Thanks Bogart for the info. I was expecting an answer that they were almost the same. Do you find the light felt to be, well, more "floppy" and not hold its shape as well as the standard felt? Think it will wear as long as a standard weight? Do you think that if you snipped out the stitching on the liner that you could place it back in and it would stay in place okay minus the stitching? Okay, no more questions. Maybe someday I'll have two to compare for myself!
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Requesting assistance in the details of my first Art Fawcett
- Thread starter MattJH
- Start date
Not-Bogart13
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,501
- Location
- NE Pennsylvania
Well, let's see... I would say the light felt is floppier and softer, but it does retain it's shape very well. By it's nature though, it will probably need a reblock faster than standard weight under the same abuse. Since the felt is thinner, I can only guess that it could be ripped more easily, too. But if you treat your hats well, it should be fine. If your hats see lots of heavy rain or get battered around a lot, I would stick with the standard weight.
Art didn't put a full liner in my feather weight. He only does that if asked. However, in the past I have snipped liners and had no trouble pulling them in and out. Just tuck them into the sweat and up into the crown and you're ready to go!
Art didn't put a full liner in my feather weight. He only does that if asked. However, in the past I have snipped liners and had no trouble pulling them in and out. Just tuck them into the sweat and up into the crown and you're ready to go!
Jazzcat said:
I haven't forgotten this, so don't forget me! I'll have high interest in hearing about it.
I'm going to be pulling the trigger on my deposit for my very first custom hat today, it appears. I had to eBay a few of my vintage hats to be able to do this, but they're the hats that spend most of their time in their respective boxes, so it's ultimately no loss.
I am a good example of the power of positive customer experiences. I would have never even heard of Vintage Silhouettes were it not for the beaming reviews all over The Fedora Lounge.
HamletJSD
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 472
- Location
- Birmingham, AL
I can't order an Art yet, but have been asking the same questions for my next purchase.
My silverbelly OR is probably my favorite hat, but just doesn't go to well with the khaki and earth tones I always wear (I would wear it anyway because I'm a fashion dolt, but when my wife gives me that look...). I've been trying to decide between a sand/fawn color and a mid to light grey.
I'm leaning towards the latter. Any thoughts on how a neutral grey would fit your daily wardrobe?
My silverbelly OR is probably my favorite hat, but just doesn't go to well with the khaki and earth tones I always wear (I would wear it anyway because I'm a fashion dolt, but when my wife gives me that look...). I've been trying to decide between a sand/fawn color and a mid to light grey.
I'm leaning towards the latter. Any thoughts on how a neutral grey would fit your daily wardrobe?
Topdog
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 80
- Location
- Charleston, SC
In my opinion, silverbelly goes with just about anything.
HamletJSD
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 472
- Location
- Birmingham, AL
Topdog said:
In mine, too, which is why I still wear it all the time.
But I concede my wife's point that it is very bright ... the effect of wearing Silverbelly is similar to that of wearing a white hat, which can clash with earth tones.
Topdog
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 80
- Location
- Charleston, SC
Tell your wife that she should see you as a knight in shining armor. Maybe she won't mind the silverbelly then.
She probably sees you as a "Bad boy" and wants you in darker colors. Most women, deep in their hearts , want a 'Bad boy"
She probably sees you as a "Bad boy" and wants you in darker colors. Most women, deep in their hearts , want a 'Bad boy"
Not-Bogart13
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,501
- Location
- NE Pennsylvania
Well, if you're after something to match earth tones, I don't think light gray will serve you well. I mean, there's silverbelly, which can look grey-ish depending on manufacturer, and Art's Silvermist. The silver mist is a cooler gray, while silverbelly (his, anyway) is more neutral.
My advice for earth tones (from Art's colors) would be either Granite (a mid-gray with earthy undertones), or one of his tans (Mojave and Sahara).
If you're a bit more adventurous, may I suggest Sage or Powder Blue. With the right ribbon treatment, both could be very versatile, I think.
My advice for earth tones (from Art's colors) would be either Granite (a mid-gray with earthy undertones), or one of his tans (Mojave and Sahara).
