Just began the Art Fawcett process!

[Pompidou]

I'm excited as Hell. The gist of what I decided to shoot for was, as I described in my email after calling, "the poor ba***rd love-child of a porkpie and a top-hat". It's an oxblood porkpie with a stingy brim and a tall-as-possible crown. The brim will be the fancier kind where the fabric loops up and over and is stitched - hopefully for a sort of two-tone effect. Never did like the naked looking raw brims. The ribbon will be the widest kind. I should have a hat around August. It's my signature, or it will be.

 

[danofarlington]

I'm excited as Hell. The gist of what I decided to shoot for was, as I described in my email after calling, "the poor ba***rd love-child of a porkpie and a top-hat". It's an oxblood porkpie with a stingy brim and a tall-as-possible crown. The brim will be the fancier kind where the fabric loops up and over and is stitched - hopefully for a sort of two-tone effect. Never did like the naked looking raw brims. The ribbon will be the widest kind. I should have a hat around August. It's my signature, or it will be.

Sounds great. I think it's good whenever someone conjures up a proper hat of whatever description. Let's see how the reality meets your initial vision. Craftsmen can usually be counted on to render into reality what starts out as only a thought.

 

[fluteplayer07]

Overwelt. That's what it's called for the brim. Art's been doing some really sweet double-stitched overwelts lately; it's a small detail, but makes a big difference. Congrats. Nothin' like a custom made hat. Except for two custom made hats.

Edit--I just saw the part where you mentioned a top hat as part of the design. So you're probably talking the curl as on a formal hat. Pencil roll brim (?). That's what its called, right?

 

[Jack Scorpion]

Until this moment, reinventing hats never occurred to me. I very much look forward to the eventual pictures.

 

[Spats McGee]

Congratulations, Pompidou! I can't wait to see it.

 

[Pompidou]

Overwelt. That's what it's called for the brim. Art's been doing some really sweet double-stitched overwelts lately; it's a small detail, but makes a big difference. Congrats. Nothin' like a custom made hat. Except for two custom made hats.

Edit--I just saw the part where you mentioned a top hat as part of the design. So you're probably talking the curl as on a formal hat. Pencil roll brim (?). That's what its called, right?

Overwelt was what I originally was thinking, but I just fired off a 2nd email mentioning that if pencil curl is possible, go for it. What I want is to be recognizable from as many miles away as possible. I just love hat comments- good ones or bad.

 

[ScionPI2005]

That's exciting pompidou! I hope you'll keep us all posted on the process, and naturally share pictures upon receiving it!

 

[daizawaguy]

The gist of what I decided to shoot for was, as I described in my email after calling, "the poor ba***rd love-child of a porkpie and a top-hat". It's an oxblood porkpie with a stingy brim and a tall-as-possible crown. The brim will be the fancier kind where the fabric loops up and over and is stitched - hopefully for a sort of two-tone effect. Never did like the naked looking raw brims. The ribbon will be the widest kind.

Let me get this right...your first VS is a oxblood porkpie/stingy/top hat...

Sir, what will your fifth VS be....a plain fedora!? lol lol lol

But, good choice!

Please post photos!

 

[zetwal]

Interesting. I too look forward to seeing what you guys come up with ... :cool2:

 

[BanjoMerlin]

Congrats! Personally, I've never really seen the point of having a custom hat made that looks like a "regular" hat. When you have something custom made it really should look like it was made just for you.

 

[scottyrocks]

I, too, am looking forward to seeing this original creation.

 

[Pompidou]

After more emails with Art, I learned that the combination of the overwelt brim with a pencil curl gives you a homburg brim, and well, that sounds pretty cool to me. I went and looked at some, so my porkpie/tophat will have a homburg brim if at all possible. I have an idea for a hand of playing cards to go where the feather usually goes, but it might not be possible. We'll see. I paid my down payment tonight. Should be getting the head measurer soon. That's where I stand now.

 

[danofarlington]

After more emails with Art, I learned that the combination of the overwelt brim with a pencil curl gives you a homburg brim, and well, that sounds pretty cool to me. I went and looked at some, so my porkpie/tophat will have a homburg brim if at all possible. I have an idea for a hand of playing cards to go where the feather usually goes, but it might not be possible. We'll see. I paid my down payment tonight. Should be getting the head measurer soon. That's where I stand now.

You are building a wild hat.

 

[fluteplayer07]

That conformer is just as much a work of art as his hats. Must have taken him forever to build one of them! Just make sure it's on your head where you measured, and where you will wear your hat. Accommodate for tilt.

I am interested to see the final result of this hat, as well. Sounds great, if a bit out of my personal comfort zone. I'm not brave. The wildest I'll ever probably go is the ribbon on my VS.

 

[Pompidou]

I spent weeks trying to choose between a porkpie, tophat or homburg. It's the best I could think of.

 

[fluteplayer07]

How high will the crown be?

 

[Pompidou]

As tall as a tophat, or as tall as the hatmaking system allows while striving for that goal whilst still offering a porkpie bash and homburg brim.

 

[Wildblue]

That conformer is just as much a work of art as his hats. Must have taken him forever to build one of them! Just make sure it's on your head where you measured, and where you will wear your hat. Accommodate for tilt.

Actually, this is something I've been curious about. All the pictures I've seen here of the conformer, people have been sizing it straight across their brow. But if we wear hats at a tilt, it would seem that for a "perfect" custom fit, the conformer should also be placed at the same tilt, no?

 

[fluteplayer07]

If you wear hats always with a tilt (never any exception), tilt the conformer to the exact degree you will wear the finished hat. If you only tilt your hats occasionally, or at different degrees or in different directions, its best to have the conformer fitted naturally.

 

[Wolfwood]

I'm excited as Hell. The gist of what I decided to shoot for was, as I described in my email after calling, "the poor ba***rd love-child of a porkpie and a top-hat". It's an oxblood porkpie with a stingy brim and a tall-as-possible crown. The brim will be the fancier kind where the fabric loops up and over and is stitched - hopefully for a sort of two-tone effect. Never did like the naked looking raw brims. The ribbon will be the widest kind. I should have a hat around August. It's my signature, or it will be.

My, my - I love your panache!

I think I've once seen some miniature card decks, so you might want to look into some of them for your feather replacement, rather than full-sized cards.

I look forward to seeing the final result!