I have purchased a number of nice hats over the year from Optimo here in Chicago, and I also spent too much money on a Watson's hat last year. I wish I had a great fedora, but the only hat that actually looks good on my huge, long head is the Open Road. I have a silver Stetson Open Road, for which I paid $200+. It's rabbit. I once had a tobacco Open Road but it was stolen by a staff member at Chicago Skyline Club some years ago. Now I want to get a new tobacco-colored Open Road, and I want a good one.
I can take my soft, expensive Optimo fedora out in a soaking wet snowstorm and it'll be none the worse for wear. But that soaking wet snow will make a mess of my stiff, rabbit Stetson. So question #1: If I had a 100% beaver Open Road, it would still have to be a stiff hat with a lot of starch to hold it's shape (right?). Would water still damage that hat, or could I wear it in a soaking wet snowstorm?
Question #2: The reviews for the 100% beaver Stetson Open Roads on their website aren't very good, although there are only a handful of reviews. Beaver is beaver, right? Or am I missing something that makes Stetson's of inferior quality? Is there anyone you would recommend to make me a durable, good looking Open Road?
I echo Deadly's advice. I have made myself two hats with the FEPSA beaver felt and it is incredible. The caveat is that my supplier brings in the 95gram weight. it is a beautiful felt, soft and malleable as a vintage Borsalino. Not sure it would stand up to a good soaking as it is so light weight. FEPSA makes all manner of felts; weights & finishes etc so my FEPSA is undoubtably different than Optimo's. I also use Ukraine beaver felt, it is a heavier 160gr but can be pounced to much thinner, softer, lighter felt. So if you do commission a custom hat have a direct conversation with the hatter about the feel you want. A good hatter can finesse the felt and get it close to what you want so have that conversation up front. I have Long Oval blocks up to 63cm in size.If you like a firmer felt more like a modern dress western Open Road I’d say The Northwest Hat Co. would be my first choice. If you liked a more vintage type of felt I’d go with the Gannon Hat Co. If you want to stick with FEPSA beaver like Optimo uses (Northwest and Gannon primarily use Winchester sourced beaver felt), then I’d look at Hufvud. I’d also send @belfastboy a PM to see if he has the color you’re after as he too has some FEPSA beaver and his prices are incredible.
Good luck!
If you have any pictures of how a "modern dress western Open Road' compares to a "more vintage type of felt" compared to FEPSA, please post. but you've given me a lot of places to look. thank you!!If you like a firmer felt more like a modern dress western Open Road I’d say The Northwest Hat Co. would be my first choice. If you liked a more vintage type of felt I’d go with the Gannon Hat Co. If you want to stick with FEPSA beaver like Optimo uses (Northwest and Gannon primarily use Winchester sourced beaver felt), then I’d look at Hufvud. I’d also send @belfastboy a PM to see if he has the color you’re after as he too has some FEPSA beaver and his prices are incredible.
Good luck!
I have to go to Austin for a big party in spring. I hope to avoid being the subject of Lyle Lovett's "That's right, you're not from Texas" song.
I have a grey Stetsonian open crown that has a brim just a tad too big for me but I love it anyway. I was wondering if you think I could put a cattleman crease and swap out the ribbon to pull this off? I would prefer a hat that I'm comfortable in than a new, perfect cowboy hat. Thoughts? Thanks!
I am not clear on what you want to accomplish with the look. Do you want to make the Stetsonian more western in appearance? Do you want to take the hat from a classic fedora look to more of a hipster/boho look? I have a Cariboo modern Stetsonian. It came with the usual horrid cheap Stetson generic black ribbon. I immediately changed out the ribbon to a vintage lighter grey. So in your instance I would not hesitate to remove the crap stock ribbon.I have to go to Austin for a big party in spring. I hope to avoid being the subject of Lyle Lovett's "That's right, you're not from Texas" song.
I have a grey Stetsonian open crown that has a brim just a tad too big for me but I love it anyway. I was wondering if you think I could put a cattleman crease and swap out the ribbon to pull this off? I would prefer a hat that I'm comfortable in than a new, perfect cowboy hat. Thoughts? Thanks!
Ties: www.waterhollowtweed.comThank you both for the ideas!
Yes @belfastboy I would love your sources for bands, thank you.
So how far off is a fedora from a traditional cowboy hat? Hope this hasn't been rehashed a thousand times, but I can't find much. I feel like I'm swimming in a Stetsonian, I can't imagine if I'm wearing a 3"+ brim.
An open crown hat is fun to play with. A spritz of water, some steam and you can bash it into whatever style you wish. As long as you don't put in hard sharp creasing you can steam it out and bash it in a different way. Play with it, play with differing styles until you achieve the style you like.Sorry, did not intend to stir up trouble. Just a bit new at the game. Since mine is an open crown, it seems to me I can cross over, but don't know the subtleties.
So how far off is a fedora from a traditional cowboy hat? Hope this hasn't been rehashed a thousand times, but I can't find much. I feel like I'm swimming in a Stetsonian, I can't imagine if I'm wearing a 3"+ brim.
So how far off is a fedora from a traditional cowboy hat? Hope this hasn't been rehashed a thousand times, but I can't find much. I feel like I'm swimming in a Stetsonian, I can't imagine if I'm wearing a 3"+ brim.