Tipping my hat for the first time

[EricH]

Hi. I thought I should introduce myself as I've been actively lurking around here and have just become legitimate at the Lounge. I'm new to the hat "collecting" but have worn hats a long time and can trace back the tradition through many family members. I am amazed though of the breadth of variety there is in the hats and their construction and more so how much you all know. Since a thread traditionally starts with a question, what are your opinions on the 3-5 hats every hard core hat wearer should own. Eric (Still explaining to his wife why he needs more than one)

 

[tonyb]

Hi there, Eric. How many pairs of shoes do you own? And your wife?

 

[EricH]

Far fewer shoes than hats for me, and while my wife may have more shoes she is not a fanatic and unfortunately for me quite effective in articulating a justification for each pair. I just try to point out that there are worse hobbies which I'm afraid are my other ones

 

[tonyb]

Three to five can easily turn into 30 to 50. But hey, good lids last close to forever, at least close enough as we mere mortals are concerned. And there are 365 days in a year and some are work days and some are play days and some are hot and some are not and ... you get the picture. Living where you do, where the weather swings from one extreme to the other with every kind of stop in between, it seems perfectly reasonable to have, say, 40 hats. At least.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Welcome to the Lounge Eric!!! Pull up to the bar & let me pour you one..on the house!!:cheers1:

 

[fedoralover]

Well for one thing, you need the 3 basic colors of brown, gray and black just so you can match your different clothes. Then you need at least a couple work hats. So there's the 5 right there and of course there are a few other color variations that are great to have as well as diffferent ribbon widths, so it doesn't take long to get to 10. Then there are the different brands to collect and different felt weights, and of course there are the summer panama's etc, etc, etc.

So if you have any history of compulsive obsessive behaviorisms, beware, hanging out at the lounge will only amplify them.

fedoralover

 

[WEEGEE]

A tip to you

JOIN HATAHOLICS NOW!

that means keeping some innocent secrets from your wife...though you will

perhaps have a few drinks...she will out of the blue...seemed not to notice

before...say i like that hat you have on...always wink with a grin...and fess

up.

you have now entered the ....Fedora Zone.

 

[vespasian]

To help the war effort with the wife:

Does she wear earrings, a necklace, lipstick, mascara etc. Then that equates to accesorising her look and yet not one of these will keep her warm or dry. A hat does the lot. If she will go for one pair of earrings and one pair of shoes then just get one hat. Its all to do with compromise and seeing each others liking to express mood and occasion. :cheers1:

 

[Raindog]

Hi Eric,
For myself I'd like to get....
A fedora of nice quality in grey
same again in black
same again in brown (indiana jones nut)
same again in brown but for rough daily use
a good quality tweed flat cap (like my Dad used to wear)
a black flat cap or beret
a panama in the fedora style
an australian style 'cowboy' felt hat
a fez of good quality (for my indoor smoking and moroccan music evenings)
Other people might add a couple of newsboy style hats into the list, and a few would omit the fez!
That would be my minimum. As for makes, I'd like a vintage Borsalino, a vintage Herbert Johnson, and an old James Lock one. Other than that my needs are simple....
I reckon this list will take me years to get, not only because of the vintage stuff, but also because I keep getting sidetracked by other hats (afghani tribesman wool hat was the latest).
You don't know what you're letting yourself in for Eric And your wife will end up getting used to it I think. What are your worse hobbies??


Jeff.

 

[EricH]

I'm an avid woodworker and tool collector which is a hobby just as obsessive as hats though prone to more injuries. I could digress into some of the other quirks of my past/current professions and undertakings, but we'll leave that for another time. A man has to keep a few things under his hat.

 

[Senator Jack]

I seem to recall 'A Kids in the Hall' skit where a man walks into a hardware store.

Man: I'd like to buy a plunger.
Clerk: Only one?
Man: Why? How many do I need?
Clerk: Well, you have your bathroom. So that's three right there.

Same goes for hats. When you start trying ot match to every shade of grey and brown you have, and every mood you're in, you can see how it can become an obsession.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Biltmore Bob]

What Fedoralover said...

...but you'll need som caps too. Eight panel Newsboys. One gray herringbone and one brown. A linen one in a light color for summer. And a stout black Cowboys Hat for special ocassions that call for a Western flair.

 

[Johnnysan]

I'm an avid woodworker and tool collector which is a hobby just as obsessive as hats though prone to more injuries. I could digress into some of the other quirks of my past/current professions and undertakings, but we'll leave that for another time. A man has to keep a few things under his hat.

Welcome, Eric! I couldn't agree with you more as a fellow woodworker and tool collector myself! Vintage hats and old tools, oh my!

 

[John in Covina]

Have a plan!

My suggestion is this:

FIRST: if you own a suit or more than one (which you should) or blazers, those which you wear, you should try to come up with a hat to match. That way when you are dressed up, you can coordinate with a proper hat. Also if you find a killer hat you can get it first and then seak the proper attire to match. Link your hats to your wardrobe and your wardrobe to the season.

NEXT: you should look to your activities that you engage in regularly and see if there is a hat that pairs with the activity well.

STEP 3: After that, a hat of two for the leasure times.

STEP 4: Then, if you have a famous person, star of stage and screen, historic entity, etc. that you wish to emulate, time for the proper hat.

All of this is a check list but you must adjust your buying to the purchase and aquisition oppotunities that you come across. Still it doesn't hurt to have a plan!

Happy hunting!

 

[vespasian]

Initially I went for a cheap but decent fur felt in mid grey as I find grey goes with most things.

 

[JeffW]

Welcome, Eric! I couldn't agree with you more as a fellow woodworker and tool collector myself! Vintage hats and old tools, oh my!

Cool more woodworkers!!!!!!!!