My very first fedora

[Blackthorn]

So I was driving through Sacramento yesterday and stopped in at Old Town Sac to visit the Village Hats shop. I had intended to get a Stetson Temple but they didn't have my size. The sales lady mentioned that they did have a Stetson Chatham. I liked it, so this has become my first fedora. My wife insisted I snap the brim down all the way around for the pics:

Be gentle, it's my first time. :eusa_doh:

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

The Chatham's not a bad modern fedora. I own one in Caribou grey too. No offense to your wife, however, but it's not a hat to be snapped down all around. You can tell that the brim is fighting it and it makes a new nice hat look like some wilted beater.

I did find that with the brim down in front and up in back, the back was up too much for my taste. So I steamed it over the kettle some and coaxed the brim in back to lower a couple of degrees. Still up in back but not so much.

 

[Blackthorn]

You make good sense, Gene. I insisted on taking another set, with the brim like it should be:

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Looks good in the second set of shots, Blackthorn. I have a mink Chatham that I really like. I steamed a bit more height in the front and changed the pinch a little and it looks better now. I like the grey.

 

[animator]

Congratulations on your first fedora!

I like the back brim up much better, too. It looks great!

 

[Goose.]

Yep. What Mr. P., said. 2nd pics moh bettah.
Was thinking about what Gene said about the brim in rear...the angle. I used to like them curled up a bit high. Lately I have found that I prefer the brim to be almost flat in the rear...still a bit of curl, but not much. Simply an obsersvation of self preference.

Hey Blacktorn, if you get the chance, can you post a pic of the liner? Curious to see what the inside of that lid looks like.

Anyway, congratulations!

 

[J.T.Marcus]

As I recall, the Chatham has a 2 3/8" brim (as opposed to 2 5/8" on the Temple). Given the direction mens suits have gone, this year (narrower lapels), the Chatham is a great choice. It looks good on you. Funny how women always want the brim down in back. It doesn't really look bad either way. Wear it the way you like it, maybe even switch back and forth.

We've had a lot of discussions about current Stetson quality. My experience has been very good. I think you're going to like that hat! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[awest84532]

My wife said the same thing, but I've left all mine up.

I have three Chathams and they are very nice hats. I have a number of Stetsons, several Akubras and several other sundry hats and I've been very happy with my Stetsons. I wore my mink last night.

 

[Caity Lynn]

I Love it!!!! With the brim up in back of course. I may have to invest in one someday!

 

[Blackthorn]

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone! I'm glad to get a strong concensus on the "brim up" look. My wife will just have to deal with it.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

It does still look like the brim needs some help. Instead of being up 'in back' it seems to be up almost all the way around, save for a little bit of snap down in front. Modern hats - Jeez! This is probably why the missus was wanting to change it.

I suggest bathing the brim in steam over the tea kettle and then working it so it makes the transition from snapped down in front to up in back about mid-way at the profile.

Here's mine after I adjusted it a bit:

 

[Blackthorn]

Thanks for the advice, Gene, that makes good sense. I'll do some thinking about how to make that happen. I've never done anything like that before and I want to get it right.

 

[Blackthorn]

Yep. What Mr. P., said. 2nd pics moh bettah.
Was thinking about what Gene said about the brim in rear...the angle. I used to like them curled up a bit high. Lately I have found that I prefer the brim to be almost flat in the rear...still a bit of curl, but not much. Simply an obsersvation of self preference.

Hey Blacktorn, if you get the chance, can you post a pic of the liner? Curious to see what the inside of that lid looks like.

Anyway, congratulations!

Goose, is this what you meant? I had a hard time taking this pic because the flash washed out the whole pic, and without the flash I can't hold it still enough to keep it from being blurry:

 

[Blackthorn]

is this more how the brim should look?

 

[Goose.]

Goose, is this what you meant? ...

Yep. Exactly. THANKS!
Was wondering as I have never really looked at a Stetson fedora.
The Stetson hats I have are of the Western persuasion (read as: Cowboy Hats). And I don't even know where they are
The hats I had showed a horse and a cowboy in the liner, so I was curious.

