It's Spring. Show your Straw hats if you have 'em

[fmw]

These Optimo Milans are just fabulous. I don't want to know what they cost. I'm sure they are worth it.

 

[Lefty]

My first one, the blue and yellow ribbon, was full price when I visited the store. The one with the green ribbon was a recent ebay pick-up for $125 shipped. They're pricey but, as I keep saying, they're my favorite hats.

 

[WideBrimm]

Panama hats are great, provided the weather is warm. In Colorado that means about July 4!

 

[job]

I bought a cheap raffia hat for yard work, a Dobbs milan, a panama bob $39.00 hat, and two Tesi straws. A natural sisol and the Comet in sand. I wanted some variety for my first summer wearing straw fedoras. I'm good for this summer. Maybe.

 

[DRB]

Lefty, thanks for letting me into the club.

fmw: you are right, you don't want to know how much they are.

 

[Ordinary Guy]

Here is a Semi Calado I got from PB last year, I swapped out the ribbon for something different.

And another PB hat reworked by Premier hats with Burgundy Pug.

And my last PB as originally received, I only changed the brim snap.....

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Ooooo! I really like that one!

 

[AtomicEraTom]

So do I, very cool!

Ooooo! I really like that one!

 

[bowlerman]

[/IMG]
My Panama "brisa" weave custom bowler by Texas Hatters. I made the band (Buffalo bone beads stained in coffee, unpolished nickel and wood beads, turquoise chips, and natural sinew with leather ties in the back) and just let it sit over the ribbon without any stitching so I can remove it when feeling less western, I suppose.

 

[Fedora Jay]

Here's my Stetson. I really don't know a whole lot about it. It just grabbed my eye one day on Ebay.

 

[fmw]

Could it be like mine? If so, it is a Stetson Avenue milan braid. Mine came from Ebay as well.

 

[Bantam Man]

Great milan FMW!
That hat is you and makes for style.

 

[Mr E Train]

Left to right: Pinzano Truman Milan; Dobbs Winner Florentine Milan with replacement pug; Dobbs Soul Tuscan Milan.

I broke out the Dobbs Soul once it started getting really warm last week after not having worn it since last summer, and I realized that it's not only the most comfortable straw hat I own, it's the most comfortable hat, period. I wish Dobbs had more offerings in the Tuscan Milan, because they're great. Really soft, light, and cool.

From left to right: David Morgan Panama fedora; Capas Panama straw boater with replacement pug; Ponte Rialto Venice traditional boater with replacement pug.

I might find a nicer band for the Ponte Rialto, but as it is I like it better than I did with the traditional red-and-blue band.

 

[alanfgag]

I've bought a number of auction straws this winter... most were reasonably priced ($20-$70) and arrived in very good condition. This Brooks Brothers branded panama is a recent example:

This Supernatural leghorn was quite a bit more expensive, but I'm glad I didn't chicken out... it's a very nice hat.

 

[randooch]

Wow, those are some stylin' hats. My next milan will have a wider brim, but for now I have this comfy Supernatural Equadorian:

 

[Fedora Jay]

Could it be like mine? If so, it is a Stetson Avenue milan braid. Mine came from Ebay as well.

I do believe they are the same hat. Glad to finally have a name to go with it! Ironically, it's my least expensive hat, but I've gotten more compliments on it than any of my furs. Glad it's warming up so I can start wearing it again.

 

[fmw]

I also like it. So does my wife and so does the local postmaster (for whatever that's worth.) I call it my plastic hat because, in fact, it is made of braided polyester or some similar synthetic material. But it lets a breeze through the braid so it should be great for Spring/Summer wear. An excellent hat for the $45 I paid for it.

 

[fedoralover]

A vintage Knox.

fedoralover

 

[RBH]

That Knox is fantastic!

 

[fedoralover]

That Knox is fantastic!

thanks, it's the one I reshaped with felt stiffner. Still very flexible, it just holds its shape now. I wanted another straw hat to wear to North Carolina in May, when I travel back to visit my daughter.

fedoralover