Panama Hat Thread

[CRH]

Fantastic! That's the first modern production hat that has really made me say "I want that." :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

You saw it first here in this thread folks.

Lefty says UNCLE! lol

 

[CRH]

... It makes a statement, but in a more subdued, more versatile way.

It's still a killer!

 

[gremster]

Love the look Mr.E, I've been watch one on the bay for a few days and hope to have it soon!!

 

[Mr E Train]

Thanks, gremster. Say, in your avatar, is that Lester Young's pork pie? I'd like to see a larger version of that image.

 

[Lefty]

You saw it first here in this thread folks.

Lefty says UNCLE! lol
IMG]http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/francis/ouch-Wrestling.jpg[/IMG]

You'll get no more than an "Unc" from me, sir. It makes me say "I want it", but as I can't stand having as many hats as I do (anything over about 4 bothers me), "I want it" is unlikely to turn into "I own it."

 

[gremster]

I must say Mr.E you do have a keen eye, indeed it is Mr. Lester Young's pork pie. I always loved a nice pork pie. I found the pic. by googleing Lester Young, Hope that helps you.

 

[Panamabob]

Just got my Capas catalog out, will be faxing in an order. Heck, I'll give her a shot on ebay. Next year, we'll design our own!

 

[oneterrifichog]

I'm not sure where Gene's thread has gone (I think it should be a sticky), but he gave a pretty nice tutorial on shaping the brim. I sort-of followed it (I don't have a blow dryer), doing something like this.

You'll need a cup of water (tap is fine), a hat stretcher, some heavy books, some plastic grocery bags.

prep:
Put your hat stretcher in a hat that fits you just right and open it up just to the point of getting a little tense against the sweatband. Note how far the stretcher is open, close it down enough, and remove it.

Put your heavy books in the plastic bags. You'll be using these as weights on a wet surface.

the job:
Dip your hand in the water and went the panama brim on both sides until it's good and soaked through.

Put your stretcher in the panama and open it up to your perfect-hat-size. This should make your brim wave the same way it does when you wear it.

Set the hat on a table (line it with a towel or more plastic bags if needed), allowing the front of the brim - the part you want to stay down - to hang over the edge of the table. Place the books on the sides of the brim to flatten it. You'll need a decent amount of weight here.

Let it sit overnight and repeat if necessary.

**this will remove any snap you have to your brim**

Mine was really wavy, even after a reflange by Art, and I didn't wear it for quite a while. Now that I've stretched it a bit and set the brim the way I like it, it's on my head much more often.

Ok we did everything and the books are on the surface we are trying to flatten out. We would appreciate any comments.

Thanks,

Wilbur and Joselyn

 

[Lefty]

Assuming that you've still got the stretcher in the hat, it looks like you're doing exactly what I did. If you want the front to hang a bit deeper, as shown in my photo, attach a binder clip or chip clip to the front of the brim - you might want to have something between the clip and the hat, like a paper towel, to avoid marring the weave - and let it hang.

I ended up doing this more than once before I reached my desired result, so don't be frustrated if you're not pleased with the look right away.

 

[oneterrifichog]

Yes we set the hat stretcher in the hat just as you suggested. Joselyn did not want too much of a dip in the front so after some discussion we wet the front ever so slightly (nothing like the sides) and worked it down to where it is there. It has been this way for the last 6-8 hours so hopefully tomorrow we will see positive results. When Art sent the hat in the sides curved up oddly but the back looked great so we are thinking with the sides flattened out and the back up as it is here she will have a nice jaunty look to the hat. Keeping our fingers crossed for just one time but if not we will do it again.

Wilbur and Joselyn

 

[cookie]

The Primal Scream = a manual for Loungers with self-torquing Panamas....

What did one incorrigible Panama say to the other incorrigible Panama?

Lets' torque!

 

[oneterrifichog]

Yes we pulled books from the 70's through 2010 for our choices of weighty materials. Unfortunately we have more movements to get there.

No Screaming yet though.

 

[rlk]

Amadeo Lupi/Optimo Montecristi

This is the old Amadeo Lupi hat body from Panama seen earlier in the thread. http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=948013&postcount=946
The ribbon is vintage French from a closed Millinery, but I found it on ebay Belgium. Optimo made up the hat this past week. The brim is 2-7/8" wide.

 

[Lefty]

best
ribbon
ever
.

 

[HungaryTom]

RLK,

Excellent hat, beautiful color harmony between ribbon and hat body.

You wear it well!!!!

Amadeo would be also great with your DB suits, or linen suit or... it is great.

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Cheers:

Tom

 

[CRH]

best
ribbon
ever
.

:arated:

 

[daizawaguy]

Semi Calado Montecristi before and after

 

[jimmy the lid]

This is the old Amadeo Lupi hat body from Panama seen earlier in the thread. http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=948013&postcount=946
The ribbon is vintage French from a closed Millinery, but I found it on ebay Belgium. Optimo made up the hat this past week. The brim is 2-7/8" wide.

Fantastic, rlk! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[BobC]

RLK, that is really a fine looking lid. Congrats! The ribbon is outstanding.

 

[Tom-n-Perris]

Well I got this full calado Montecristi Panama hat body and my wife saw it. Then she asked me if I could do something with the hat so that she could wear it. So I thought about it and this is what I came up with. I figured since it is a Panama it should go in this thread.