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very nice!
Catching up on sharing a few hats today that I've only now had the time to clean and photograph. A very reasonable BIN listing that was tipped my way by another Lounge friend. Looks like it might have had a maker liner in the crown, now gone... it was sold through the Bon Marche in Seattle - union label behind the sweat. It is very similar to my gray Knox Fifteen Milan but in an easier to wear tobacco tone.
It is a beauty. The telescope crown is a classic with milans and suits them really well. Is that the original pug?
Great hat!
This is probably my favorite photo of Sinatra in one of his famous straws. Having Grace Kelly in the shot doesn't hurt.
Optimo?Since you can't buy new real wheat straw Milan hats anymore
Not all hatters will work on straw but Optimo certainly will. I sent them a nice Stetson Milan that had what I considered a disagreeable crease. It was simply too tall in the crown for my preference. I was considering dumping the hat despite buying a new pug for it. Instead I sent it to Optimo for a reblocking. It also got a new sweat band. I now consider the hat not just wearable but downright likeable.
Before:
After:
It's not that easy for me FMV, for I'm blessed/cursed with a size 8.
Here's an interesting snippet. I don't see that it specifies the actual type of straw used.
http://www.optimohats.com/newsletter/issue3/index.html