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[Saint-Just]

Comes from the Italian city, so Me - lan.
Milan is also the etymology for Milliner...

 

[Lefty]

I'd always heard my-lan, even though it is named after the city. We love to Americanize words, and Ohio is full of places with differently pronounced names. We've got a city called Milan (My-lan), one called Medina (Me-deye-na), and my favorite, Mantua (Man-a-way).

 

[T Rick]

I'd always heard my-lan, even though it is named after the city. We love to Americanize words, and Ohio is full of places with differently pronounced names. We've got a city called Milan (My-lan), one called Medina (Me-deye-na), and my favorite, Mantua (Man-a-way).

Yeah, Michigan does similar. We've got a Milan (My-Lan) too, and I think the world's only Charlotte (Char-LOT). I recall differences in Lafayette between Tenn. and much of the rest of the world too... Potato, Tomahto...

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll go with Me-Lan (no "ah" sound, as I suppose that would seem pretentious). Now, to find one!

 

[hatophile]

Mee-lahno, in Italeeahno.

 

[GamaH]

I have a[nother] question about straw hats.

I understand that Panama hats use natural straw, whereas most if not all Stetsons use shantung, or polyester.

Are shantung/polyester straw hats, say.. "not as good" as natural straw like Panamas or Optimo Milans, or is it simply a preference? For example, PVC "leather" is absolutely nowhere near the quality of genuine leather. Does polyester/shantung straw have that same relation and comparison to Panama straw or wheat straw?

Is there a reason people would take a shantung/poly straw hat over Panama, or would it be a case of if you can afford a Panama, you go for the Panama, regardless. In the case of leather, no one would choose PVC over genuine leather, because there is almost no case where PVC would outperform genuine leather.

 

[rlk]

I have a[nother] question about straw hats.

I understand that Panama hats use natural straw, whereas most if not all Stetsons use shantung, or polyester.

Are shantung/polyester straw hats, say.. "not as good" as natural straw like Panamas or Optimo Milans, or is it simply a preference? For example, PVC "leather" is absolutely nowhere near the quality of genuine leather. Does polyester/shantung straw have that same relation and comparison to Panama straw or wheat straw?

Is there a reason people would take a shantung/poly straw hat over Panama, or would it be a case of if you can afford a Panama, you go for the Panama, regardless. In the case of leather, no one would choose PVC over genuine leather, because there is almost no case where PVC would outperform genuine leather.

In both cases the synthetics are more rain resistant and cheaper.

 

[Omne]

In both cases the synthetics are more rain resistant and cheaper.

Relatively cheaper, the Stetson Breakers are still fairly expensive at around $200.

 

[GamaH]

In both cases the synthetics are more rain resistant and cheaper.

Would the being "cheaper" of a paper/plastic straw come from the lack of quality, or simply that it's easier to manufacture/whatnot?

 

[Lefty]

You're back to handmade vs. machine braided/woven/etc. In all cases of straw hats, the material cost is pretty negligible.

 

[monbla256]

Would the being "cheaper" of a paper/plastic straw come from the lack of quality, or simply that it's easier to manufacture/whatnot?

Everyone has their own value system as to what they want in a hat. You should decide WHAT it is in a summer hat you want and go for THAT. A Panama is ONLY made in Ecuador. "Shantung" straw hats are made in Asia. They both have their virtues. You need to decide WHAT it is YOU want and go for it

 

[GamaH]

Everyone has their own value system as to what they want in a hat. You should decide WHAT it is in a summer hat you want and go for THAT. A Panama is ONLY made in Ecuador. "Shantung" straw hats are made in Asia. They both have their virtues. You need to decide WHAT it is YOU want and go for it

Ok thanks. Know where I could get an Optimo Milan online? I heard that they're the only ones that make genuine wheat Milans now.

 

[jlee562]

Ok thanks. Know where I could get an Optimo Milan online? I heard that they're the only ones that make genuine wheat Milans now.

You've gotta call Optimo if you want a hat.

www.optimohats.com

Their milans start at $395.

Would the being "cheaper" of a paper/plastic straw come from the lack of quality, or simply that it's easier to manufacture/whatnot?

Quality in terms of what? A shangtung will better hold up if you get caught in the rain.

 

[monbla256]

Ok thanks. Know where I could get an Optimo Milan online? I heard that they're the only ones that make genuine wheat Milans now.

Usr the search feature here on the Forum.

 

[GamaH]

Usr the search feature here on the Forum.

