Need some fedora advice

[Superman]

Hey guys,

My history with fedoras goes way back to my time in middle school. As a child of the 80s, I became enamored with fedoras from the Indiana Jones films, of course, but also from comic books. I became a fan of radio shows, especially The Shadow, and devoured all I could about the character when the film debuted. Period films like The Shadow and The Rocketeer cemented my love of fedoras, along with the brief 90s TV series, The Hat Squad.

My mom bought me a black fedora at Dillard's that I ended up wearing throughout high school, though rarely at school due to our uniforms. I loved that hat and eventually added a gray when I got to college, but both are long gone.

A few years went by, and when Crystal Skull was released, I bought an "Indiana Jones" fedora from somewhere online. It's a decent fur felt fedora with a nice enough ribbon and lining, but I soon discovered the Akubra Federation IV. I love my Federation, but it's a nice and expensive hat and I'm searching for something to wear on a daily basis. It's also rather tall, being a World War I era hat, and I'd like something shorter.

I live in south Louisiana, where it's mostly humid and hot. I've been looking at a few crushable fedoras for daily use, but there's so much out there that I'm overwhelmed. I like the look of the Stetson Gurnee, but I know little about quality brands outside of Akubra and Stetson. I'd like to stay within a budget of $80-$100 if at all possible. Thanks for any assistance, advice, and information you can offer!

 

[Andykev]

Welcome to the Lounge.

Perhaps search on Ebay for "fedora" hat and you will be swamped with results. Priced high and low, some gems and some junk. I suggest you save yourself some grief, and buy a new "made for you" hat, which will last you YEARS. There are tons of posts here about hats from different vendors and craftsmen. Visit their websites and see if there is anything you like. Maybe post in the "Classified" a HAT WANTED, and put in your size, color and other things you may be looking for. There are a lot of members here with stuff to sell. Good Luck.

PS. You said your price is $100 or less. You are not going to get much of a quality hat for that, unless you want a bottom end product. Plan on about $300. You will not be sorry.

 

[Guardian Enzo]

I would point out that D'acquino Hats on Etsy will make you a custom fur felt fedora for less than $100. You can check the reviews there (outstanding) but of more interest might be the thread here, which has a few Loungers' personal experiences in dealing with Luisa, and some photos. I have one on order myself and while I can't speak to the quality of the hat yet for obvious reasons, I can say Luisa's communication has been excellent. I can also say she buys her hat bodies from FEPSA - which most Loungers far more knowledgeable than me seem to believe is the better quality of the major suppliers these days - and that the ones who've bought her hats describe them as lightweight felt, which might be good given your climate concerns.

The other thing you might want to consider is a Panama. There are some real knockout Panama fedoras out there, they're great in hot weather and you could find something pretty nice from Panama Bob or OFAS for a hundred bucks.

 

[DOGMAN]

Went to Etsy to look for D'acquino Hat's couldn't find them.Ok I found them.

 

[Frunobulax]

Daquino, not D'acquino. But I see you found her.

And, not certain what part of LA you're in, but you could hotfoot it over to Meyer the Hatter in NOLA and spend some time trying on lids to find what you like.

I'm a newbie, and hesitant to disagree with Andykev, but I think $300 is a little out there. I know FL members have high quality in mind, and the custom hat is king around here, but there are plenty of nice hats out there South of $200. My first hat was a nice Selentino I paid $165 for, and have since learned it can be picked up for less on line (but I wouldn't trade my Batsakes experience for nuttin'!). I now own about a dozen fur felts. Discounting the Stetsons I picked up at the Hatco Outlet (since going there isn't something everybody can do), I haven't paid over $50 or so for a hat. My "prized possession" is a Disney hat I haggled from $30 to $25 at an antique mall. Steamed it, cleaned it up, re-blocked it and it's one of my favorite hats.

Not to mention the current deal on Akubras, given the weak Australian dollar.

