Discouraged in Dallas

[MadDawg]

Everything is bigger in Big D except the selection of fine fedora shops!! I am a newbie to the Fedora scene. I have always loved the classic look of a Fedora with a suit. Call me old fashioned, but I love classic style.

Since there are no shops in my area to peruse quality fedora styles, I am stuck to the frustrations of online pictures and time consuming online ordering...and returning. I currently own 2 Scala New Yorker Wool felt fedoras, but I don't think they are the quality I am looking for....they are VERY soft, but don't really hold form on the brim. I also own a Bailey Gangster, but it seems VERY cheaply done. Also, to my untrained eye, they just don't look the quality that I expect. Again, maybe I am just untrained and don't know better.

I do have a curse...I am a Detail Perfectionist on a budget. So maybe someone can help me please. I am looking for a classic dress fedora to begin my collection. I am looking for something I can give to my son years from now, and I can establish as part of my legacy. However, I am not willing to drop $300-700 on a custom hat. My budget lies in the $100-150 range at the moment...So, here is what I am hoping someone can give me some direction in.

Since I don't have a "vintage" hat that was actually produced in the era, what should I look for in quality? Perferred brands?? Materials?? I am running into hats that are so soft, they don't hold form, and hats that are so stiff they are almost costume like.

What is a good "middle of the road" hat that I can start with as a comparision for quality and style for any future online purchases?

And if anyone is desiring to open a fedora store in Dallas, I will be their most devoted customer!! Thanks for your help.

 

[RBH]

Welcome to the Lounge Dawg!!!!

Tell us your hat size and you never know what some Lounger may have.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Welcome MadDawg .. Just hang around here you will find what you are looking for there is a lot of great information here. Also visit the classifieds section there are hats on sale there from time to time.

 

[jwalls]

Glad to have you among the select few. Welcome.

 

[MadDawg]

Thank you all. My hat size is typically 7 1/2 - 5/8 depending on the maker. If the hat is wool, such as a ball cap, I will even buy a 7 3/4 just to factor in it shrinking over time.

 

[avedwards]

Your problem appears to be that all the hats you have had were wool felt, which is a cheap material for hats and generally not very good. Fine for clothing or tweed hats but not for fedoras. What you want to get is a decent fur felt hat, as that will last a lot longer. A few brands are Stetson, Christys (English), Borsalino and Akubra. The last one seems to almost be a favourite on the lounge due to apparently amazing durability and comparatively low prices (around US$100 including postage sometimes depending on the strength of the Australian dollar). A simple google search should reveal shops will sell hats by the makers I listed. Of course there are more out there too.

If your headsize is 7 1/2 - 5/8 a 7 5/8 fur felt should be OK, as they shrink slightly but nowhere near as much as wool felts. With sizing, remember that UK sizing differs because it is always 1/4 less than US sizing - 7 1/4 UK = 7 3/8 US. As a comparison I prefer to use continental sizing which measures the circumference in cm.

 

[Mulceber]

don't you mean 1/8 less? -M

 

[fedoralover]

Many of us avid collectors started off by dropping way too much money on the some of the cheaper priced hats. Then we were frustrated by the poorer fit and the material not holding up over the years. So this statement in your first post caught my eye.

"I am looking for something I can give to my son years from now, and I can establish as part of my legacy."

If you are serious about that I would spend a few extra months or whatever it takes and get a custom one from Art Fawcett. Yes they are in the $300. bracket, BUT, they are 100% beaver felt, totally custom to your head size AND it will indeed be something that will out live you with just a little care. You can look at the thread showing his hats to see what they are like. AND this is another biggy. Right now Art offers the best deal on a 100% beaver custom you will ever find. The same hat from any store front hatter would cost you OVER twice that much. It's the same price as a cheap suit from Penny's, unless they're on sale. Give it some thought.

fedoralover

 

[kaosharper1]

Check the classifieds. There's a post from Bruce Wayne that has a nice Optimo in your size at a nice price. I bought one from him, but I think the classic in Granite grey is still available.

Also, you might want to list that you want to buy on the classifieds. I'm sure there are some loungers with your size who may want to thin out their collection.

 

[Phineas Lamour]

You could get two or three vintage hats in good condition on Ebay with that $100. They are usually better quality than new hats and for much less money.