If you're a bit more adventurous, may I suggest Sage or Powder Blue.
With the right ribbon treatment, both could be very versatile, I think.Well, thank you, everyone! I just sent my deposit to begin the process.
I plan on keeping a log of how it all works, which I'll post at the very end for those who've never purchased a custom hat from Art (like me) but are curious about how the process pans out from beginning to end (like me).
I plan on keeping a log of how it all works, which I'll post at the very end for those who've never purchased a custom hat from Art (like me) but are curious about how the process pans out from beginning to end (like me).
Yay!
Good for you on pulling the trigger, DJ. It's a really exciting process.
Don't know if it will help, but I figured it couldn't hurt to share a photo of my Art creation. It's not a litefelt, but it is in Sahara, which was one of the colors you're considering. I went with a 2 1/2 brim, and have been thrilled with it. The crown was, I think, 5 1/2 open, about 4 1/2 bashed.
The first one is a balancing act between letting Art know exactly what you like and giving him some room to breathe creatively. You'll get there!
Best of luck!
Anj
Good for you on pulling the trigger, DJ. It's a really exciting process.
Don't know if it will help, but I figured it couldn't hurt to share a photo of my Art creation. It's not a litefelt, but it is in Sahara, which was one of the colors you're considering. I went with a 2 1/2 brim, and have been thrilled with it. The crown was, I think, 5 1/2 open, about 4 1/2 bashed.
The first one is a balancing act between letting Art know exactly what you like and giving him some room to breathe creatively. You'll get there!
Best of luck!
Anj
Not-Bogart13
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,501
- Location
- NE Pennsylvania
Anj, that is one stylin' hat! Great ribbon/felt combo.
kaosharper1
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,304
- Location
- Pasadena, CA
Ande1964 said:
What color is the ribbon?
lc1484
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 152
- Location
- San Francisco
Anj,
that one is a beauty...was that picture with or without a flash? got any pics of it outside? I like that sahara and ribbon combo also..hmmmmmmmmmmm
Larry:eusa_clap
that one is a beauty...was that picture with or without a flash? got any pics of it outside? I like that sahara and ribbon combo also..hmmmmmmmmmmm
Larry:eusa_clap
The Ribbon
Thanks, guys. I don't really know what the ribbon is, to be honest. It's a magical li'l piece of Art's fantastic ribbon vault. I don't see color very well, but it's just a little darker than the felt. Also, when you see the ribbon from different angles, the color value shifts, so it can go from almost blending with the felt to significantly darker.
This photo was taken without flash, with a shadeless lamp nearby. I tried to simulate natural light as best I could.
Part of Art's process is showing you the all-but finished hat with a few different ribbon choices. In my case, I loved the first photo he showed me. I told Art I liked it best, and thought it offered the most versatility. He agreed, and we were set!
Anj
Thanks, guys. I don't really know what the ribbon is, to be honest. It's a magical li'l piece of Art's fantastic ribbon vault. I don't see color very well, but it's just a little darker than the felt. Also, when you see the ribbon from different angles, the color value shifts, so it can go from almost blending with the felt to significantly darker.
This photo was taken without flash, with a shadeless lamp nearby. I tried to simulate natural light as best I could.
Part of Art's process is showing you the all-but finished hat with a few different ribbon choices. In my case, I loved the first photo he showed me. I told Art I liked it best, and thought it offered the most versatility. He agreed, and we were set!
Anj
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Magus
Practically Family
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Well I got in on this one a bit late...but will chime in a thought anyway.
Many folks dont take into account their complection color. If you want a hat that you can wear consistantly the best thing to match it to is your skin...not your clothes. As, well, clothes colors are a bit easier to change lol.
I, for instance, have a couple tan-ish toned hats that I got in lot purchaces that I really cant wear, with my complection it just makes me look a bit like I'm sea-sick.
Let us know how it turns out.
M
Many folks dont take into account their complection color. If you want a hat that you can wear consistantly the best thing to match it to is your skin...not your clothes. As, well, clothes colors are a bit easier to change lol.
