Top Hat

[ArrowCollarMan]

I'm want to buy a top at at some point in the near future. All the real top hats I can find are well in the hundreds of dollars. Are there any places online or otherwise that anyone knows about that offers authentic top hats for a relatively decent price? The best I found was this black stain, non-collapsable top hat for $195.95. I'd like to find one that ranges from anywhere in and around $129-$150. I'd much appriciate any imput!

http://www.top-hats.com/2101.htm

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

You thinking about felt or silk?

There are some felt ones around that don't cost too much, sometimes even from costume and gadget vendors, though probably not in an ideal quality.

Those of felt, and not too high, don't raise too many eyebrows even with a non-tailed suit.

 

[Dinerman]

Yeah, it's tough. That's pretty much the one style I don't have. I used to have a really old silk collapsable one, but eventually it disintegrated. The spring popped through the top, and well...
I've looked all around, and I havent found anything in the realm of reason.
I did find an old fur one last week for 10 bucks at a pet food store of all places. It was kind of beat up, but felt like it was size 7ish, way too small for me.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

I have two, actually, but I wear only one, a smaller felt one, and that very rarely. The other one is a chapeau-claque, and not only has it been claqued too often, it's also from my father of blissful memory, whose head was an inch smaller than mine.

I wouldn't recommend a chapeau claque, by the way. It might be fun, and help impress the girl you accompany to the opera, but the crinkles show very soon.

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

I want a non-collapsable made of something like silk or satin because the felts appear far too costumey. I don't plan to wear it regularly either. Maybe for a holiday like christmas but what I really want to get it for is my senior Prom.

 

[WEEGEE]

Its rough

I bought one several years ago a mint 1920's Knox Beaver...good price

with suspenders, spats and very nice but oh so short necktie.


I see them on an auction sight...but larger sizes go for $200 plus.


best of luck in your endeavor...

WeeGee

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

Still no recomendation to where I can get it cheaper. thats what I really want.

 

[Magus]

Still no recomendation to where I can get it cheaper. thats what I really want.

I don't know about the cost but here is a source at least. (If you havn't tried here already.

http://www.guerra1855.com/uk/cappelli_dettaglio.asp?id=57

M

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Still no recomendation to where I can get it cheaper. thats what I really want.

It might turn out to be difficult, except for a used one by chance.

I don't remember exactly how much the rental for my tophat at our wedding was, but under normal circumstances, I'd think before I'd buy one at this price.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I got a couple of them - one beaver, one collapsible silk - back when I did magic in the 70s. It was at a hospital thrift shop in a very ritzy community (Bronxville, NY), and I only paid about $5 for each. You might try looking someplace like that... though the eBay mentality has probably ruined your chances!

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

Wow, Magus.That isn't silk or satin but it is still very, very nice! If I can somehow order it online I will. I wouldn't know where to look for a top hat except maybe Los Angeles. Even then, I don't know where in Los Angeles. As for ebay mentality, I'm not sure what that means but I don't think I have an ebay mentality. I'd look for one elsewhere. If I lived in Britain i could proably find it no problem but in the States and on the West Coast makes it more difficult I think.

 

[jake_fink]

Try Lidsville

 

[Magus]

Wow, Magus.That isn't silk or satin but it is still very, very nice! If I can somehow order it online I will. I wouldn't know where to look for a top hat except maybe Los Angeles. Even then, I don't know where in Los Angeles. As for ebay mentality, I'm not sure what that means but I don't think I have an ebay mentality. I'd look for one elsewhere. If I lived in Britain i could proably find it no problem but in the States and on the West Coast makes it more difficult I think.

Glad you liked it. It is my understanding that the nicer top hats were fur, or long fur felt rather than silk or satin.

M

 

[Baron Kurtz]

As for ebay mentality, I'm not sure what that means but I don't think I have an ebay mentality. I'd look for one elsewhere. If I lived in Britain i could proably find it no problem but in the States and on the West Coast makes it more difficult I think.

I think not. These are scarce - and rightfuly expensive - wherever you go.

eBay mentailty, i think, is the idea that everyone and their grandmother seems to have these days of picking up anything they see to try to sell it on said auction site. Not your mentality, just that people are more savvy to thrifting these days, making it harder for those of us who actually wish to pick stuff up to wear at decent prices ...

bk

 

[Zach R.]

A cheap tophat is an oxymoron, if you want to buy a tophat, be prepared to shell out some serious dough.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Probably the most expensive ones on the market, I'd imagine:

http://www.jameslock.co.uk/prod2.taf?groupId=100149&_UserReference=DADC6A6027B215F4449449C8

About $915 USD at todays exchange rate.

http://www.jameslock.co.uk/prod2.taf?groupId=100073&_UserReference=DADC6A6027B215F4449449C8

Or this one, $582 USD.

Brad

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

If I had that much money to spend on a hat I wouldn't be here.

 

[Topper]

What do you need that Top Hat for? - As would mean what

Evening - Opera/Theatre events: then black Silk ( or cheaper satin version but not recommended) collapsable top hat.

Evening - Opera/theater/other White Tie events. Balls, Governemt official Functions: non collapasible silk "plush" ( not satin or smooth silk, like you advertised)

Morning/Afternoon: Races, Weddings Funerals, Official Events, meeting The Queen e.t.c Black Silk "Plush", with Dark Herringbone Morning suit

Morning/Afternoon: "Royal Ascot" As above or Grey fur felt Top Hat, brushed, and black band. with Grey Morning Suit. Would also consider a 6inch crown for Ascot but not other occassions.


If you cannot afford Silk, then a Fine Brushed Fur Felt form Christys is good. Or there is cheaper basic felt type.

There are more etiquettes in the wearing - but the above is a baisc f.a.q.as to what to wear and when

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

A funeral? Maybe in 1925. If I tried to pull that now I'd probably get alot of nasty stares from people. As for operas, balls and other functions I'm sure it would be more than appropriate. I'd like silk, if I could get a good plush sure, but I like the shinniness of the top hat!

 

[Joseph Ciotti]

Top hats are always a good hat to wear. Look over to the left at my avatar, doesn't it go well with the outfit...? Eh... Enough rambling about myself. I will always reccomend UniformalWearhouse to anyone. They have really great hats.