Thanks again Blackthorn. I like your hat and I'm guessing that your first won't be your last :eusa_clap

 

[Blackthorn]

Yep. Exactly. THANKS!
Was wondering as I have never really looked at a Stetson fedora.
The Stetson hats I have are of the Western persuasion (read as: Cowboy Hats). And I don't even know where they are
The hats I had showed a horse and a cowboy in the liner, so I was curious.

Thanks again Blackthorn. I like your hat and I'm guessing that your first won't be your last :eusa_clap

You're very welcome for the pic, Goose. I appreciate your advice. And you're right...I just ordered a Fed IV in tawny fawn.

 

[Goose.]

You're very welcome for the pic, Goose. I appreciate your advice. And you're right...I just ordered a Fed IV in tawny fawn.

You will be a happy camper indeed. I will be very interested in seeing a post from you comparing the Stetson to the Akubra. Thinking of getting off the Akubra highway, but not certain which fork in the road to try.

 

[Blackthorn]

You will be a happy camper indeed. I will be very interested in seeing a post from you comparing the Stetson to the Akubra. Thinking of getting off the Akubra highway, but not certain which fork in the road to try.

Once it gets here I'll get familiar with it a little bit, then I'll post about it, Goose. I'm going out of town until July 3, so it'll be a while until I can post about it.

 

[jazzncocktails]

You're very welcome for the pic, Goose. I appreciate your advice. And you're right...I just ordered a Fed IV in tawny fawn.

Congrats on the Stetson, Blackthorn. It was one of my first fedoras, too--in mink, a dark brown--and I also followed it up with a Tawny Fawn Fed IV pretty quickly. I agree with everyone here; keep that brim flipped up in the back. Some like the upturn around the brim, from mid-brim back; as you can see from Gene's example, others like the flip of the brim only in the back. Play with it until you find a style you like--the felt of the Chatham is fairly thick and supple and you won't likely damage it with a little steam or distilled water in a spray bottle.

I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on the Chatham once you get the Fed IV and start wearing it around a bit. As I said, it was one of my first fedoras, and when I found it at the Long Beach Village Hat Shop location, I thought, "This is exactly what I'm looking for!" I wore it around for several weeks until my Fed IV arrived...and then, once I got used to the straight, high crown, I couldn't wear the shorter, tapered crown of the Chatham. The Fed IV became my preferred lid. But then I ordered and received an Akubra Campdraft in Silverbelly, and suddenly the Fed IV gets far less wear...

Enjoy the adventure...and tell your wife we all think the fedora looks great on you!
Steve

 

[Blackthorn]

Congrats on the Stetson, Blackthorn. It was one of my first fedoras, too--in mink, a dark brown--and I also followed it up with a Tawny Fawn Fed IV pretty quickly. I agree with everyone here; keep that brim flipped up in the back. Some like the upturn around the brim, from mid-brim back; as you can see from Gene's example, others like the flip of the brim only in the back. Play with it until you find a style you like--the felt of the Chatham is fairly thick and supple and you won't likely damage it with a little steam or distilled water in a spray bottle.

Oops...I used chlorinated tap water from the spray bottle. Uh oh. What effect is this going to have on the fur?:eusa_doh: :eusa_doh:

I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on the Chatham once you get the Fed IV and start wearing it around a bit. As I said, it was one of my first fedoras, and when I found it at the Long Beach Village Hat Shop location, I thought, "This is exactly what I'm looking for!" I wore it around for several weeks until my Fed IV arrived...and then, once I got used to the straight, high crown, I couldn't wear the shorter, tapered crown of the Chatham. The Fed IV became my preferred lid. But then I ordered and received an Akubra Campdraft in Silverbelly, and suddenly the Fed IV gets far less wear...

Interesting, Jazz, I'm intrigued. Now I can't wait to check out the Fed IV.

Enjoy the adventure...and tell your wife we all think the fedora looks great on you!
Steve

Thanks, Steve! I think she has given up the fight. It was 100% for the upturned brim, and only her against it.