Ask a question, get an answer

[ﮎ¡D]

Welcome! Spend a few weeks reading threads here on the Lounge; you'll find your questions answered and then some!

+1

Like you said - this is the place for info on fedoras. I've been buzzing around here every day for a few months and have just scratched the surface! A page or so back in this thread I listed links for a number of hatters. Check them out. Prices range from under $100 to over $1000. My advice - find a cheap hat to wear while you research the hats you want to eventually end up wearing. Buy felt - not wool. A felt hat can be reshaped with water and/or steam. This will let you experiment with different bashes, and you don't have to worry about ruining a good hat.

This advice worked for me, and I gladly pass it on to you.

And WELCOME!

Thx guys !

 

[Yeps]

Hi all,

I'd like to buy a hat like those you can see in gangsters movies during the prohibition. I'd like to know more about these hats before choosing one and that's why I'm asking you to tell me more on them. Apparently here there's a lot of experts like I could see in some other threads.

I know that there's a lot of types : Fedora, The Chicago ...
several brands : Borsalino, Stetson, Optimo

I'd like you to tell me which are the best brands, the drawbacks and advantages of each... which hats are the most confortable, the most elegants ...
Could you tell me some sites where I can find hats like these ?

For those styles, you will probably be best looking for vintage hats, depending on price range, and if you are patient, there are some great deals on ebay.

If money is not an object, than your best bet would be to get a custom hat from someone like Art Fawcett (Vintage Silhouettes). He can replicate any hat you want at an amazingly high quality level, but they are expensive.

As to the brands, most people around here will tell you to stay away from modern Borsalino's as apparently they are not as high a quality anymore as their price would suggest (although there are dissenting opinions.)

Stetson is more up to debate, but their modern styles don't really fit what you are looking for.
Optimo makes custom hats, and has the price to match.

You might want to look at Akubra, especially the Federation IV from Hatsdirect.com, but it doesn't have the bound brim like the hats you posted and it has a dimensional brim like Indiana Jones' hat. You could get one and then have it trimmed and bound by a hatter (it looks like you want the color moonstone). Akubra's are really sturdy (if not invincible hats) and the Federation comes open crowned so that you can shape it yourself, which is fun.

Another Akubra to look at is the Campdraft, which to replicate these hats would need to have a wider ribbon added (something which some here would call sacrilege).

But yeah, as the others said, have a look around, and enjoy your stay at the lounge.

 

[HatsEnough]

Hi all,

I'd like to buy a hat like those you can see in gangsters movies during the prohibition.

What size do you wear?

Also, you'll have to narrow it down to the era you want. Popular hat styles changed from era to era. And I would not use Hollywood as a guide to proper hat styles during particular periods of time. For instance, Boardwalk Empire was horrible for hats from the right era.

Since you are new to fedoras I'd pick a particular style and try to focus on that first. Then, try others. But if you are going to look at all fedoras without a plan, you have a long, long road ahead of you to learn about them all.

 

[Omne]

Stretching a straw?

I think I know the answer but want to check before I ruin an older hat. I have a vintage black straw that I picked up on ebay, really like it but it's just a smidge too small, probably on the order of 1/8 inch. Just enough to feel tight and get annoying after a while. I would like to stretch it and would like advice on how to do it. I have a large capacity steamer available if that's the way to go. I've done some searchs but the info seems to deal more with the creases than the sizing.

 

[blueoakleyz]

I would like a link to a store or website that sells fedoras... but not the crappy ones (I hate the ones with small small brims) like at target but something maybe made out of wool that's around the $40-60 mark. Something that looks like a real fedora but cheap enough I can get multiple colors..

 

[irfan.wayang]

I did a search for reviews of the Akubra Casablanca, one of their very few stingy brimmed options, but I couldn't find anything. When I was in Australia, I was looking more for something with a wider brim and ended up with the Capricorn. Still and all, stingy brims have their place and I'd like to hear what people think of the Casablance!

 

[Saint-Just]

I would like a link to a store or website that sells fedoras... but not the crappy ones (I hate the ones with small small brims) like at target but something maybe made out of wool that's around the $40-60 mark. Something that looks like a real fedora but cheap enough I can get multiple colors..

