Any reason to buy a new hat?

[tonyb]

Best reason yet...

So I ordered a VS Wall Street.

...

You people suck for making me do this! :whip:

Excellent choice, facade. I know of no one anywhere who makes as fine a hat for the kind of money Art charges. Seriously, you could spend two or three times as much and not have a better hat for it, and probably a lesser one.

 

[Neophyte]

Oh, facade, we did nothing. You did all the clicking. You are simply weak, just like the rest of us. As for us.........we are simply enablers.

Being new to hats and jumping to VS...you've made a damn long leap. Hope you like it.

 

[VitaminG]

Cooties is always a worry. Never know which hat has them and which doesn't. If you get a hold of one without Cooties, you're good. It's luck, though, really.

so cooties are like mojo? Because new stuff never has mojo. You can't buy mojo. That's why old stuff is always better - because of the mojo

 

[Tone]

Never know where that mojo's been. When you put on somebody else's hatted mojo, you're not only wearing that mojo, but all the other mojo that mojo's been in contact with since... :eusa_doh:

Start new and supply your own mojo.

(I'm pretty much along the same thinking in favoring neither version over the other. Vintage, good. Modern, good. Find the ones that work; wear 'em.)
Although, on this I must agree: There is something very cool about a hat that physically existed during a completely different era.)

 

[Rick Blaine]

WOW

Best reason yet...

So I ordered a VS Wall Street.

You people suck for making me do this! :whip:

A VS?
Hells' Bells man!
Now you have to nowhere left to go but down. It is like winning an Oscar for your' first film! Everything else will be anti-climactic!

 

[daizawaguy]

Best reason is to support the ongoing existance of the trade...fine hatters are keeping things going for the next generation...for our kids, a 1950`s fedora or a 2010 fedora by the fine current hat makers won`t be as much of a difference in 20-30 years time....

 

[facade]

A VS?
Hells' Bells man!
Now you have to nowhere left to go but down. It is like winning an Oscar for your' first film! Everything else will be anti-climactic!

Ahh well, not quite my first film. Did a few indies and a couple straight to DVD horror flicks. My first mainstream blockbuster though.

My brief, but persistent, buying spree in order of aquisition...

Bailey Guthrie straw fedora
Brown Borsalino Serikon
2 Portis black fedoras (one I bought just for the eagle pin)
Green Hopkins 5th Avenue stingy brim custon fedora
Brown Van Dyke stingy fedora
Light grey Barclay fedora
Baby blue Borsalino straw fedora
Brown Kevin McAndrew Milan straw fedora
and finally the VS

I need help.

 

[gtdean48]

...You people suck for making me do this! :whip:

In 6 posts, you have figured us out! This is the Fedora Lounge just off the lobby of our own Hotel California...you can check out but never leave....

 

[hatophile]

I began rewearing hats a few years ago, and started with factory made Stetsons, Dobbs, etc. Most were low crown, smaller brim hats because that's what I was comfortable with. However, I always liked the feel and
"character" of vintage hats, so started hitting E-bay for those. I also picked up some Akubras because they have some of the characteristics of vintage hats, and are very reasonably priced. Along the way, I became more used to wider brims and higher crowns.

It really depends on what you want from a hat, and what styles you like. I have also seen some really nice one-of-a kind hats from the custom makers featured here, and while I haven't sprung for one myself, something like that would be a nice addition to one's collection. You may start out with one style and totally change in a period of time.

 

[Neophyte]

I like the idea of custom over vintage for two reasons:

1.) My head size is 59, or 7 3/8, and it's hard finding vintage hats (that I like) in that size.

2.) I like the idea of a hat that's made specifically for me. It's exactly the same appeal as a tailored suit. It's a piece of clothing that is specifically mine, may not fit as well on anyone else, and is crafted in the way I desire (with the exception of Art: a lot of people praise his creativity, and as such simply tell him a color they want and let him design the rest. I've yet to read about anyone being disappointed with one of his creations.)

I'm also a sophomore in college, and crazy things happen in college. I'd rather endanger a custom (though I'd much rather endanger a modern hat) than vintage, because you can replace a hat, but you can't replace history.

