Panama Hat Thread

[BladeOfAnduril]

I'm excited to soon be joining the order of panamas! I just ordered my first from Panama hats direct. I didn't want to spend too much on my first (plus my wife might do me bodily harm if I spent more, she may anyway..). So, I ordered a "Fedora 1" style which is a c-crown in "sub fino" with about a 2.3-2.5" brim and a black grosgrain ribbon. I requested that they block it in a LO with a snap-type brim configuration (up in the back, down in the front). I can't wait to receive it!

 

[randooch]

Sounds like a good choice, Blade. The really spendy ones are a bit too precious to enjoy without worrying about them sustaining damage, and the cheapies aren't much fun to wear. Yours should be just right. Be sure to post up a noggin shot.

 

[Dronak]

I got a new Panama hat (Stetson Retro) last week, and posted it to the general new hat thread (here's the link). But I see no harm in posting the photo here as well, so here it is:

There's a stamp inside that says "Made in Ecuador" and "Panama Hats", too, which I understand makes it an authentic Panama hat. I know this isn't one of the best, but that's fine for me. It's nicer than my previous straw hats and has a wider brim (about 2-3/8" or so) so it should be more effective at blocking sunlight. I even got a compliment on it today.

While looking up more info on Panama hats, I saw some stuff about the types of weave and how tight/dense it is. The weave here seems rather coarse, but a bit variable; it looks tighter in some parts of the crown than the brim for example. I guess that's not too surprising for a lower quality hat; I've heard this is a Grade 3, but I'm not sure that means very much. What seemed a little odd to me is that the weave also varies. I'm not sure how well you can see that in the picture, but comparing what I read to my hat, it looks like most of this hat uses a brisa weave while a few parts of it use a llano weave -- where the crown and brim meet, plus a circle or few on the top of the crown. Is this good, bad, indifferent? Can anyone comment or provide a bit more info? This is the first real Panama hat I've gotten (my other straws were cheap stingy brims from Macy's or something), so I'm interested in learning a bit more about the details here. Thanks!

 

[new2hats]

Is it me or is the panama hat thread quieter this year?

 

[mikespens]

Still too soon in many parts of the country new2hats, hope to see more new posts too.

 

[doberdadinmd]

Our two hats from Worth & Worth. One for me and one for the person related to me by marriage.

 

[Geldoc]

Nice. Which W&W model(s) are these?

 

[GamaH]

Is it me or is the panama hat thread quieter this year?

I have one from Optimo coming.

 

[Ordinary Guy]

Hmm, it does say on Casey's website that the Optimo is rollable - maybe you have to run it over with a truck a few times first?

You can add me to the list of those liking the Havana over the Optimo....

As a matter of fact I just got one from one of my friends... he ordered it from Casey and it came in hard as a brick and a much smaller brim that what he ordered......

So happens we wear the same size,,, so I got a Casey Montecristi for $50.....

I am going to try spritzing it with distilled water and working the brim by hand to soften it and get the shape I want.......

 

[falis]

The new Signes Montecristo (or so it says)


And today was the second great day to wear it.

- Ed F

---
For every complex problem, there's a solution that is clear, simple and wrong!

- H.L. Mencken

 

[doberdadinmd]

Nice. Which W&W model(s) are these?

I have no idea actually; not vintage though. Orlando just started pulling out hats and seeing what looked good.

 

[Missouri Mason]

I have my first Panama on order! It's supposed to ship tomorrow, from Panador hats. I went with the safari Panama, 3" brim. I know it isn't a top
shelf Panama by any means, but I'm looking forward to it as a nicer alternative to my Tilleys.

 

[Duper]

I have my first Panama on order! It's supposed to ship tomorrow, from Panador hats. I went with the safari Panama, 3" brim. I know it isn't a top
shelf Panama by any means, but I'm looking forward to it as a nicer alternative to my Tilleys.

I have a panador hat and like it very much. I hope you post pictures and a quick review once your new hat comes in. Love my Tilley hat as well.

 

[Missouri Mason]

Duper, what did you think of Panador's customer service? I've been waiting three weeks for them to ship an "in stock" hat. They never contacted me until I sent them an email. The hat was supposed to ship the following day and I was to be emailed tracking data. That was last week, no tracking data and no hat...

 

[Charlz]

My new Havana style Monticristi Fino (video)

[video=youtube_share;XN2Wdl5bJIM]http://youtu.be/XN2Wdl5bJIM[/video]

http://youtu.be/XN2Wdl5bJIM

 

[1961MJS]

I have my first Panama on order! It's supposed to ship tomorrow, from Panador hats. I went with the safari Panama, 3" brim. I know it isn't a top shelf Panama by any means, but I'm looking forward to it as a nicer alternative to my Tilleys.

Hi

I worked out early in my hat buying days, that certain people aren't cut out to own top shelf panama hats (or other fragile high end items). I sat on a dried out Sun Body and Broke it dammit.

Later

 

[ManofKent]

Hi

I worked out early in my hat buying days, that certain people aren't cut out to own top shelf panama hats (or other fragile high end items). I sat on a dried out Sun Body and Broke it dammit.

Later

I seem to get through a panama every couple of years through unexpected rain badly deforming it / me crushing it too.

 

[Missouri Mason]

lol well I can be hard on hats at times, so I wasn't about to spend big bucks on my first panama. Felts on the other hand, I'll spend some good money on. At least I know I can wear them for years.

 

[frenchgentleman]

Panama hat by Pauline Brosset

Hi everybody!

I just get my new Panama hat. It is a custom Montecristi from my milliner Pauline Brosset here in Paris. The weaving is a grade 20. Since the grading system seems not to be very reliable from one vendor to another, she told me that it takes two months to weave this hat body.

 

[Geldoc]

Very nice. Where is Pauline Brosset located in Paris?