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[Neiru]

I can't seem to find a fedora cotton styled hat. I want to buy a cotton hat that I can wear at work outdoors that has a fedora like appearance. I can't seem to find any, only bucket hats. Any recommendations? Thanks. 2 inch brim is fine.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I can't seem to find a fedora cotton styled hat. I want to buy a cotton hat that I can wear at work outdoors that has a fedora like appearance. I can't seem to find any, only bucket hats. Any recommendations? Thanks. 2 inch brim is fine.

Fedora Hats - Fabric

The #1 Source For Hats Online — Find Your Perfect Hat From The Premier Internet Hat Store. Shop Over 3,000 Hats, Caps, & Berets From Around the World!

www.villagehatshop.com

If the link doesent work it’s The Village Hat Shop, look up Style, then Fedoras, then fabric. Several options come up.

Cotton Safari Fedora Hat

This is a great safari hat from Jaxon Hats. This stylish beauty is made of 100% cotton and is trimmed in a faux leather hat band. A soft flexible crown and stiff brim make for a comfortable and reliable hat. Approx.4 1/2" Center Pinch Crown2 7/8" Downturned Brim Made of: 100% Cotton -...

www.villagehatshop.com

This one reminds me of the one Ducky wore in NCIS.
I have ordered from them in the past with no issues. I would recommend this vendor. They are also good with answering questions if you have any.
Hope that helps.
Johnny

 

[jlee562]

Consider a shangtung 'straw' hat as well....

 

[Ken David]

Jiffy J-1 Hat Steamer

Finally got around to picking one of these up (in the mail now) however it does not include the water tank. In the late 90s (around 1998) Jiffy J-1s changed from the vacuum feed (open tank with a nozzle that goes up in the tank) to the tank with the check valve. I called Jiffy and they were not sure which one I had due to the serial # date range (right around when they changed over). I was hoping to order a tank before it arrives and was wondering if anybody can confirm from the below pic on which tank it uses (or if I have to wait for it to arrive-don't want to order the wrong one). I am having a hard time locating a pic of the older vacuum feed system that hass a nozzle that feeds into the tank. Thanks.

 

[Zombie_61]

Ah! Further study of the Wested website reveals it's a copy-mistake: scanning the photos of said hat, they're a wool felt product, according to the label.

Does beg a follow-up question, though: when did cotton-bodied brimmed hats like this one first appear?

I'd guess that happened not long after the first American officer set foot on African soil and discovered how hot his "pinks and greens" were.

 

[Edward]

I'd guess that happened not long after the first American officer set foot on African soil and discovered how hot his "pinks and greens" were.

Boonie hats definitely seem to go back to at least the.... First world War? In the Daisy May denim workhat style?

I'm thinking here though more something that's a bit more structured, like this:

Sort of thing you'd see worn with a suit as an alternative to a panama among men of a certain age. I'm sure I've seen them back to the Sixties, but curious as to whether they go back further... Pretty sure oilskin version do, these, no idea.

It would make sense, though, if there was a military predecessor to it. Military gear has informed fashion many time over the last century.

 

[Zombie_61]

It would make sense, though, if there was a military predecessor to it. Military gear has informed fashion many time over the last century.

I think most people would be surprised by the number of items they use on a daily basis that were developed by and for some military organization somewhere on the planet. Also, anyone who uses Velcro and/or WD-40 can thank the U.S. space program.

 

[Rmccamey]

I think most people would be surprised by the number of items they use on a daily basis that were developed by and for some military organization somewhere on the planet. Also, anyone who uses Velcro and/or WD-40 can thank the U.S. space program.

Many years ago, NASA had a monthly(?) publication that highlighted practical uses of many of the products and processes developed for the space program.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Many years ago, NASA had a monthly(?) publication that highlighted practical uses of many of the products and processes developed for the space program.

They had to stop that after the USSR built their space shuttle and North Korea started building rockets.
Oops

 

[Ken David]

Adding own ribbon?

After been not looking for hats for a while I got desperate and picked up 2 lids Ilin my size (7 3/8) in a larger brim size of 2 3/4. Waiting for them to arrive but pretty sure they will both need updated ribbons. Can't spend a premium to mail these to a hatter for a refurb due to what I got into them. If the sweats are good I plan on reshaping them my self with my new jiffy j1 steamer.

Any recommendations on a hatter that will create a ribbon for a reasonable price for me to install as per my specs?

 

[Steve1857]

Adding own ribbon?

After been not looking for hats for a while I got desperate and picked up 2 lids Ilin my size (7 3/8) in a larger brim size of 2 3/4. Waiting for them to arrive but pretty sure they will both need updated ribbons. Can't spend a premium to mail these to a hatter for a refurb due to what I got into them. If the sweats are good I plan on reshaping them my self with my new jiffy j1 steamer.

Any recommendations on a hatter that will create a ribbon for a reasonable price for me to install as per my specs?

Photos of your hats would help, plus your specs.

In the meantime, try checking out and reaching out to Wolfbrae. That would be my recommendation.

 

[Ken David]

Photos of your hats would help, plus your specs.

In the meantime, try checking out and reaching out to Wolfbrae. That would be my recommendation.

Thanks Steve for the recommendation. I 'll post some pics once I receive the (2) hats that are in the mail.

 

[Kyle Long]

Has anyone ever ordered from qualityhats.com? If so what's your thoughts?