I did. I even used google's "site:thefedoralounge.com" feature, but there wasn't too much information on buying Optimos online.. mainly because no store sells them.

Quality in terms of what? A shangtung will better hold up if you get caught in the rain.

Wear and tear. *Generally* a better item will be more durable (unless we're talking about cashmere). E.g.; Kangaroo leather is tougher than any other kind of leather, etc.

Actually what i'm really looking for is something that holds a snap really well. I've seen posters on this forum mention that some of their hats have lost their "snap" after awhile.

 

[monbla256]

I did. I even used google's "site:thefedoralounge.com" feature, but there wasn't too much information on buying Optimos online.. mainly because no store sells them.



Wear and tear. *Generally* a better item will be more durable (unless we're talking about cashmere). E.g.; Kangaroo leather is tougher than any other kind of leather, etc.

Actually what i'm really looking for is something that holds a snap really well. I've seen posters on this forum mention that some of their hats have lost their "snap" after awhile.

You will need to go to Chicago to find Optimo Hatters :
http://optimohats.com/#/contact/

Or, are you refering to an "Optimo" style of Panama ?

BTW, why are you looking for an Internet provider when you stated that you don't have a physical address to recieve mail ?

BTW I just Gooled "Panama Hats" and got 793,000 results. Lot's of info out there

 

[Lefty]

Unneeded capitalization is often a problem.

Optimo = hat company - You'll find that there are two of them. One is in Arizona (or some such). The other is the one in Chicago, owned and run by Graham Thompson. I'm not sure if anyone has posted about an experience with the one in Arizona (which I believe is run by Graham Thompson's brother). As others have said, Optimo hats are usually only sold by Optimo, though they were once also sold at a California retailer (Cable Car?). Every now and then one will be for sale on ebay.

optimo = classic Panama hat shape - a ridge from front to back (sometimes through the brim as well). This shape can be found in both old and new hats.

 

[jlee562]

Wear and tear. *Generally* a better item will be more durable (unless we're talking about cashmere). E.g.; Kangaroo leather is tougher than any other kind of leather, etc.

Actually what i'm really looking for is something that holds a snap really well. I've seen posters on this forum mention that some of their hats have lost their "snap" after awhile.

You'd probably be happy with a Shangtung then.

 

[GamaH]

You will need to go to Chicago to find Optimo Hatters :
http://optimohats.com/#/contact/

Or, are you refering to an "Optimo" style of Panama ?

BTW, why are you looking for an Internet provider when you stated that you don't have a physical address to recieve mail?

BTW I just Gooled "Panama Hats" and got 793,000 results. Lot's of info out there

Ok just to clear a few things up. I am indeed looking for Optimo Hatters. I saw one of their Milans, and by god that thing is beautiful, even if it was just a picture.

As for 'optimo' styles, I did not even know there was such a thing until you mentioned it.

Lastly, regarding the physical address confusion, I do have a permanent address (for billing), but there's often nobody at home for weeks at a time. I can receive packages at the hotels I stay in, but only if they're promptly delivered because most of the time they're only sojourns that last less than 2 weeks; I can't place orders for items that take like 10-16 days for delivery, excluding processing time for that very reason.

I also can't place orders in advance because I don't know my hotel (or apartment) room numbers and whatnot until like a day or two in advance, often only upon arrival.

I *could* have the packages delivered to my billing address, but there wouldn't be anyone to collect it, unless it arrives at a specific date where someone is there to sign for it.

Unneeded capitalization is often a problem.

Optimo = hat company - You'll find that there are two of them. One is in Arizona (or some such). The other is the one in Chicago, owned and run by Graham Thompson. I'm not sure if anyone has posted about an experience with the one in Arizona (which I believe is run by Graham Thompson's brother). As others have said, Optimo hats are usually only sold by Optimo, though they were once also sold at a California retailer (Cable Car?). Every now and then one will be for sale on ebay.

optimo = classic Panama hat shape - a ridge from front to back (sometimes through the brim as well). This shape can be found in both old and new hats.

I did not know of the 'optimo' hat shape. I am looking for Optimo Hatter's genuine wheat straw Milan fedoras. I'll probably get in touch with them as soon as possible. I *need* one of those. >_>

 

[HatsEnough]

OK, who knows what "XX Ultrafelt Fur Blend" from a Stetson Western (modern, not vintage) means?

 

[Lefty]

I think that it's the way that Stetson says