The new hat arrived today!
Initially, the intent was to make a copy of the Borsalino Alessandria at a lower cost but a custom. Why not? I had asked Parker for a vintage-weight cream body, 4-ligne ribbon in a matching color, an Alessandria-type bow and a wind string.
That is not what I ended up with.
First, the cream body could not be sourced. He substituted the beaver standard-weight in bone instead. Then, a ribbon to match could not be found in 4 ligne, so a 9-ligne ribbon was substituted instead. Of course by this point, the wind string didn't match the hat, so we omitted that.
I think the only spec that stayed the same was the 6-inch open crown and the 2-3/4" bound brim (though 9 ligne instead of 4 ligne).
Here's the pictures. First, is the box:
The OPEN box!
The out-of-focus hat as delivered on the open box:
After I got done creasing it:
Crappy iPhone pic of the thing on my head:
I was able to put in a high diamond crown I had seen on William Powell in one of his old movies. While the blocks on these things start out straight, when you're done creasing it, it's a very tall taper. I think it's 5" high, for the most part, all of the way around. There's just enough room for my head, where I didn't have to put a dome in it.
Judging by the result, I think it looks more like a Stetson Whippet than a Borsalino Alessandria. Not what I was going for, by any means, but I was curious what I was to get and I think it turned out pretty well. It looked kind of goofy when I had just gotten done creasing it, probably from the steam, but after wearing it for an hour or so, the felt's relaxed enough to where it looks pretty good, I think.
Well worth the time and money. I think the wider ribbon treatment actually works better for the way it's creased than the thinner ribbon of the Borsalino. Working with 100% beaver instead of the rabbit is kind of interesting... it feels different and you don't get the "wet dog" smell when it hits the steam. It'll be interesting to see how it feels after wearing it for a couple of weeks.
Hope you've enjoyed seeing my pictures.
Tom
This is the next hat that I want!The new hat arrived today!
Initially, the intent was to make a copy of the Borsalino Alessandria at a lower cost but a custom. Why not? I had asked Parker for a vintage-weight cream body, 4-ligne ribbon in a matching color, an Alessandria-type bow and a wind string.
That is not what I ended up with.
First, the cream body could not be sourced. He substituted the beaver standard-weight in bone instead. Then, a ribbon to match could not be found in 4 ligne, so a 9-ligne ribbon was substituted instead. Of course by this point, the wind string didn't match the hat, so we omitted that.
I think the only spec that stayed the same was the 6-inch open crown and the 2-3/4" bound brim (though 9 ligne instead of 4 ligne).
Here's the pictures. First, is the box:
The OPEN box!
The out-of-focus hat as delivered on the open box:
After I got done creasing it:
Crappy iPhone pic of the thing on my head:
I was able to put in a high diamond crown I had seen on William Powell in one of his old movies. While the blocks on these things start out straight, when you're done creasing it, it's a very tall taper. I think it's 5" high, for the most part, all of the way around. There's just enough room for my head, where I didn't have to put a dome in it.
Judging by the result, I think it looks more like a Stetson Whippet than a Borsalino Alessandria. Not what I was going for, by any means, but I was curious what I was to get and I think it turned out pretty well. It looked kind of goofy when I had just gotten done creasing it, probably from the steam, but after wearing it for an hour or so, the felt's relaxed enough to where it looks pretty good, I think.
Well worth the time and money. I think the wider ribbon treatment actually works better for the way it's creased than the thinner ribbon of the Borsalino. Working with 100% beaver instead of the rabbit is kind of interesting... it feels different and you don't get the "wet dog" smell when it hits the steam. It'll be interesting to see how it feels after wearing it for a couple of weeks.
Hope you've enjoyed seeing my pictures.
Tom
Alden 403 Moc Toe Boot - Brown Chromexcel - $680 The classic "Indy" style Alden Boot in the classic Horween brown Chromexcel. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - #395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Himel Bros. - The Ross Mk. 1 Leather Jacket Classic D-pocket motorcycle/aviator style jacket. 
It will be worth the wait when it gets there.
I did. I got a beautiful hat from him. I haven't shown pics of it because it's a deep chocolate brown and just eats up the light, so that pictures don't do it justice.
: Yesterday I picked up a beautiful black cherry fedora, black ribbon with a special touch to the bow, black brim binding. I will not be able to take pictures for a few days, but will post pics later.
I'm headed out of town until April 1, but will then get the hat into the sunlight to take some pics.Well, Blackthorn-- you knew this was coming: show it! show it!