 

[Jrich]

Hi,
I have recently inherited my Grandfather’s felt slouch hat which he was issued in Burma during WW2. Not only did it serve several years in the war, but he wore it for the next 70 odd years after that too. It was stored near a radiator and single glazed window for the last decade or so. It’s not doing very well, and needs some attention to clean and reshape it.
Any advice? I have never done anything like this before, and with the significance of it to me I wouldn’t be comfortable doing anything which could damage it further. Any recommendations for a specialist cleaning and repair would be appreciated too (southeast UK).
Many thanks.

 

[belfastboy]

Hi,
I have recently inherited my Grandfather’s felt slouch hat which he was issued in Burma during WW2. Not only did it serve several years in the war, but he wore it for the next 70 odd years after that too. It was stored near a radiator and single glazed window for the last decade or so. It’s not doing very well, and needs some attention to clean and reshape it.
Any advice? I have never done anything like this before, and with the significance of it to me I wouldn’t be comfortable doing anything which could damage it further. Any recommendations for a specialist cleaning and repair would be appreciated too (southeast UK).
Many thanks.
View attachment 406406

I am a hatter that does refurbishment work and I would be very hesitant to take this on. The hat looks to be in very fragile condition and the 'cure' might prove fatal. I would be inclined to keep it as is with the well earned patina and true reminder of your grandfather.

 

[LuzhinsDefence]

Do new hats shrink?

I was told by the woman at Borsalino in Rome that a hat (in this case a fedora with leather band), on being worn a few times, will naturally shrink and become slightly snugger over time.

I have no reason to distrust her, but was curious as to what others think? I am new to wearing hats, and initially thought the hate was too big, as it didn't feel totally secure. Now, having worn it quite bit over the past couple of weeks, I realise that though it doesn't feel tight on my head, it certainly isn't going anywhere. Although, I still get a smack of apprehension whenever the wind picks up!

 

[Frunobulax]

Do new hats shrink?

I was told by the woman at Borsalino in Rome that a hat (in this case a fedora with leather band), on being worn a few times, will naturally shrink and become slightly snugger over time.

I have no reason to distrust her, but was curious as to what others think? I am new to wearing hats, and initially thought the hate was too big, as it didn't feel totally secure. Now, having worn it quite bit over the past couple of weeks, I realise that though it doesn't feel tight on my head, it certainly isn't going anywhere. Although, I still get a smack of apprehension whenever the wind picks up!

I guess shrinkage is a matter of degree. A leather sweatband has the quality of conforming to and gripping your head and, over time, I think a hat will fit better. Many of my new and custom hats have "shrunk" a bit since purchase. Camp Drafts certainly, but at least one Gannon came in a tad loose and tightened up a bit over time, along with a Stetson Stetsonian I picked up a few years ago.

On the other hand, I've purchased numerous vintage hats that have reconformed over time to fit me better, whether they started tighter or looser. I think that's the beauty of leather sweat - how the can adapt to different head shapes.

 

[LuzhinsDefence]

I guess shrinkage is a matter of degree. A leather sweatband has the quality of conforming to and gripping your head and, over time, I think a hat will fit better. Many of my new and custom hats have "shrunk" a bit since purchase. Camp Drafts certainly, but at least one Gannon came in a tad loose and tightened up a bit over time, along with a Stetson Stetsonian I picked up a few years ago.

On the other hand, I've purchased numerous vintage hats that have reconformed over time to fit me better, whether they started tighter or looser. I think that's the beauty of leather sweat - how the can adapt to different head shapes.

Thank you for the reply. As you say, I think I have noticed it fitting better already, and it's good to know that leather bands seem generally to offer a better fit over time.

 

[Zombie_61]

Do new hats shrink?

I was told by the woman at Borsalino in Rome that a hat (in this case a fedora with leather band), on being worn a few times, will naturally shrink and become slightly snugger over time.

I have no reason to distrust her, but was curious as to what others think? I am new to wearing hats, and initially thought the hate was too big, as it didn't feel totally secure. Now, having worn it quite bit over the past couple of weeks, I realise that though it doesn't feel tight on my head, it certainly isn't going anywhere. Although, I still get a smack of apprehension whenever the wind picks up!

I suspect they do, some more so than others because different hatters might use different types of leather for their sweatbands, some of which may or may not be more resilient.

It's well known among those of us who like Akubra hats that their sweatbands definitely shrink as we wear the hats. This is because the leather they use gets dehydrated by the moisture and basic chemical composition of the perspiration of the person wearing the hat, and that causes the leather to shrink a little. Akubra knows this as well, so as they make each hat they size them accordingly, expecting a little shrinkage. Still, it's not an exact science. I currently own nine Akubras--three Campdrafts, three Fed IVs, and three Hamptons, all size 60 and bought new. The Fed IVs and Hamptons fit extremely well after the expected "shrink to fit" period, but all three Campdrafts needed a little time on a hat jack to stretch them out just a little because they were just too snug to be comfortable.

From what I've read here on The Lounge, vintage Borasalinos are known for being at least a little undersized. I only own one Borsalino that is, best guess, approximately 55-60 years old and it fits me comfortably so I have no complaints. But if the other members with more experience are correct, mine is the exception rather than the rule and I was just lucky.

 

[Ken David]

Can anybody give me an idea on the dating of this Byer-Rolnick (Resistol) tag?

I messed up an overpaid for this vintage hat that was not in as good condition as I expected despite being in 7 3/8 6" crown and 2 3/4" brim. I am trying to determine if I should spend the $ on a full restoration or go ahead and dump it on ebay to cut my losses. Knowing the approximate vintage would help with the decision. Thanks.