Of course, I covet a custom hat, but the prices charged by somebody like NW or VS mean you should do your homework first. Know what you like, what styles look good on you, and what you're going to use it for. That takes time. Heck, it took me a couple of hats before I was comfortable with a proper size, having bounced from 57 to 58. I'll probably get a custom some time this year, but it would have been a mistake to go that route right out of the box, IMHO.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Dear Mr. Kent (why, yes, I know your secret identity. Why do you ask?),

Welcome to the Fedora Lounge. I too am stuck in Loozyana, the southeastern corner, and hate the hot humid weather. It seems as though the last 10 years, some deity throws a switch on Feb. 28 or March 1, and winter (the mild coolness we get, anyway) is over. Wouldn't be so bad -- but the hot stuff lasts until December.

Anyway! You could always make a trek to the famous Meyer the Hatter on St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans; do you know it? They have or can order almost anything in a production hat, including straws, and you can try on a variety of lids and see what suits you. I bought a Stetson Open Road Panama there -- not the plastic "shantung" model, but a real Panama -- a couple of years back, and wear it frequently. If you'd like something in a nice dress hat that's shorter than the Akubra Fed, there's always the Stetson Temple, or for a smaller brim, the Stetson Saxon. Almost nothing there in a good fur felt will come in under $100, though straws will.

To save some dough and get into vintage quality hats, as Andykev said above, search on eBay. I've found a slew of very nice vintage fedoras there. Be sure you know your size, including the circumference of your head where your hat would sit -- I'm a 7, and my skull runs 21 3/4", for example. Before you bid, ask the seller to measure the inner circumference of the hat, along the sweatband. If it's too big or too small for you, well, you can skip that hat. Look for the dynamite brand names that have extensive followings, and threads focusing on them, here on the Lounge: Resistol (they used to make dress fedoras, and good ones!), Knox, Dobbs, etc.

Good luck with the hunt -- and post a pic of your Fed if you can!

 

[gtdean48]

Beaters for me are modified western hats off ebay or thrift stores.
Good, old Resistols & Stetsons can be had for around $50-$60.
Look at Conversion Corral thread....
Welcome to the Lounge = first round is on you!

 

[tonyb]

What's your hat size. Superman?

 

[tommyK]

As Tonyb is intimating, size is key to bargains. If you're a size 7 there are lots of great bargains out there. If you're a size 7 5/8, you'll have to be a lot more patient and probably spend more money.

 

[Superman]

Dear Mr. Kent (why, yes, I know your secret identity. Why do you ask?),

Welcome to the Fedora Lounge. I too am stuck in Loozyana, the southeastern corner, and hate the hot humid weather. It seems as though the last 10 years, some deity throws a switch on Feb. 28 or March 1, and winter (the mild coolness we get, anyway) is over. Wouldn't be so bad -- but the hot stuff lasts until December.

Anyway! You could always make a trek to the famous Meyer the Hatter on St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans; do you know it? They have or can order almost anything in a production hat, including straws, and you can try on a variety of lids and see what suits you. I bought a Stetson Open Road Panama there -- not the plastic "shantung" model, but a real Panama -- a couple of years back, and wear it frequently. If you'd like something in a nice dress hat that's shorter than the Akubra Fed, there's always the Stetson Temple, or for a smaller brim, the Stetson Saxon. Almost nothing there in a good fur felt will come in under $100, though straws will.

To save some dough and get into vintage quality hats, as Andykev said above, search on eBay. I've found a slew of very nice vintage fedoras there. Be sure you know your size, including the circumference of your head where your hat would sit -- I'm a 7, and my skull runs 21 3/4", for example. Before you bid, ask the seller to measure the inner circumference of the hat, along the sweatband. If it's too big or too small for you, well, you can skip that hat. Look for the dynamite brand names that have extensive followings, and threads focusing on them, here on the Lounge: Resistol (they used to make dress fedoras, and good ones!), Knox, Dobbs, etc.

Good luck with the hunt -- and post a pic of your Fed if you can!

You guys are the best! Thanks for the invaluable insight and feedback!

Benzadmiral, I'd never heard of Meyer until now...I paid a visit to their site and may have to visit their brick and mortar as well. It's nice to see another South Louisiana resident here!

