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Hats In Movie "Laura"

Kirk H.

One Too Many
Messages
1,196
Location
Charlotte NC
I think the Fed IV works good for that type of bash. I tried for that look with my Tawney one.
11.jpg
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I ended up with a c-crown instead of a diamond bash though.

Kirk
 

Bird Lives

A-List Customer
Messages
416
Location
Issaquah, WA
First of all, welcome to the Lounge, and secondly, I'm happy to see that there is another Charlie Parker fan on this forum.

To answer your question, I don't think Akubra makes a hat with felt that is soft and pliable enough to crease it like Dana Andrews's hat. If you're looking at a modern-day production hat, check out the Borsalino Film:

http://www.bencrafthats.com/product.php?pid=454&subcname=Borsalino

I have both a grey and a brown one. Raw edge brim though. Very, very soft. You can shape it without steam and it will hold the crease. The salesman at Bencraft said that the Film is by far the best modern Borso being made today. I believe him!
Wow....that Rocks...Thanks for the pic....and thanks for the welcome....Nice to know who the Bird fans are.....
That Borso looks great....I'm going to need to play some Jazz Festivals this year....If nothing gets cancelled I might be able to join you with that hat....Good to know its soft and will hold a bash....its hard to find both qualities in a modern hat these days....that doesn't cost an arm and a leg....
so you think the Fed is too stiff?
 
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jbucklin

Practically Family
Messages
977
Location
Dallas, TX
As much as I love the Fed (I have 6 of them!) I do think the felt is too stiff for what you're wanting to do with it.
 

Bird Lives

A-List Customer
Messages
416
Location
Issaquah, WA
I think the Fed IV works good for that type of bash. I tried for that look with my Tawney one.
I ended up with a c-crown instead of a diamond bash though.
Kirk
Kirk....You look great in that Fed man....Whats the hat in your avatar....and is that a whippet...not the hat but you friend...:)
 
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Bird Lives

A-List Customer
Messages
416
Location
Issaquah, WA
Yup, Cav edge as Dinerman pointed out. If you want to try the look using an Akubra, it shouldn't be too hard, but you won't be able to fake a cav edge too easily. Even if you get a good hatter to do a plain overwelt, it just won't really sit like a cavanaugh edge.
I could live with the over-welt.....Right now I'm living in Istanbul and have had problems dealing with E-bay....I'm thinking I'll need to go new....When I come back stateside I could start looking for a vintage....:) But that might be awhile....so for now....
 

jbucklin

Practically Family
Messages
977
Location
Dallas, TX
As far as I know, I am the only one here with a Film. Most of the members of this forum are pretty pro-vintage---with good reason. But I can attest to the quality of the Film and would venture to guess that it just might please some of the vintage junkies!
 
Messages
15,276
Location
Somewhere south of crazy
Bird (good name by the way), the Feds come somewhat stiff, but after some wetting and handling they tend to soften up some. So with that, I think you could get the bash you want. If you want a slightly larger, ribboned brim, you could go with a Campdraft, but again you'd have to soften up the crown.
 

jbucklin

Practically Family
Messages
977
Location
Dallas, TX
Bird (good name by the way), the Feds come somewhat stiff, but after some wetting and handling they tend to soften up some. So with that, I think you could get the bash you want. If you want a slightly larger, ribboned brim, you could go with a Campdraft, but again you'd have to soften up the crown.

This is true about Feds softening up over time. The fed is a lovely lid indeed!
 

Benzadmiral

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,815
Location
The Swamp
As far as I know, I am the only one here with a Film. Most of the members of this forum are pretty pro-vintage---with good reason. But I can attest to the quality of the Film and would venture to guess that it just might please some of the vintage junkies!
I've been very much impressed with the look of the Film, and Bencraft's prices are pretty good. How light a gray is the gray one? The Bencraft pic makes it look like a light silver. And how dark is the brown?
 

Bird Lives

A-List Customer
Messages
416
Location
Issaquah, WA
If the Fed would soften up enough to take that crease....It would sure save me a little bread at this time...Because I also want to pick up something I can dublicate my avatar with....any suggestions ?
 
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jbucklin

Practically Family
Messages
977
Location
Dallas, TX
Although the Fed does soften up, it will never take the crease you want it to have. You need a hat with very thin felt. The Akubras are pretty thick.
 

Kirk H.

One Too Many
Messages
1,196
Location
Charlotte NC
Kirk....You look great in that Fed man....Whats the hat in your avatar....and is that a whippet...not the hat but you friend...:)

Thanks Bird. The hat in the avatar is the Fed IV. The dog is a retired greyhound. BTW welcome to the lounge.

Jbucklin, that is a realy nice hat you have there. I always enjoy seeing your hats, you have some very nice ones.

Kirk H.
 

jbucklin

Practically Family
Messages
977
Location
Dallas, TX
I've been very much impressed with the look of the Film, and Bencraft's prices are pretty good. How light a gray is the gray one? The Bencraft pic makes it look like a light silver. And how dark is the brown?

The Bencraft pic makes it look lighter than it really is. The pic I posted is pretty accurate.
 

Bird Lives

A-List Customer
Messages
416
Location
Issaquah, WA
One things for sure....JB's Borso is quite the looker....I think that hat would be a joy to have....I'm sold....I can see that with those diminsions and softness....I'd be changing the bash daily....lol
I'm already seeing alot of ways I'd want to wear it....Thanks for pullin' my coat-tail on that one 'j'...;)
 

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,103
Location
San Francisco, CA
Although the Fed does soften up, it will never take the crease you want it to have. You need a hat with very thin felt. The Akubras are pretty thick.

You think? Maybe it's just me, but in my experience, Akubras are on the relatively thin side. My Fed IV was substantially thinner than my Stetson Temple or Christy's Adventurer. Relative to a vintage felt, the Akubra is thicker, but I always regarded Akubra as one of the thinner felts. [huh]
 

jbucklin

Practically Family
Messages
977
Location
Dallas, TX
I agree Jared. I'm just saying that by comparison the Fed is thicker than the Film. The Film has the softness and pliability of the old vintage Borsos.You'd have to handle one to understand what I'm saying.
 

Bird Lives

A-List Customer
Messages
416
Location
Issaquah, WA
Say jbucklin...You mentioned someone at Bencraft told you the 'film' was the nicest of any of the Borsas today....Is there much differance in the fur quality between the different model Borsalinos that you have seen? I was showing the Bencraft site to some friends of mine and a couple of them were checking out different models...From what you are saying about the 'Film' being close to vintage quality....Thats a real find in todays market...The 'Film' model looks like just what the Doctor ordered to me...now I just have to get the bread together as my insurance doesn't cover prescriptions...lol...but Bencraft is offering this at a great price...
 
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