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Idea for new fedora from Art.

Mr_Misanthropy

Practically Family
Messages
618
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Hello,
After being into hats for a couple months now, and ordering several off eBay, I've decided to get a custom. I've spoken to Art Fawcett via e-mail a couple times, and I'll be receiving a conformer sometime soon. My only problem is, I really don't know what I want. I know I want a stingy brim, as they just look good on me. I really don't have any ideas on what color I'd like. I want something versatile that I can wear with different colors. Maybe black, since I don't have a black hat, but I don't know. I like gray, but I already have a nice gray fedora.

100_1213.jpg


So I guess i'm looking for ideas on some different crown styles, hat bands, colors, etc. that would work for me. This is a big investment, and I want to make an educated purchase.

I'd really rather discuss ideas over PMs, I know there are some experts out there who are a wealth of knowledge. But I'd welcome anyone's two cents here in the thread as well.

Thank you.

-Jeremiah
 

WEEGEE

Practically Family
Messages
996
Location
Albany , New York
NICE SUIT

Mr_Misanthropy,


Great suit...whats the make and age? Has Art seen the photo of you

yet? The midnight blue can be a nice color. Are you thinking bound edge

on the stingy?

Regards,

WeeGee
 

Mr_Misanthropy

Practically Family
Messages
618
Location
Chicago, Illinois
The suit is actually a 80's Christian Dior vintage style repro. I got it for $100 from a tailor downtown who wanted to get rid of it. It's technically a tuxedo, the lapel is satin, and there's a gray satin lining down the side of the pant leg. I plan on eventually getting a black bow tie and cummerbund to go with it. I have sent pics of myself to Art, some with and some without hats. He reccomended a stingy. He said he doesn't do a lot of stingies, but he has the equipment and would be happy to do it. :)

I actually was thinking of midnight blue as a possibility, almost a black color, with a silver or "gunmetal blue" band. But i'm not sure, I think I do need to check out some old movies, etc. I actually caught the tail end of Mullholland Falls last night on Encore.

Thanks for all the help, guys! I'm still open for suggestions!

EDIT - Forgot to answer Weegee's ? about the brim. I don't think I want it to be bound, but, i'm not sure. I will be positioning the brim down over my eye, like do with the one pictured, and I find bound brims look best when straight and stiff. But, maybe I just haven't seen one that looked good the way I like.
 

Kaleponi Craig

A-List Customer
Messages
418
Location
Just North of San Francisco
I often save pictures from other folks here on the Lounge, then look at them for inspiration.

Art can give you ideas, too. Just send him a picture of yourself. Also, check out the styles on his website.

Do you like old movies? There will be some great ideas there, as Hemingway said. Bogart films have great lids. That man could wear a hat!

bogeyfedora2.jpg


...KC
 

Not-Bogart13

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,501
Location
NE Pennsylvania
I don't know if Art does it, but...

I always thought stingy brims looked best with the edge folded over or under. I think it's called a welted edge. As for color, I've found that a mid-to dark range brown (not light brown) tends to be versatile. It might sound strange, but several of us (myself included) have found brown hats that work well with gray and blue suits! :eek: Otherwise, if it were my hat, I'd skip the blue and go for black!
NB
 

jeboat

One of the Regulars
Messages
154
Need a hat

I think a 2 1/2- 2 5/8 inch brim in a tan would look good on you! Ask Art if you haven't already, he's got an excellent eye for what looks good on a man.

jeboat;) ;) ;)
 

stylin

Familiar Face
Messages
78
Location
Connecticut
Nice suit Mr.Anth.!

I prefer the casual look. Don't let anyone fool you..fedora's look great with a nice pair of jeans and shirt.
 

Mr_Misanthropy

Practically Family
Messages
618
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Thanks

Thanks for all the advice, guys, I appreciate it. I just looked around at all my hats, and I don't have a single brim over 2"! Maybe I should go with a 2 1/2 or something, I'm not sure how that'd look on me though. I've always though a wider brim would bring more attention to my pea sized head (i'm exaggerating). As for colors, i'm still at a loss. I've asked Art for some advice, so, hopefully his expertise will help me come to a conclusion.

-Jeremiah
 

Gunloader55

One of the Regulars
Messages
108
Location
Valdese NC
Hi I'm new here but lurking around for awhile.Ive wore hard hat as a lineman for years,and own couple nice fedoras from eBay.
Just sent sizer back to Art to have new hat made.looking for ideas for new everyday lid,retired now and just want something that can go anywhere.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, and I do lean more towards 40s gangster style big brim.
 

tropicalbob

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,954
Location
miami, fl
A good way to simply scan a lot of different styles is to Google the name of any of the hatters that appear on this forum and then hit "Images" at the top of the page. When you see something that appeals to you, just hit it up and look into it (you'll see quite a few entries from this forum). I'd guess you already have a pretty good idea of what looks best for you.
 

Gunloader55

One of the Regulars
Messages
108
Location
Valdese NC
That's basically what I've been doing,pulled pics from several places including here.Just thought someone may great idea for that best friend type of hat.
 
Messages
10,862
Location
vancouver, canada
Hi I'm new here but lurking around for awhile.Ive wore hard hat as a lineman for years,and own couple nice fedoras from eBay.
Just sent sizer back to Art to have new hat made.looking for ideas for new everyday lid,retired now and just want something that can go anywhere.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, and I do lean more towards 40s gangster style big brim.
My fave style of hat of late is a wider brimmed full crowned hat with a "kettle curl" on the brim with no binding. Just received one that Esther made for me as I loved the one that Tim at Alley Kat had made a few months earlier. Essentially a Stetsonian with a kettle curl at anywhere from a 2 1/2" visual brim to the newest at 3" Sort of a country gentlemen's look. I also have on order a Cotswolder model from Stephen at Leon Drexler Hats. It has a much more modest brim at 2 3/8" visual with the curl and binding on it.
 

FedOregon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,134
Location
Oregon
Have you looked at Art's website? From your description, I'm thinking of Art's:

Savannah
Big Al
Lonestar
Honeyboy
PW

Keep in mind that you can take a certain style and change up colors of felt, ribbon, etc, and change other things like the crease, brim width, etc.
 

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,795
Location
Central Ohio
Hi I'm new here but lurking around for awhile.Ive wore hard hat as a lineman for years,and own couple nice fedoras from eBay.
Just sent sizer back to Art to have new hat made.looking for ideas for new everyday lid,retired now and just want something that can go anywhere.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, and I do lean more towards 40s gangster style big brim.
The 40s era fedoras were my favorite too. Google up some images from old film noir movies, like, "Murder My Sweet" with Dick Powell, or, "Out Of The Past", with Robert Mitchum, to name a few.

Dick Powell, "Murder My Sweet"
IMG_5011.jpg


Robert Mitchum, "Out Of The Past"
IMG_5012.jpg


Here's a 40s era style wide brim fedora that Mike Miller from North West Hat Co made for me
North_West_Leather_2.jpg
 
Last edited:

Bob Roberts

I'll Lock Up
Messages
11,201
Location
milford ct
Hi I'm new here but lurking around for awhile.Ive wore hard hat as a lineman for years,and own couple nice fedoras from eBay.
Just sent sizer back to Art to have new hat made.looking for ideas for new everyday lid,retired now and just want something that can go anywhere.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, and I do lean more towards 40s gangster style big brim.
Art has vintage felt hat bodies if you really want to get authentic.
 

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