Another question: what's preferable, a bound or unbound brim? Both my Akubra and Indy hat are unbound, but I ordered a Jaxon C-Crown to try on and it had a bound brim.

 

[Superman]

What's your hat size. Superman?

I've got a 24 and a quarter inch melon...

Also, is there less quality in a crushable hat versus a non-crushable?

 

[alanfgag]

As with the youngster who once asked "why is this night different from all other nights", it is a long story to provide the answer.

Welcome to the Lounge and enjoy the journey!

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

Being originally from that same area, I understand the heat and humidity concerns. However, top quality and light weight fur felt costs more. If the Akubra seemed expensive, you might seek other options in material.

Have you considered straw hats or Shantung which is a coated paper method of making ersatz straw. They are not high brow material, but do hold up well. If vented, they can be a cool hat - especially with vent holes. I wore a Dobbs Benson - Shantung Panama during the Summers in NOLA, BRLA and Lafayette and found it to be quite comfortable. (I might need to get a new straw hat because that one is about worn out.)

There is no end of good sources, but to get you off to a small start in a large subject:
Lower end:
http://www.panamahatsdirect.com/
Medium:
http://www.delmonicohatter.com/category/Panama-Hats.htm
Kick Starter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-into-the-straw-hat-biz-panama?ref=nav_search

Good luck in finding your new favorite hat. Be careful - hanging out here will cause your closet to swell and your bank account to drain!

Fed

 

[Benzadmiral]

You guys are the best! Thanks for the invaluable insight and feedback!

Benzadmiral, I'd never heard of Meyer until now...I paid a visit to their site and may have to visit their brick and mortar as well. It's nice to see another South Louisiana resident here!

Another question: what's preferable, a bound or unbound brim? Both my Akubra and Indy hat are unbound, but I ordered a Jaxon C-Crown to try on and it had a bound brim.

It's really up to you, which you prefer. I personally think a bound brim is lot more elegant looking, but I don't think it matters to the durability of the brim or the hat. I have several bound-brim hats that are over 50 years old, bought on eBay or from Loungers, and they've held up well and are a delight to wear.

What part of Loozyana are you in?

 

[tonyb]

You got a big noggin there, Kent, pushing a size 7 3/4. This might make it tough to find bargain prices on vintage hats. Nice old lids in large sizes are out there, but if you aren't the sort who can enjoy a fishing trip even when you home empty-handed, seeking them out might frustrate you. But, on the other hand, there might be less competition for those few quite large hats than for the more common sizes. Our large-headed brethren are certainly more familiar with all of that than I am, so perhaps they'll weigh in here.

 

[Guardian Enzo]

Daquino, not D'acquino. But I see you found her.

Actually the logo for her company says "D'acquino", and that spelling is used several times in the description. Maybe she used "Dacquino" too in order to make web searches easier.

 

[Superman]

Being originally from that same area, I understand the heat and humidity concerns. However, top quality and light weight fur felt costs more. If the Akubra seemed expensive, you might seek other options in material.

Have you considered straw hats or Shantung which is a coated paper method of making ersatz straw. They are not high brow material, but do hold up well. If vented, they can be a cool hat - especially with vent holes. I wore a Dobbs Benson - Shantung Panama during the Summers in NOLA, BRLA and Lafayette and found it to be quite comfortable. (I might need to get a new straw hat because that one is about worn out.)

There is no end of good sources, but to get you off to a small start in a large subject:
Lower end:
http://www.panamahatsdirect.com/
Medium:
http://www.delmonicohatter.com/category/Panama-Hats.htm
Kick Starter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-into-the-straw-hat-biz-panama?ref=nav_search

Good luck in finding your new favorite hat. Be careful - hanging out here will cause your closet to swell and your bank account to drain!

Fed

Thanks, Fed! I haven't considered those options, but I certainly will. I am, however, partial to felt/fur.

As for the full closet and empty wallet, that's something I realized after I bought my Akubra and new I'd want another. Convincing my wife, on the other hand, is a different matter altogether...