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Hi...MadDawg (where have I heard the term "dawg" before now? lol ) and ...welcome to the MadHouse of Hats: there ain't no better place I know of.
Indeed, you gone lost in Woolfeltlandia. If you wanta fly with the eagles (the birds, not the musicians, heavens forbid!), stick around.
One tip: wanta get off to a good start? $100-150? New hat? Ok, go try an Akubra hat. Oh - not the finest, by no means. But darn good for the money: a real hat, made of felt, well made, stylish (have a look at the "Campdraft").
I think you are way fortunate to live in America: hats galore. Used hats by the shovelfull on the bay, too.
Ok - I already said too much. FYG, I'm not Australian, not in the hat business, just a hat freak, that's all, pleased to be of some service, maybe.
Enjoy!
Pablo

 

[gtdean48]

I may have a nice Akubra size 61cm which fits my 7 5/8 noggin nicely if a local doesn't take me up on the current offer.
Getting vintage in your size ain't the bargain somebody quoted above. Vintage in our size brings a premium price.
Stay tuned...

 

[texasgirl]

Have you been to Hatco, in Garland? And there's Peters Bros in Fort Worth, take a day trip

 

[Spats McGee]

Welcome to the Lounge, MadDawg!

I'm afraid that finding vintage hats in your size may prove difficult. Vintage hats may seem to be a dime a dozen in smaller sizes, but that's not the case for larger sizes. The good news is that there are plenty of good fur felt hats in the $100-150 range. And I'm glad that texasgirl mentioned Hatco. I knew that somebody had an outlet near Dallas, but couldn't quite remember the details.

 

[Dewhurst]

Definitely check out the Hatco (Stetson) outlet in Garland.

 

[MadDawg]

Thank you for all the input. I am definately interested in the Art Fawcett product. It seems to be highly recommended throughout the Lounge and his pricing seems to be VERY reasonable. As a new fedora novice, with the understanding that it will be rare that I am able to afford a custom, what is considered the most versitile color for a hat? I typically am in business dress at work, but am a Jeans guy away from the office. Is the stereotypical Indiana Jones brown the best way to go??

Thanks,

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Have you been to Hatco, in Garland? And there's Peters Bros in Fort Worth, take a day trip

If you are in the Dallas area, a trip to HATCO is definitely worth the time. Hats there are really nicely priced ($59.95 to 99.95) as they are seconds or over-runs but if you are careful in selecting, you can't find the imperfection. I have bought some really nice hats there (10-12) and I am picky about things too. They have all the brand names like Stetson, Resistol, Knox, Dobbs, etc. that they bought up when companies closed and a great selection of styles of fedoras in lots of size ranges. I go over there several times a year and always come home with a prize. Modern Stetsons sometimes get a bad rap here, but mine have been great. No rain damage, spotting, shrinkage...just well-made modern style hats.

 

[avedwards]

Thank you for all the input. I am definately interested in the Art Fawcett product. It seems to be highly recommended throughout the Lounge and his pricing seems to be VERY reasonable. As a new fedora novice, with the understanding that it will be rare that I am able to afford a custom, what is considered the most versitile color for a hat? I typically am in business dress at work, but am a Jeans guy away from the office. Is the stereotypical Indiana Jones brown the best way to go??

Thanks,

Brown or grey are agreed to be the best. Unless you wear brown suits, a grey hat is better. Blue, grey and black suits go well with a grey hat of any shade. Grey also works with jeans, however it will look slightly more formal than brown.

However, I'd recommend you to call Art Fawcett and ask him. The man's an expert. He'll tell you which brim width, crown height, ribbon and colour will look best with your clothes and facial features.

 

[Dewhurst]

When it comes to jeans, I've always thought a sort of... uhh... what Stetson calls "Buck" color goes very nicely. It will usually contrast or blend with a large number of items.

A sensible gray can be nice as well. Don't forget: your clothes aren't the only thing that matter when choosing hat colors. Don't forget your skin tone, eye color, eye brows, hair, etc.! (Still, most colors will work on most people just fine, but there are definitely exceptions)

 

[gtdean48]

... what is considered the most versitile color for a hat? I typically am in business dress at work, but am a Jeans guy away from the office.

For me, I love a Silver Belly that will go with a charcoal or navy suit as well as jeans & leather jacket. Some shades of SB are different, some lend to tan while some go to gray but seems they'll pickup the shade of your clothes, even some olive tones. Some consider it a bit too casual since it is a light shade but it a good utilty color to me. JMHO....