Looking for a serious porkpie

[tweedbowler]

I am not much of a fedora guy. In fact, I am not a fedora wearer at all. Its crown doesn't suit me, the brims are too wide, and it's not the image I have in mind for myself. I will wear a bowler very occasionally, but my staple hat is a porkpie. Upturned brim all the way around, not too 'stingy'. I have two porkpie hats: one wool felt Mayser (my everyday hat, now due for replacement), and one vintage fur felt black Harrods hat (which I suspect was made by Lock & co). The latter is very nice, but it being my 'good' hat I feel that a new hat purchase is due.

Given that my wool felt everyday companion is due for retirement, I am looking for a good fur felt replacement. Where should I look for a serious fur felt porkpie?

(I am in the UK, by the way).

 

[Rabbit]

Welcome to the Lounge, tweedbowler.

Try vintage hats on eBay US. There's lots of porkpies coming up for cheap.
Or post a WTB (want to buy) thread here in the Classifieds section, stating your preferred hat size or your actual head size.

In the unlikely event that a light brown fur felt porkpie with dark brown band and 2" brim, size 56.5cm would fit your needs, I happen to have one for you.

Btw, general questions like this properly belong in the sticky "Ask a question, get an answer".

 

[hatsRme]

Or you could always have one made to YOUR specs; color, brim, etc....
http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/

 

[The Rag And Bone Man]

Are you looking for one in the UK, to save on shipping fees or are you ok with the overseas option.
Reason i ask is because i know a great site that i visit, that has a deadstock 1950 pilgrim made, porkpie for $42 bucks, with an inside circumference of 21.5 inches, it looks great..

 

[tweedbowler]

Rabbit - thanks for the tip! And sorry if I posted in the wrong forum. Sadly, I am a UK size 7 1/8, US 7 1/4, 58cm, so your porkpie won't fit me. I might post a wanted ad though!

HatsRme - Art's hats are lovely, but a little rich for me. I might have one made for a special occasion at some point, though. But for a daily hat that sees all kinds of weather, wear and tear, being taken into establishments of varying respectability, and so on, it might be less suited...

Rag and Bone Man - that's a very small hat! If my head were that small, I would have a lovely hat collection indeed.... Thanks for the tip though.

 

[hatsRme]

Because of my mellon-sized head, (a curse which limits my ability to find anything that fits) I'm super-cognizant of the irreplacable aspect of real vintage hats, especially NOS. I do wear my vintages, but for the wear and tear daily or bar-room dangers, etc., I always wear one that CAN be replaced by a hat maker today. That could be by Mr. Fawcett, or Stetson, or Bailey, etc.

I have always felt we members of the Lounge (Brothers of the Brims?) have something of a custodial responsibity for the vintages, to respect our elders...

Just a thought.

 

[jlee562]

That being the case, what is your budget then?

 

[tweedbowler]

My budget would be up to £100, give or take a little.

 

[Neophyte]

Akubra makes a porkpie (HatsDirect.com). You could also reshape a hat to achiev the porkpie crown.

Other than that, you should definitely check eBay.