It's really up to you, which you prefer. I personally think a bound brim is lot more elegant looking, but I don't think it matters to the durability of the brim or the hat. I have several bound-brim hats that are over 50 years old, bought on eBay or from Loungers, and they've held up well and are a delight to wear.

What part of Loozyana are you in?

Thanks for the feedback. I'm originally from the small town of Abbeville, but moved to the faraway and big city of Lafayette, where I currently reside. The weather here these fast few weeks has been perfect for hat wearing, which has spurred me on to finally make a move on getting an everyday hat.

You got a big noggin there, Kent, pushing a size 7 3/4. This might make it tough to find bargain prices on vintage hats. Nice old lids in large sizes are out there, but if you aren't the sort who can enjoy a fishing trip even when you home empty-handed, seeking them out might frustrate you. But, on the other hand, there might be less competition for those few quite large hats than for the more common sizes. Our large-headed brethren are certainly more familiar with all of that than I am, so perhaps they'll weigh in here.

Thanks, tonyb! Yeah, I do have a big head, a fact my friends have often pointed out when wanting to borrow my hats in the past! The good thing is that since my hats are too big for them, I don't have to lend them out to those who might be less respectful of a good hat.

Actually the logo for her company says "D'acquino", and that spelling is used several times in the description. Maybe she used "Dacquino" too in order to make web searches easier.

I looked her up and the white fedora she has pictured looks beautiful. I am concerned about the tapering of the crown on hats ordered by a few of the guys in the Dacquino thread. I'm going to have to determine what shape I want before I contact her, but her prices and the reviews have sold me on getting a hat from her.

Which brings me to another question: what do you guys think of the Stetson Whippet? I've seen it mentioned here and there and think it's a beautiful hat.

 

[Frunobulax]

Yeah, I was just going by the Etsy shop name . Either way, we expect a full report when you're arrives!

 

[Bob Roberts]

Thanks, Fed! I haven't considered those options, but I certainly will. I am, however, partial to felt/fur.

As for the full closet and empty wallet, that's something I realized after I bought my Akubra and new I'd want another. Convincing my wife, on the other hand, is a different matter altogether...



Thanks for the feedback. I'm originally from the small town of Abbeville, but moved to the faraway and big city of Lafayette, where I currently reside. The weather here these fast few weeks has been perfect for hat wearing, which has spurred me on to finally make a move on getting an everyday hat.



Thanks, tonyb! Yeah, I do have a big head, a fact my friends have often pointed out when wanting to borrow my hats in the past! The good thing is that since my hats are too big for them, I don't have to lend them out to those who might be less respectful of a good hat.



I looked her up and the white fedora she has pictured looks beautiful. I am concerned about the tapering of the crown on hats ordered by a few of the guys in the Dacquino thread. I'm going to have to determine what shape I want before I contact her, but her prices and the reviews have sold me on getting a hat from her.

Which brings me to another question: what do you guys think of the Stetson Whippet? I've seen it mentioned here and there and think it's a beautiful hat.

The Whippet is a very "versatile" hat. You can dress it up or down. It was one of my first. I'm now into higher crowns and bigger brims but it's part of my regular rotation at least once every week or so. Like visiting an old friend.

 

[CDunlap]

Welcome to the forum, Superman! I myself live on the MS gulf coast, so I sympathize with your heat and humidity plight . I can't offer you any advice in regards to ebay shopping, as that's not really my thing. However, if you want to get a better idea of what styles of hats you may be interested in (or just want to look at some quality fedora porn ) then I would recommend you check out John at penman hats, and Bob at Black Sheep Hat Works. Both are custom hat makers. Their prices are above what you are looking to spend, but check out their websites and see what's what. You may find a style that you haven't considered yet that tickles your fancy. If you were influenced by the hats in Comics and the Indiana Jones series (as was I), then I would definitely check out penman hats. John is a quality craftsman, and he got his start by producing high quality Indiana Jones replicas. He now does reproductions of hats from all four movies, and by all accounts, his work is top notch. He also has a couple replicas he's made based off of comics and graphic novels he's a fan of. Check both vendors out if you're interested. Good luck to you!