Multiple things I would like to say

[Midwest Boater]

welcome to the lounge, MattR. all the advice above is good read the stickies for sure, and when your searching if you really want a wide brim make sure you keep an eye out for western hats that can be converted to fedoras they are easier to find on a budget and lots of the work can be done on your own with the help of the posts you will find here.
http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=23489

 

[gtdean48]

Gtdean and RBH:

Way cool jackets!! :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

Thanks Mark. Here is a larger photo of mine, since Rusty posted the Strat Jacket....

 

[RBH]

No problem Rusty. Do you have that shot with you, Gene & me from Monteagle to post?

Hey cuz.. here is the shot.
Hope Gene can make it to Texas in March!!!

 

[MarkD]

Fantastic. I am new to this but it looks like you guys are wearing the hat to match your respective jackets(?). Too cool for words!

[/QUOTE]

 

[gtdean48]

Fantastic. I am new to this but it looks like you guys are wearing the hat to match your respective jackets(?). Too cool for words!

Absolutely! Another cool shot was some of us in overalls & Borsalinos...

 

[ScionPI2005]

Welcome to the Lounge Matt! I agree with the others on their advice of searching antique and thrift stores. In regards to being afraid a hat won't fit that you find on Ebay, just remember that if the hat is very close in size but just a tiny bit big, you can stuff tissue or sweatband strips underneath the sweatband to make the hat a little smaller. It's also possible to stretch a hat a little bit if the sweatband is in good shape. I'm pretty comfortable with my head size, so I can generally tell before getting a hat from a seller online if a hat will be close enough to fitting for me to work with it. It doesn't hurt to ask the seller for the circumference measurement, that way you can compare it with your own head measurement. Hope those tidbits help.

By the way, SWEET Stetson jackets, guys!!! :eusa_clap

 

[randooch]

Welcome, Matt

You'll have a blast lurking around here! As for Ebay, I've had great results asking the sellers to take some measurements for you, most importantly the inside circumference. Often, a seller will hold a tape measure to the opening, across the oval, and then call THAT the hat size, which is wrong.

Thrift stores sometimes yield treasures, but I'd also say, take the trouble to hit some estate sales: direct from some former hat wearer to you!