I, for instance, have a couple tan-ish toned hats that I got in lot purchaces that I really cant wear, with my complection it just makes me look a bit like I'm sea-sick.
Let us know how it turns out.
M
Sargon
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 97
- Location
- Rochester NY
I ordered one this week as well. There were so many nice hats in the hall of fame thread that I basically gave up on my hat decision. I let Art know what I like in a hat and I'm leaving the rest to him. He doesn't send out ugly hats so I believe I should be OK. Almost went for Not Bogarts chocolate mint though.
animator said:
I received the color palettes today, and, after a cursory look, I think I agree with you in the Natural color. It looks just about completely neutral and seems like it'd go with anything. It almost looks like a brown / grey hybrid, really, coming together in the beige spectrum.
I also know what lighter colors would not work for me: Silver Belly, Silver Mist, Sand, and Mojave are definitely not for me. As such, the only other lighter colors I could choose from aside from Natural would be Camel (too brown), Sahara (second favorite), Blue Smoke (too grey), Powder Blue (too blue), and Light Sage (too green).
So it's really between Natural and Sahara for me. Leaning towards Natural.
I wonder if Natural means the felt wasn't color-treated?
Not-Bogart13
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,501
- Location
- NE Pennsylvania
Just to warn you about Natural as a color. I have a hat that I thought was tan. One day, on a lark, I checked to see if it matched any of Art's felt samples. It was a dead-on match to Natural.
So, I would say be careful about a ribbon choice, at the very least. It's very easy for the tan in the felt to dominate.
Here's the hat;
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27810273@N04/2616992222/" title="Adam Executive 04 by Fedora Dog, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2616992222_77f56ed2ea.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Adam Executive 04" /></a>
So, I would say be careful about a ribbon choice, at the very least. It's very easy for the tan in the felt to dominate.
Here's the hat;
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27810273@N04/2616992222/" title="Adam Executive 04 by Fedora Dog, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2616992222_77f56ed2ea.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Adam Executive 04" /></a>
It's heeeeeeere! It took a little over two months from start to finish. I have a date log at home that I'll post later on for those curious. Only now do I know what it feels like to wear a hat that fits perfectly. It turns out that I'm a 7 5/8 between regular and long oval, so I'm "slightly long oval." This is good to know, and explains why 7 3/4 hats seem to fit me better than 7 5/8 hats.
What I told Art was that I wanted a lightweight felt hat that is as casual as casual can be, and that I wanted an incorporation of an earth-tone orange somewhere on the ribbon, but I wanted it to be subtle rather than flashy.
The felt is Natural. The crown is 5 3/8", the brim is 2 1/2" with an underwelt, and the ribbon is 1". The leather sweatband is personalized with my initials, and the hat is unlined.
My digital camera is severely outdated, and the quality of these photographs reflects that. My apologies to Art for doing his hat a disservice, but I wanted to show it. I'll post this in the appropriate Art collection thread as well.
I am very impressed. This will likely be my only hat from Vintage Silhouettes, and it fits the bill exactly as I had hoped that it would. Take note that the hatbox Art uses is now the best quality hatbox I own, finally surpassing my four Brooks Brothers hatboxes. It's sturdy and looks great.
What I told Art was that I wanted a lightweight felt hat that is as casual as casual can be, and that I wanted an incorporation of an earth-tone orange somewhere on the ribbon, but I wanted it to be subtle rather than flashy.
The felt is Natural. The crown is 5 3/8", the brim is 2 1/2" with an underwelt, and the ribbon is 1". The leather sweatband is personalized with my initials, and the hat is unlined.
My digital camera is severely outdated, and the quality of these photographs reflects that. My apologies to Art for doing his hat a disservice, but I wanted to show it. I'll post this in the appropriate Art collection thread as well.
I am very impressed. This will likely be my only hat from Vintage Silhouettes, and it fits the bill exactly as I had hoped that it would. Take note that the hatbox Art uses is now the best quality hatbox I own, finally surpassing my four Brooks Brothers hatboxes. It's sturdy and looks great.
