Panama hat "color"

[MD11]

I've been browsing panama hat's on here and on the internet in general and wanted to ask the experts (such as PB) about the topic of color. You hear about weave count a lot, or how even the weave is but not much about color when the subject of "quality" is discussed.

Is there a desirability of one color over an other? Are the start white color hats more popular than the more golden color ones? I tend to favor ones with a bit more color myself.

Lastly do they age or color over the years.. patina?

 

[HungaryTom]

Panama (i.e. toquilla straw) hats hats must be bleached to resist funghi and decay.

With Cuenca hats (large scale industry with big factories) manufacturers experiment a lot to satisfy all customers needs: the signature snow white colors of peroxyde bleach, (gloves must be used when hats are put in that agressive brew) than come the repainted hats with aniline pigments, again a matter of taste and personal preference. But you find also hats with natural (straw) colors.

With Montecristi hats (clearly a cottage industry) they seem to use the traditional sulphur bleach –this conserves the natural straw color and the fibers are not that much brutalized in the process, resulting in the natural ivory/butter/eggshell/vanilla ice cream color. At least I hope that painting of fine hats into red green pink two-tone or some such is not practiced.

If you look closer to check the weave, the strands have different colors with some reddish, grayish hue. As with all natural stuff, there are irregularities - a peroxydized Cuenca hat is more uniform in color than a Montecristi woven for months.

To see how color of natural straw changes with age, stick around on e-bay for vintage panama hats.

 

[MD11]

Color of straw changes with age, but you dont see patina underneath the paint and with the snow white bleached hats.

Thanks Tom, I had hoped that the stark white was not the "desirable" type.. For aesthetic reasons, and for my own complexion, I prefer a more ivory, off white color myself.

 

[Tomasso]

I've heard tell of spotty (coloration) hats being sold off the internet for relatively big money. A guy in Chicago warned me off them. Best to buy in person, he said.

 

[Panamabob]

There are generally different colors of Montecristi, but unless you are less than 10 feet away, you probably won't know the difference. Some guys like texture in their hats, and some do not. I have collectors who seek "red" paja in their hats. Still others want completely one color. Make no mistake about it, even the high dollar vendors will admit that there are variances of color in every hat.

I wonder who the guy in Chicago is and what he means by spotty.

 

[MD11]

thanks PB, I gathered as much.

 

[tracyam]

hope this isn't sacrilege...

but I've been meaning to ask this question since I got my Diamonte from Panama Bob.

Right now it is that creamy eggshell color mentioned earlier. Is there anything I can do to make it a little darker? Not brown...just an aged light tannish to darkened yellowish to beig color.
Someone said the other day (not here) to drop it into tea to stain it...No way!.[huh] Any other ideas from actual hat wearers?

 

[HungaryTom]

Patina is not a sacrilege

but I've been meaning to ask this question since I got my Diamonte from Panama Bob.

Right now it is that creamy eggshell color mentioned earlier. Is there anything I can do to make it a little darker? Not brown...just an aged light tannish to darkened yellowish to beig color.
Someone said the other day (not here) to drop it into tea to stain it...No way!.[huh] Any other ideas from actual hat wearers?

If you want the golden straw patina I think the best way is to wait a few years - or buy a vintage panama from ebay.

I dont dare to suggest methods of artificial distressing and ageing your straw hat to get the patina effect.

I think there is a good reason why manufacturers of Panamas don't offer instant patina hats: the toquilla straw might be less resistent against the artificial ageing process (reiteration of rubbing, painting, rubbing, repainting, etc.) than the steehide and horsehide of jackets, and the strong denim canvas of jeans. To try the effect with paints is not good - I use oil pigments on canvases and the terpentine stinks. Water colors could float on your face, once your sweat (saltwater) begins to dilute them.

To discolor a toquilla hat with tea, coffe, sour cherry juice, soil, mowed grass from the garden, etc, etc. will result in discoloration, not patina.
To burnish it over a candlelight might cause a fire in your home.

I would not advise further methods how you can demolish your hat - I don't want to end up with your hat being dead and me replying: I am really sorry, I still had soo many hints up my sleeve.

Tom

 

[tracyam]

Thanks for the reply. Oh believe me. I have no intention of artificially distressing this hat at all. Let it age gracefully.

 

[Colby Jack]

[huh] I guess you could pick up a cheapie and experiment with one...just to see what you could do...[huh]

 

[los7883]

Need help with new Panama

Well I just ordered my first Panama hat today...I have been wearing a black Fedora off and on for the past year and know what to wear with it since its somewhat dressy, but not too sure what to wear with the straw panama hats...is there a certain type of attire that goes along with them or is it just wear whatever you're comfortable with? Thanks for the help in advance!!!

 

[job]

I've found that a natural colored straw hat goes with anything. I would think a bleached one would go with everything also.
I would want a few colors of felt hats to match different clothes but could get by with one panama hat. Hats are like patato chips, it's hard to stop at one.

 

[gtdean48]

Welcome to the Lounge. This is a perfect question for the "Ask a question, get an answer" sticky thread. It is first on the list so folks look there to see what questions are being asked & if the question has already been asked.
I wear most everything with my Panama Bob natural straw colored hat. I have a dark one as well but it looks like a straw Indy hat to me. A natural straw Panama is like a Silverbelly fur felt to me = goes with most any attire.

 

[Yeps]

Panamas are, in my opinion, amazingly versatile. They look equally at home when wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt or in a linen (or seersucker suit), as well as everything in between. Enjoy it, but don't wear it in the rain.

 

[los7883]

What about interchangable bands...would that be an option or is it really unnecessary? I was thinking of the basic black, navy and gray bands...

 

[job]

If it comes with a black ribbon and bow attached then your set.

 

[los7883]

It does come with a black band and ribbon, just wasnt sure if it was preferred that the band match the color of whatever you're wearing that day...sorry for all the questions, just trying to learn

 

[Undertow]

I often obsess when matching colors. However, Panama's are the exception. Most come with a black band, but you may find some with navy. It's not all that often than you'll find some with more decorative colors/stripes.

Black is fine, and don't worry about contrasting colors. A fine Panama looks good with nearly everything.

 

[poetman]

Panama Hat Colors

I have a panama question. Is there a stylistic difference between white and natural panama hats? I read a brief blurb in Esquire that said panama hats should be natural not white. Is one color more authentic? Does any one know more information about the significance between the colors? I always thought is was mere preference. Is one more authentic than the other, more vintage, etc?

Thanks!

 

[job]

Cuenca tend to be whiter from the sulfer used to dry them out I think. A different method is used in Montecristi leaving them less white.