Vintage Silhouettes Custom Hats - Official Affiliate Thread

[Tukwila]

Thanks so much! I posted more pics in New Hats Thread! This was simply for the builder of dreams in hats!

I just saw those! Art did a fabulous job with the hat, and I especially like the artistry in the shark's gill and boxcar ribbon treatment.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I received two boxes from VS today with four hats that I sent to him a month ago for some renovations. Not only does VS do great quality work, the prices are quite reasonable.

This Stetson long hair is one of the hats. All I had Art do is put on a new ribbon and install a new liner. I’ll probably trim the brim down but I haven’t decided on the width I want.

VS does excellent work.


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[Art Fawcett]

Thank you Sir!!!

 

[belfastboy]

How is the air quality down your way Art? We are planning a trip to southern Oregon in early September is the smoke is not too bad. Hope to see you then.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Right now it's awful . Today we have 7 mile visibility but Klamath only 1.5 miles. Air is rated "unhealthy" but hopefully by Sept we will be OK. Looking forward to seeing you again!!

 

[tropicalbob]

Hi, Art. I've been looking all over for a navy blue straw hat and, aside from Tesi, haven't found anything. Do you do any straw dying yourself these days? Also, the two Milans I got from you some time back are still going strong and are my absolute favorites. Curious though, as one has developed a nice dark golden hue, while the other looks like I just took it out of the box. I must wear them four days out of five. Anyway, all the best and stay healthy.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Yes Bob, I have navy dyed so it's a go if you decide to commission another straw. I have no clue why one would be aging better ( differently ) than the other but I'd be interested in hearing more of it as time progresses.
Thanks for the sentiments Sir, at the moment I'm told we have 170 forest fires surrounding northern Ca and So Oregon. Since I live in a valley 1200 ft above sea level surrounded by 4000 ft mountains, it's like a huge smoke collector. I thought I quit smoking years ago

 

[Tukwila]

Take care, Art.

 

[tropicalbob]

Yes Bob, I have navy dyed so it's a go if you decide to commission another straw. I have no clue why one would be aging better ( differently ) than the other but I'd be interested in hearing more of it as time progresses.
Thanks for the sentiments Sir, at the moment I'm told we have 170 forest fires surrounding northern Ca and So Oregon. Since I live in a valley 1200 ft above sea level surrounded by 4000 ft mountains, it's like a huge smoke collector. I thought I quit smoking years ago

Thanks, Art. I'll be in touch as soon as my kid's college loan comes through.

 

[Raybuntu]

I just looked around at the website and I've seen that there is a new Felt: "Sterling Beaver". Is this the true undyed (Silverbelly) belly fur felt what Optimo features as well @Art Fawcett? Or is it something even more special?

 

[Art Fawcett]

I believe it's the same as Optimo but from different sources so I can't be 100% sure Ray. It is fur that is undyed silver from the belly as I stated in the description. I assume it's the same but you know about assumptions

 

[Raybuntu]

Thanks, that's what I thought I just never heard the term "sterling beaver".
Also didn't know how many pelts are required to make just one hat.

 

[Art Fawcett]

I didn't either until I explored getting the felt. It is expensive to say the least.

 

[jonesy86]

I have an order coming from Art soon for:
Beaver
Black Cherry
7 1/2 Long Oval
2 1/2 inch Brim bound same color as ribbon
4 1/4 Inch Crown
Diamond Crease
1 inch Ribbon, close to matching felt color

Lots of great discussion on Hat Color and more here:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hat-color-selection.46518/page-7#post-2450072

Any recommendations on a Ribbon, Binding and Thread that might bring out the Cherry in the Black Cherry felt.

Also, if I were to go with a larger crown and brim (if its not too late) any suggestions? This is what a 2 1/2 inch brim and a 4 1/4 inch crown look like on me.

Peace.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I have an order coming from Art soon for:
Beaver
Black Cherry
7 1/2 Long Oval
2 1/2 inch Brim bound same color as ribbon
4 1/4 Inch Crown
Diamond Crease
1 inch Ribbon, close to matching felt color

Lots of great discussion on Hat Color and more here:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/hat-color-selection.46518/page-7#post-2450072

Any recommendations on a Ribbon, Binding and Thread that might bring out the Cherry in the Black Cherry felt.

Also, if I were to go with a larger crown and brim (if its not too late) any suggestions? This is what a 2 1/2 inch brim and a 4 1/4 inch crown look like on me.


View attachment 131866

Peace.

I like wide brims, but your slim profile makes the 2 1/2 look fairly wide. Are you looking for a dress hat or just an all-around hat? Maybe go with a 2 5/8” brim (my favorite dress width).

A dark burgundy ribbon is a nice choice. The brim binding stitching in burgundy also helps to accentuate the cherry, but if you go with burgundy brim binding it’s moot. I went with very narrow black brim binding with burgundy stitching. My crown ribbon is also a deep burgundy. I opted for black binding to show some contrast and show that the felt isn’t black.

Winchester’s current version of black cherry is very dark so it can use some help if you want to bring out the cherry color. Art can give you some good ideas and there are lots of photos to see how it all works in the real world.


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[jonesy86]

I like wide brims, but your slim profile makes the 2 1/2 look fairly wide. Are you looking for a dress hat or just an all-around hat? Maybe go with a 2 5/8” brim (my favorite dress width).

A dark burgundy ribbon is a nice choice. The brim binding stitching in burgundy also helps to accentuate the cherry, but if you go with burgundy brim binding it’s moot. I went with very narrow black brim binding with burgundy stitching. My crown ribbon is also a deep burgundy. I opted for black binding to show some contrast and show that the felt isn’t black.

Winchester’s current version of black cherry is very dark so it can use some help if you want to bring out the cherry color. Art can give you some good ideas and there are lots of photos to see how it all works in the real world.


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Thanks for the feedback. I can barely differentiate the subtle differences in color and shape. This is about as dressed up as I get.

I wear mostly khakis, jeans, brown or black leather jackets, and occasionally a blazer.
I kinda like the lower left color ribbon, but am quite open to suggestions.

Peace.

 

[jonesy86]

Hmmmm....
Maybe a 4 1/2 inch crown?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hmmmm....
Maybe a 4 1/2 inch crown?

Why not order it open crown and go tall so you can change the height by changing the crease? Just an idea.

I have some of the same reference hats as you do. The photo below is some of the options I was looking at when I ordered mine:

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[jonesy86]

The photos I copied are from the VS Custom Hats web page. So many choices. Really don’t know how that larger open crown creasing works. I think I’ll let Art do that this time around.
Thanks for the suggestions!



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[scottyrocks]

Hmmmm....
Maybe a 4 1/2 inch crown?

See, that's a good point.

Brim widths are not adjustable on any given hat. But the crown height is.

I had discovered that many of my hats, although I liked them, were just not quite right on me. That was when I began experimenting with front pinch height.

Many of my wider brimmed fedoras were up around the 4 1/2" or more range. When I moved one down to 4 1/4" I could see that the hat now worked much better for me, given the size and shape of my head and face. I then recreased all my hats that were taller than 4 1/4" down to that height and I am much happier.

My big conundrum right now is what to do with the hat I got from moon. It's the sage green John Cavanagh with a very tall (for me) front pinch. I don't have the hat at hand right now, but I know that when I put it on it towers over me like nobody's business. I'm going to apply a little steam and see how it looks a bit lower.