Advice for newbie wanted

[newhatguy]

I've decided I want to "get into" hats...i've done the basic internet research and have lurked here for awhile and learned some good info.....Howevere I have a couple of questions:

What style of hat(s) should I start out with or maybe more importantly avoid?
Brim width?,up or down?
Type of crown?
Color?

I'm average size and build,light complexion(Irish decent).My two concerns are I wear glasses, and while my ears arn't large they do stand out somewhat.I also have short balding hair. Size 71/4 to 73/8. Oval to slight triangular shaped face -high forhead.

Do not live near a good hat shop so trying on different styles could be difficult-Hoping to get some input from those who have been through this beginner phase.

Thanks in advance.

newhatguy

 

[MK]

.

Welcome to The Fedora Lounge.

What part of the world are you in? There might be a source closer than you think.

You might want to add that info to your profile. It is cool to see where members are from.

 

[newhatguy]

Live just outside of Charlotte,NC....any ideas on a quality non-department store hat shop(non-Western) in this area?

Thanks

newhatguy

 

[Zach R.]

Always good to see a fellow North Carolinian (I was born in Gastonia myself, and I now live in Southport). :cheers1:

Alas, I think you're out of luck looking for quality hats around there.:cry:

Though if you are looking for good shoes, there is a place that carries Aldens in Charlotte, McMahon's Shoes I think is the name.

 

[Nathan Flowers]

Sadly, there are none within 100 miles of any of us around here.

If you guys want to see some of the best modern hats around, I have 5 Optimos, and two hats from Art Fawcett. What's a good central location? I'm in Florence SC.

 

[Biltmore Bob]

There goes the neighborhood...

That's all we needed 'round here...another Tarheel.

Welcome, friend.

 

[newhatguy]

Don't want to step on too many toes out of the gate....but some things you learn to tolerate....the Tarheels would fall into that category...I would probably fall into the ABC group(anybody but Carolina).

Thanks for the welcome...hope you all can give some sage advice in response to my questions.

newhatguy

 

[Biltmore Bob]

.... :cheers1:

 

[Matt Deckard]

If you are going for custom...

Style of hats depends on who you are and what you want to say about yourself. I wear a Fedora because I like the businessman look of the 30's.

It's really up to you when it comes to the style you want.

Optimo makes the top end when it comes to dress hats www.optimohats.com, and I hear good things about Rand hats from several friends into the western look. http://www.randhats.com

If you aren't sure, then I suggest you start off on the lower cost end with an Akubra or a Stetson cowboy hat from the Stetson factory outlet. http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2992219-stetson_hat_factory_outlet_st_joseph-i

What got you into hats?

 

[newhatguy]

Three "things" have coincided to lead me to look into the idea of "getting into" hats:

Doing family research-seeing old photos of my great-grandfather in the 1900-1930 time period----bowlers for sure maybe a homburg...thought he looked cool.

Article in the style section of the local paper a couple weeks ago about the resurgence of the men's dress hat.Hard to beleive that for the most part the last 45 years hats have been out of style...but prior to that they were "mandatory".I'd like to do my part to bring them back.

A practical need to keep the sun off in the summer and the cold out in the winter.

newhatguy

 

[newhatguy]

Hello snrbfshn......live just south of Pineville....had looked at Lebos(too western)....was considering Holloway's...how is there selection? At least I could try on some "real" hats if selection is good.

Thanks for the info.

newhatguy

 

[Snrbfshn]

No too bad...

It's been over a year since I was in Holloway's, and it was at the beginning of the spring sale season, so they had a lot of straws. I may have been the first to look at them, because each model had one in every size. The fella said they get them in three times a year. Most of the fedoras they had were ok, but not too much for brim width, probably 2-2 1/4".