My new Stetson Firenze is stiff as a board

[donnc]

It really has more to do with the shape being more round than my head is, which is more oval-shaped than I had thought. But it's so stiff and it just won't budge (unless it has been recently steamed). The pressure on my forehead eases up when I push on both sides of the hat while wearing it. I keep hoping that the steam treatment will cause it to conform to the more oval shape of my head, but alas, it has yet to conform.

Shape could be reinforced by the brim, right? I mean, assuming that the brim is also on the stiff side. When you push in at the sides (of the crown), the brim probably folds down a little in front? If you aren't steaming the brim so much, that might be something to try.

 

[BlackBrim]

If this doesn't work, sell the hat

I recently got Stetson Firenze.A black one in size 7 3/8.It's a nice hat but it's just not me.I am thinking about selling it.I see someone on Ebay is selling Stetson Firenze hats for $155.00 plus shipping.I'm thinking it might it be difficult to find a buyer at that price?I'm guessing I should ask a much lower price than that.I've never tried to sell a hat before.So I'm wondering how much to ask for a brand new Stetson Firenze?

 

[Neophyte]

JBucklin, I have a more barbaric solution for you:

Put one foot on a chair, and place knee inside crown, toward the front. Then, take both hands and place them in the crown, palms facing you, and PULL. After several repeated tuggings, preferrably when steamed or wettened, and it might fit better.

I had to do this with my Akubra Fedora. It, like your Firenze (awesome name for a hat, by the way), had a rounder crown. The felt on that one though is really, really soft.

My advice is to just keep working at it. A hat can only take so much abuse before it gives up and obeys.

 

[jbucklin]

Neo, I ended up doing something very similar to what you've recommended here and the Firenze finally surrendered after me beating the cr*p out of it for several days. It fits great now.

Blackbrim, the Firenze is certainly more on the "dress hat" side and may not be for everyone. I actually was thinking the same as you until I got several positive comments from women, which is usually, for me anyway, a pretty good way to gauge the effectiveness of a lid.

 

[rjenkins]

I recently acquired a secondhand-but-unworn Firenze via ebay, it's a great hat and happily is a perfect fit.

My other ebay purchase, a grey 1970s Stetson Sovereign with no marked type name, was rather too tight despite being the same 7 3/8 label size as the Firenze.

Thanks to advice from the more knowledgeable members here, I bought some Lexol leather conditioner to treat the hat band to ensure it did not dry out.

I found by chance that a couple of generous applications of the Lexol to the 'back' of the band (ie. inside while the band is turned down) softened the leather noticably and allowed a couple of good 'jam down to the ears' sessions to stretch it out and give a perfect fit.

I applied the Lexol with a fingertip, making sure the whole of the band inside surface was visibly darkened, including the part sewn inside the hat, then let it dry overnight before turning the band back in to avoid transfer to the felt.

I'd not like to try that to stretch a hat beyond it's original size, but to undo shrinkage from age or drying out it may be worth a try.

 

[gpsoldhat]

I also purchased a nearly new firenza off eBay. It fits just right. I am gonna wear it instead of my Stetson downs. Both are black but the firenza seems more substantial. The firenza is a sovereign quality and the downs is a deluxe. The firenza seems like it is a little nappy? I have been brushing it and some loose fir seems to come off. Is this usual?

 

[DougC]

Thank all--I had a hat that was soaked in Canada this summer and the band was tight. Loaded the band up with Lexol and steamed the outside and...it fits again!!!

 

[fmw]

I bought a hat stretcher on Ebay for $10. I just use the spray head from the kitchen sink to moisten down the area where the crown meets the brim and then tighten the stretcher a little. Let the hat dry and voila!