You were worried that your post would get no answer but you do not seem to read them. See post 3297 and 3298 please. Seth has compiled a list.

 

[scottyrocks]

I guess I'm the only one who has had true-to-size experience with 3 Akubras - 2 Fed IVs, and a Fed III.

 

[Seth Hawkins]

I would like a link to a store or website that sells fedoras... but not the crappy ones (I hate the ones with small small brims) like at target but something maybe made out of wool that's around the $40-60 mark. Something that looks like a real fedora but cheap enough I can get multiple colors..

Well.... I tried.

Guess it's true. You can lead a horse to water....

 

[Yeps]

I would like a link to a store or website that sells fedoras... but not the crappy ones (I hate the ones with small small brims) like at target but something maybe made out of wool that's around the $40-60 mark. Something that looks like a real fedora but cheap enough I can get multiple colors..

You are probably better off spending a bit more and getting a fur-felt fedora, as the wool types really tend to shrink and lose their shape after a while. For a good value, although a bit higher than your price range, have a look at hatsdirect.com.

Otherwise, your best bet would be ebay (which is what I have done). My advice is to be patient.

 

[Lefty]

I would like a link to a store or website that sells fedoras... but not the crappy ones (I hate the ones with small small brims) like at target but something maybe made out of wool that's around the $40-60 mark. Something that looks like a real fedora but cheap enough I can get multiple colors..

This place has the largest and most varied collection of hats on the web.

 

[julie-tom]

Chapeau Vimenet- Bruxelles - Made in Belgium - Any Info on these?

Hi Gang,
I wonder if anybody has heard of a Belgian Hatter: Chapeau Vimenet- Bruxelles - Made in Belgium. Its a new name for me, It was sold thru Simpsons London Ltd, London, Ontario, Canada. The graphic on the sweatband identifies this as a hors Concourse grade.


Thanks for your input,
Thomas

 

[gtdean48]

Hi Gang,
I wonder if anybody has heard of a Belgian Hatter: Chapeau Vimenet- Bruxelles - Made in Belgium. Its a new name for me, It was sold thru Simpsons London Ltd, London, Ontario, Canada. The graphic on the sweatband identifies this as a hors Concourse grade.
I have it listed over on Ebay this week, my ebay name is julie-tom and it's listing #220798566151

Thanks for your input,
Thomas

This thread is okay for questions but not for posting links to your ebay listings. Please go to the Classified section with that information if you must.

 

[julie-tom]

oops

Sorry about that, it won't happen again.
thomas

 

[Ankerstjerne]

Alicia Bandana, ABHatters.com, in San Diego, CA

Searching the internet for hat repair, restoration, cleaning in Southern California, I found this business listed. She established her own business about 2009 after experience with Wild Bill's and Boot Barn in El Cajon. The SoCal-Gunfighters newslist announcement of her new business is the only reference I can find. Has anyone here had her clean or repair hats and care to comment about the quality of her work? Thanks.

 

[blueoakleyz]

You are probably better off spending a bit more and getting a fur-felt fedora, as the wool types really tend to shrink and lose their shape after a while. For a good value, although a bit higher than your price range, have a look at hatsdirect.com.

Otherwise, your best bet would be ebay (which is what I have done). My advice is to be patient.

Well I like hatsdirect for their Akubras.. but they cost $150.. I'm looking for temporary or once in a while hats for like 30-40 $

 

[blueoakleyz]

Appreciate the big list Seth, thank you.

I know.. everywhere I go people are upset I don't search. But the truth is I search a lot.. just not everything so I ask the question instead of spending the time, if that makes sense. Or I'll ask when it's too specific to me to be something that was posted before.

 

[Banditojoe]

Vintage Hats Question

This question is to anyone that can help me out. I know absolutely nothing about Fedora hats, but I am trying to learn. I acquired many from my great unlce after he moved and I am trying to find out how old they are and if any of them are collectables. The three brands I have are Borcalino, Dobbs, and Knox all of which are in excellent condition still. Does anyone have extra time so that you can teach me a few things?
Thanks
Joe

 

[zetwal]

Post pictures and you will get mountains of feedback on them. Welcome!

 

[mercuryfelt76]

Welcome. Make sure you take pictures of the inside of the hats and you'll open the floodgates!