felt or my vintage Knox.

 

[vinnypolston]

Wow thanks for the response everyone! I went ahead after reading these and purchased the hat ( they only had 1 left and it happened to be my size )
I'm looking forward to receiving it! My first Stetson.

It says that it is "brim size is 2 inches, snap brim so brim style and shape can be changed". How will I go about shaping the brim? I know how I would like for it to look but have never done this before..


@danofarlington
Wow, you were right, LOTS of feedback!

@Bourne ID
I thought the price was good! Those ones at The Fedora Store are great but at this point I can't afford to pay that much. Maybe someday

@Rick Blaine
Thank you for the link. Those are some great looking hats! I agree and think it's probably the paper not genuine milan braid. But with it being a Stetson.. I'm not sure? Would Stetson make a paper milan braid?

@Fedora Jay
Mine posting a picture of said hat?

 

[jlee562]

Oh, the Latte, I have one of those, it's a nice Milan, although I think it's a shangtung (paper) Milan.

The brim "snaps" down pretty easy, here's some camera phone shots with the brim up and down.

(worn pushed back, "rude boy" style)

brim snapped down.

I added the pin and feather to mine, yours won't come with that, but I had them leftover from a Stetson fur felt.

 

[DJH]

Vinny, if you wear yours as well as jlee does that one you'll be a happy man!

 

[fmw]

Congratulations. Originally, milan was woven from wheat straw. Nowadays, I think they use synthetics. I have a Stetson Avenue milan braid (not really milan) that appears to be synthetic to me. Their word for it is Florentine Milan. Something like New Yorker Chicago. However, it is a good looking hat. I'm sure you will like yours.

 

[fmw]

Oh, the Latte, I have one of those, it's a nice Milan, although I think it's a shangtung (paper) Milan.

The brim "snaps" down pretty easy, here's some camera phone shots with the brim up and down.

brim snapped down.

I added the pin and feather to mine, yours won't come with that, but I had them leftover from a Stetson fur felt.

Interesting. My Avenue (pictured in the post above) does not have a snap brim. I went through a lot of trouble to get the snapped down look so that it would stay. Maybe yours and mine are made of different materials.

 

[danofarlington]

Oh, the Latte, I have one of those, it's a nice Milan, although I think it's a shangtung (paper) Milan.

The brim "snaps" down pretty easy, here's some camera phone shots with the brim up and down.

(worn pushed back, "rude boy" style)

brim snapped down.

I added the pin and feather to mine, yours won't come with that, but I had them leftover from a Stetson fur felt.

Cool on ya.

 

[Fedora Jay]

I've got the exact same hat as fmw. My brim has a bit of snap to it though. Nowhere as much as a felt, but just enough to actually snap.

As for shaping the brim, simply flip it up or down. It's super easy. Enjoy your new hat!

 

[randooch]

vinny, welcome to this crazy lounge, and have fun wearing that lid!

 

[Alex]

Welcome vinny! Nice purchase.

 

[vinnypolston]

Just got tracking info, can't wait for it to be here!

@jlee562
Looking great! the hat fits you perfectly!

@DJH
No joking! looking forward to it.

@fmw
Thank you for the information, thats a great looking hat too! Hope this one snaps down easily

@Fedora Jay
Thanks! I can not wait for it it to get here.

@randooch
Haha, thanks! Seems like some very helpful people here.

@Alex
Thanks, that's a great looking hat in your avatar btw!

 

[vinnypolston]

Great news: The Stetson got here yesterday! That was amazing fast shipping. The hat is even more beautiful than the pictures showed and extremely high quality Better than I imagined!

Bad news: Apparently I measured my head wrong and need 7 3/8. This is a 7 1/4. Unfortunately the seller does not accept returns or exchanges. I suppose I'll try selling it on here?