Critique my new hat

[dwebber18]

Just got this in the mail today, its a Brooks Brothers 100% fur felt made in Italy. Its sized a 7 1/4 but I think it may be a little small for me, and I think the brim is a little trim(2"). Anyone know if its possible to get a little more brim and lower the crown some? Tell me what you think or maybe I should let it go to a new home.

 

[rlk]

Just got this in the mail today, its a Brooks Brothers 100% fur felt made in Italy. Its sized a 7 1/4 but I think it may be a little small for me, and I think the brim is a little trim(2"). Anyone know if its possible to get a little more brim and lower the crown some? Tell me what you think or maybe I should let it go to a new home.

Lowering the crown can be easily done by deepening the center crease. The brim couldn't be changed much and the whole hat would have to be re-blocked and reassembled with much expense(unless you have equipment and experience)

 

[Mr E Train]

I think it's a nice looking hat, but I agree that the crown height and brim width look out of proportion to each other. I would suggest re-creasing it with a pork pie or a teardrop shape, which will eat up some of the crown height.

I had the same problem with a vintage 2-inch brim fedora I bought recently.

I didn't like the proportions so I did a telescoped pork pie bash with a front crease.

 

[handlebar bart]

Just got this in the mail today, its a Brooks Brothers 100% fur felt made in Italy. Its sized a 7 1/4 but I think it may be a little small for me, and I think the brim is a little trim(2"). Anyone know if its possible to get a little more brim and lower the crown some? Tell me what you think or maybe I should let it go to a new home.

Looks pretty good. You may want to try it as is for a week or two and see if it grows on you.

 

[Mr E Train]

Looks pretty good. You may want to try it as is for a week or two and see if it grows on you.

I agree. It suits your face, and I think you can pull it off. However, I think you might be happier with it and feel more comfortable with the brim width if you lowered the crown height a little to make it more proportionate. Oh, and deepening the center crease is the easiest way to lose some height, but I tend to avoid doing that because it often leaves the bottom of the crease sitting right on top of my head.

Also, if the hat is a little tight, it's probably because it's shrunk a bit. A lot of people recommend hat stretchers, but I've found that if the hat only needs to be stretched a little bit (especially if it's shrunk and you just want to get it back to its regular size), a great (if not terribly comfortable) way to stretch it is to steam it really well around the ribbon with a tea kettle and then jam the hat down lower than it normally goes...down to your ears if possible...and leave it there for about 20 or 30 minutes. Repeat that a few times and it should stabilize very well.

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

Just got this in the mail today, its a Brooks Brothers 100% fur felt made in Italy. Its sized a 7 1/4 but I think it may be a little small for me, and I think the brim is a little trim(2"). Anyone know if its possible to get a little more brim and lower the crown some? Tell me what you think or maybe I should let it go to a new home.

I like the looks of that hat. I disagree about the crown too tall and brim not wide enough, I like the proportions just fine. You can always push the crown down into a diamond and lower it a bit. But, if you don't like it and it's too small you should let it go and find one you like. IMHO.

 

[RBH]

Looks nice!
I myself like a high crown but a little wider brim. [at least a 2 1\2]
But what you need to do is wear it awhile and try and see what you really like.
Good luck and try and let us know what you end up with!

 

[dwebber18]

I think I'll have to wear it around a bit and maybe deepen the crown a little, but I'm still thinking its too tight. We'll see though

 

[Dewhurst]

You said the hat may be too small/tight? Judging by the single picture with you in the hat, the hat does not appear to be riding high. Are you snugging it down forcefully (pulling it down low?)

(Or do we need more pictures?)

 

[Mr. Paladin]

I prefer a higher crown and a wider brim , at least 2 1/2 inches. Given your size and face/head I'd repatriate that one and get a wider brim. I admit I am not a stingy brim guy.

 

[dwebber18]

Yeah I think its going to be too tight for me, it takes a bit of force to get it on the where it needs to be, and I just recently got a hair cut. I think if it was 1 size up I would be in business, but its not. I'm new to hat wearing so this was the only way I could find out what I wanted as there is no hat shop in Knoxville, TN. I guess look for it in the classifieds before it goes back to ebay. Thanks for everyone's help, this has nailed down what I like and what will work for me.

 

[HosManHatter]

I think it looks fine. Personally I like different brim widths and crown heights depending on what I am wearing or what "look" I feel I may be in the mood for that particular day,evening or night.

No expert here but the hat looks like a great fit and seems to sit well on your head,bro. As for the snugness I think it will loosen up and feel better after severl weeks of wearing it. I am a 7 1/8 but have found that many of the vintage fedoras (like my Resistol 880 size 7) end up being a better,truer fit on my melon when being stretched/broken-in up to their next size up.Could just be me though.

Cool hat and that`s that! Leave her as it and enjoy! You`ll find a 2" brim is actually an excellent "best of both worlds" size--as it`s still stingy enough to be "hip" and young looking yet it is wide enough to be a "serious" hat. Kind of cool having different brim widths and crown heights in your fedora arsenal.

HMH

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

Shapes of things

I have an old Cavanagh that is creased like Mr. E's It is a great look on a hat of this proportion. I think it would look great on you.

I think it's a nice looking hat, but I agree that the crown height and brim width look out of proportion to each other. I would suggest re-creasing it with a pork pie or a teardrop shape, which will eat up some of the crown height.

I had the same problem with a vintage 2-inch brim fedora I bought recently.

I didn't like the proportions so I did a telescoped pork pie bash with a front crease.