At any rate, facade, your progress has been truly amazing(ly fast). You seem to be more susceptible to the disease (by this I mean your condition has worsened at a far faster rate than that of any Lounger I've met on this forum). Let's hope your wallet can handle the insanity!

 

[laotou]

Any reason to buy a new hat! That's my philosophy too.
My favorite is, "I woke up this morning," Vintage,custom, newly made, it matters not. As long as I have a reason.
Whats up with the question mark BTW?

 

[gtdean48]

Color selection...

The main reason I bought a new hat was for the color selection which doesn't seem to be available in vintage hats in my size. I am a true vintage Open Road fan & when I discovered the Akubra Campdraft with the color choices availble & under $100, I bought! I've bought new customs because I want a hat specific to my measurements, color, ribbon treatment, etc. I also used customs to recreate vintage models that can't be located in my size anymore. There are lots of reasons to by a new hat...

 

[facade]

N

I like the idea of custom over vintage for two reasons:

1.) My head size is 59, or 7 3/8, and it's hard finding vintage hats (that I like) in that size.

2.) I like the idea of a hat that's made specifically for me. It's exactly the same appeal as a tailored suit. It's a piece of clothing that is specifically mine, may not fit as well on anyone else, and is crafted in the way I desire (with the exception of Art: a lot of people praise his creativity, and as such simply tell him a color they want and let him design the rest. I've yet to read about anyone being disappointed with one of his creations.)

I'm also a sophomore in college, and crazy things happen in college. I'd rather endanger a custom (though I'd much rather endanger a modern hat) than vintage, because you can replace a hat, but you can't replace history.

At any rate, facade, your progress has been truly amazing(ly fast). You seem to be more susceptible to the disease (by this I mean your condition has worsened at a far faster rate than that of any Lounger I've met on this forum). Let's hope your wallet can handle the insanity!

I'm working on upgrading my wardrobe. Since I don't wish to spend money on the middle until I'm a Tad thinner, I'm working on the top & bottom. I started with shoes and acquired a number of Mezlans. Now I've moved on to the noggin.

 

[donnc]

Since I don't wish to spend money on the middle until I'm a Tad thinner, I'm working on the top & bottom.

I recently bought a nice homburg from a guy who claimed it didn't fit so well, now that he had lost a bunch of weight.

Speaking of which, one practical advantage of new hats is that, if you're forced to acquire a hat by mail order, the size of a new hat will be a little more predictable. I know it isn't as good as it could be, but standardization wasn't any better in the past and you have shrinkage on top of that.

 

[jbucklin]

My new Stetson Firenze is every bit as high in quality as my new Akubra Fed IV Deluxe. It's an apples/oranges thing. Once you get into the higher-end Stetsons, Dobbs, etc. the quality is there, although they may not be of the same quality as those lids from a bygone era, which also, I'll admit, contain a certain charm and nostalgia.

This reminds me of the vintage vs. modern debate that goes on in the guitar world. I once had a vintage Gibson ES175 ('59) that I regrettably sold. I now have a much newer instrument for playing jazz and I still sound like me on it. The guitar itself may not have the mojo of my old Gibson, but mojo is being added every time I play it. In fifty years the newer guitar will probably have its own collectable value due to its "mojo" that it will then possess simply by virtue of it being old. Maybe my Firenze and Fed IV will be sold for big $ on Ebay long after I'm gone. Only time will tell.

 

[AlterEgo]

The Question: Does one need a reason to acquire a hat?

The Answer: Yes. Be it new, vintage, or custom/bespoke, the reason one needs it is because he wants it!

 

[facade]

Just wanted to say thanks and goodbye to everyone who welcomed me here. Its been made clear to me that I am not the appropriate kind of person for these forums so I have asked to have my account closed.

Of all the money that ere I had, I spent it in good company.
And of all the harm that ere I've done, alas was done to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit, to memory now I cannot recall.
So fill me to the parting glass. Goodnight and joy be with you all.

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Very strange.............[huh]

 

[Aureliano]

Very strange.............[huh]

And odd [huh]

 

[Neophyte]

I've read his former posts and talked to the guy, he seemed alright to me.

I don't understand it either. As long as you maintain a certain degree of civility, can you really "not" fit in here?