Optimo "Natural"

[Nathan Flowers]

Here is an Optimo Park Avenue in the "Natural" color. That is, there isn't any dye or coloring added to the hat when it was made. Graham said that it is made from their finest grades of beaver and nutria, in a 50-50 blend with no hare. When a hat is dyed, you can cover up any flaws in the felt blend (spots, etc). With an undyed hat, you must have a very high grade felt because there is no dye to cover it up.

For you "specs" guys, it has a 5.5" crown, a "textured" finish, a 2 5/8" brim all the way around (no dimensional cut), and a 14 ligne ribbon in a color called "Maduro". The sweatband is brown, and the liner is white. It is a lightweight felt, but is thicker than their current Indy Brown. The felt reminds me of their old stock (like Phantom Blue and Chocolate), in thickness, but it is MUCH softer than these. It's softer than my Indy Brown as well.

And yes, that is a pheasant feather in the ribbon (believe it or not, I like this a lot... When I called Graham to talk about it today, I mentioned how much I liked the feather, and he said that he will do that every now and then for hats when he thinks it would look really cool.)

It has a textured finish, sort of like their Satin Finished hats, but shorter, and the felt is not as thick.

It is by far my favorite hat. I like the Park Avenue shape much more than my Indys.

 

[Nathan Flowers]

This is just a spot of water on the hat. There are some beads of it on the back of the brim in other pictures. I was wearing it out in the slush today, and got some rain on it. Not a flaw in the hat.

 

[havershaw]

that is a great hat, and looks great on you!

the feather is a really touch, too.

congrats!

 

[Matt Deckard]

*That* is the best looking hat I have seen on you in my opinion. Very 'outdoorsy'

Congratulations.

 

[Sergei]

You are killing me Zohar. Color goes great for you and the feather. I noticed that most Western Felt hats, like a Stetson comes standard with a feather. I think my Akubra, Snowy River did too.

-Sergei

 

[Panamabob]

Terrific looking piece of art.

 

[clsecmbt]

looking good. I'll be travelling to optimo in march hopefully, I'm going to chicago for a concert and I'll be about 30 minutes from their shop.

 

[Nathan Flowers]

Thanks guys.

Joseph, that's exactly what I was looking for, a "sportsman" style hat. When I called, I told Kevin that I wanted a more casual styled hat this time. I think they hit the nail right on the head with it.

 

[Sergei]

Yeah, that does look sporty. All you need is a tweed jacket and a 12 guage.

-Sergei

 

[Rundquist]

Great looking hat Nathan. The ?¢‚Ǩ?ìManhattan?¢‚Ǩ? style is really slick. And you beat me to the nutria color, you crumb (just kidding)! The nutria color was put on my year?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s hat list last August. The hat looks great on you and you should be happy. You?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve got to hand it to Graham on putting the right personalizing touch on each individual hat. I just got an Optimo hat on Monday myself. I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll try to get it up on the board soon. Cheers

 

[Nathan Flowers]

Thanks. Yes, the Park Avenue is like the "bigger brother" of the Manhattan. They are a very cool shape. You're right. Graham is a master hatter.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Originally posted by Rundquist
I just got an Optimo hat on Monday myself.

They're selling those hats like hot cakes...

I wore my new lightweight Graphite in the rain last weekend walking down sunset and soaked it to the bone (kept thinking I should be wearing a heavyweight), it held up awsomely. I'm proud it's modern and awed by how my friends think it is vintage.

I love these hats.