Hat Stores-a list

[Dronak]

Vanilla Beane is in DC ...
http://thegrio.com/2010/06/15/dorothy-heights-hatmaker-still-going-at-90/

Thanks for the info. This article says that "Beane still works full time at Bene Millinery", so maybe that's a place worth checking out. There is a Google+ page for Bene Millinery & Bridal Supplies (https://plus.google.com/104903460034980826952/) which seems like it would be the place, but there's not much store info on the web, as you said. I guess I'd have to call or stop by, which maybe I can do the next time I'm in that area of DC.

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

Dronak,

Yes that is the accurate location of her shop. She doesn't have a website but if I were you I would call before going to make sure she is open on that particular day, with her being in her 90s I don't know how consistent her hours are so just to be on the safe side call ahead.

 

[Mr. Bingley]

+1 for the Delmonico Hatter. Just was in there this morning and the were extremely helpful and polite.

 

[Brass Rooster]

I own and am The Hatter for The Brass Rooster, A traditional hand made hat company in Milwaukee WI. We are a Hatty Award winning, internationally recognized, hat shop and now traditional manufacturer. I make every hat to order
and use only the best quality materials i have access to. Stop by BrassRooster.com to see more. I would love to make any of you hat. Thanks, John McLaughlin

 

[danofarlington]

I remember reading about Ms. Dorothy Height in the Washington Post when she died. She was the examplar of Washington, D.C. African American ladies' church hats. They do it like the English royals. Something to see.

 

[Landman]

I own and am The Hatter for The Brass Rooster, A traditional hand made hat company in Milwaukee WI. We are a Hatty Award winning, internationally recognized, hat shop and now traditional manufacturer. I make every hat to order
and use only the best quality materials i have access to. Stop by BrassRooster.com to see more. I would love to make any of you hat. Thanks, John McLaughlin

I just wanted to say that John refurbished an old Stetson Stratoliner for me last year and did an excellent job. Thanks John.

 

[facade]

I own and am The Hatter for The Brass Rooster, A traditional hand made hat company in Milwaukee WI. We are a Hatty Award winning, internationally recognized, hat shop and now traditional manufacturer. I make every hat to order
and use only the best quality materials i have access to. Stop by BrassRooster.com to see more. I would love to make any of you hat. Thanks, John McLaughlin

You have a wonderful looking store. Though I must say how can you be a hat store in Wisconsin and not carry the iconic cheese hat? Surely this is an oversight?

 

[Maudelynn]

Hat Repair in LA

One of my beloved horsehair cloches got nipped on the brim by my teeny dog. I was hoping it can be repaired (the hat, not the dog; she is fine, but now permanently terrified of my hats.)
Are there any amazingly wonderful hat restorationists/ repairers here in LA anyone can recommend ?

Thanks so much

 

[bowlerman]

Have you tried Baron Hats in Burbank? They are mostly custom, but probably have the repertoire for vintage women's hat repair.

 

[gonnabeadoc]

Hat Shops around Greensboro NC?

I am new to this forum, hats, and Greensboro NC. I was looking into getting into wearing head covers, a nice fedora will do.Anyone know of a haberdashery anywhere closeby? Google knows nothing. Thanks

 

[Captain Lex]

J Peterman $35 Pith Helmet

http://www.jpeterman.com/Lightweight-Pith-Helmet

I was perusing the newly-arrived user's manual and saw, on the same page as their $178 safari jacket, this lightweight pith helmet. $35 is a low price for anything on the Peterman catalogue, let alone a hat that's aimed to be sold alongside a more high-ticket item. So far I've had a lot of luck with Peterman, but I do sometimes wonder when I see a low price like this.

The only way I can imagine it being of reasonable quality for the price is that Peterman assumes it'd be harder to move at a higher price because it's honestly more of a costume piece these days. I guess that works out for me, eh? Does anyone have any warnings regarding it? Any red flags?

 

[Dinerman]

It's a cheap straw, not a "proper" pith helmet.

Village hat shop has them for $25
http://www.villagehatshop.com/straw-pith-helmet.html

Berkeley Hat has them for $22
http://www.berkeleyhat.com/stpihe.html

They can be had on eBay for $17
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARD-NATURAL-TAN-TOYO-STRAW-PITH-HELMET-SAFARI-HAT-/320700631103

 

[Captain Lex]

Excellent, thank you! Exactly the sort of thing I was expecting, sadly. Related: what makes a proper pith helmet proper?

 

[ofcoursemyhorse]

http://portobellohats.com/home.html



Opened in Santa Rosa, around an hour north of San Francisco. I'll have to stop by sometime soon and look at their stock of vintage hats.

 

[KingAndrew]

Doc-
There are two possibilities in the Greensboro area.

One is a Charlotte store called Alexander Hats. They sell Stetson and Borsalino hats, among others and have an active website at www.alexanderhats.com

Alexander Hats
Telephone:
(704) 493-3760

131 Brevard Court
Charlotte, NC 28202

HOURS:
Monday thru Friday:
11:00am to 6:00pm

Saturday:
11:00am to 4:00pm

Sunday: closed

The other place I see mentioned is the Hat Lounge in Durham's Northgate Mall. All of the online reviews are very good, but the web site is down, so I don't know if this place is still open. You should probably call before you make the trip. Here are the details.

The Hat Lounge
Address: 1058 W Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27701
Phone919) 286-4287
Hours:
Saturday hours 10:00 am–9:00 pm

We really ought to update the master list with the new info we've dredged up over the past 5 or 6 pages...

 

[Maudelynn]

Thanks bowlerman, I will check them out!!

 

[Geldoc]

Looks like The Hat Lounge is no more.

 

[KingAndrew]

It's too bad. It sounded like Hat Lounge was a really good shop. Good luck with Alexander Hats, though.

 

[T Jones]

Hatters near Columbus?

There are three that I know of in Ohio, none of whom are vendors or sponsors:

1) The Hatterie
2196 Romig Rd # C
Akron, OH 44320
Though I guess it once had its day, this is currently sort of the dollar store of hat shops. There's nothing over $80 and nothing that should be over $25. I've been in there twice and no one who knows anything about hats works there.


2) Mike the Hatter
645 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
A Cleveland institution that is brimming (sorry) with production hats by all of the big names. The staff is colorful and fun, though you should talk to someone for a while to make sure that he or she is one of the knowledgeable staff, rather than one of the characters. I've had both good and bad experiences here.

3) Batsakes
1 W 6th St
Cincinnati, OH 45202-2301
I haven't been to this one yet, but Gus Miller seems to have built a pretty good reputation among loungers.

I spoke with the folks from Batsakes about having my Bradford resized...Their price seems reasonable but I'd rather try to find something closer, like Columbus...We have a Rod's Western Shop here who will do cleaning and recreasing but nothing really beyond that.

 

[RaiderKid]

Hatter in Houston, TX

Does anyone know of a quality hatter in Houston, TX that takes good measurements both for circumference and head shape, long oval, etc? There has to be a good one here somewhere.

James