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What Hat Are You Wearing Today ?

Messages
11,813
Third in the series for the preservation of the black felt hat.
View attachment 664255
Warm light of the dying sun in the cold afternoon.
View attachment 664256
Barbisio "Extra Quality" in medium black felt with pleated bow and homburg shape, without complete curling of the brims which are edged in the same color as the ribbon.
View attachment 664257
It's a hat that I really like for its shape and how easy it is to wear
View attachment 664258
Thanks for the likes and appreciation for the "Black hats series"
A huge compliment for you all and the beautiful hats you display everyday
Ohhh. Quite lovely.
 
Messages
11,813
Only the Second Day of Stingymas and here I am making an exception…. If ever so slight. But I could not resist wearing this Willoughby in a beautiful deep green heather felt for our little holiday get together here at the house tonight. Even if its brim does tiptoe its way past 2 inches to just 2 1/8.
 

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Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,913
Location
Denmark
Only the Second Day of Stingymas and here I am making an exception…. If ever so slight. But I could not resist wearing this Willoughby in a beautiful deep green heather felt for our little holiday get together here at the house tonight. Even if its brim does tiptoe its way past 2 inches to just 2 1/8.
Wonderful Willoughby, Joe.
 

StoryPNW

One Too Many
Messages
1,171
Location
Pacific Northwest
Only the Second Day of Stingymas and here I am making an exception…. If ever so slight. But I could not resist wearing this Willoughby in a beautiful deep green heather felt for our little holiday get together here at the house tonight. Even if its brim does tiptoe its way past 2 inches to just 2 1/8.
I didn't realize the cutoff was 2" my Lamont is also 2 1/8". The green heather felt is amazing on that one.
 

VoodooSan

One Too Many
Messages
1,894
Location
Boise, ID

VoodooSan

One Too Many
Messages
1,894
Location
Boise, ID
Only the Second Day of Stingymas and here I am making an exception…. If ever so slight. But I could not resist wearing this Willoughby in a beautiful deep green heather felt for our little holiday get together here at the house tonight. Even if its brim does tiptoe its way past 2 inches to just 2 1/8.
I am GOBSMACKED by how beautiful that hat is, Joe!
 

Rmccamey

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,908
Location
Central Texas
A great old Crosby, Gary. Please be gentle as stiff felts don't often stretch very much. Might I suggest putting it on a good band block for a week or so. Old bowlers can sometimes be the right size, just too round or too oval. A good band block in your head size and shape can somtimes help the hat conform to your head shape with some time and TLC.

I wore my Crosby & Co bowler today. This one always seems to get paired with leather jackets.
View attachment 664201
Etsuko was in her light sand Leisure Time.
View attachment 664204 View attachment 664203
Since shaving my head, I’ve found hat sizes to be much more forgiving. The hats that fit me before still do. The hats that were very snug are a little better. The hats that were a little big fit better due to the sweat band sticking to my forehead. I’m sad to say that this bowler is the exception. I was left with an itchy red patch on the back of my head with an indent where the sweatband bow is. I don’t want to let this one go, so if anyone has a suggestion as to what I can do, I’d love to hear it. @Steve1857, are bowlers an option for baking? I’m worried that if I stretch it, I might screw up the brim.
View attachment 664208

That is an amazing Homburg, Danielle. The best looking black I've seen in a while.
Third in the series for the preservation of the black felt hat.
View attachment 664255
Warm light of the dying sun in the cold afternoon.
View attachment 664256
Barbisio "Extra Quality" in medium black felt with pleated bow and homburg shape, without complete curling of the brims which are edged in the same color as the ribbon.
View attachment 664257
It's a hat that I really like for its shape and how easy it is to wear
View attachment 664258
Thanks for the likes and appreciation for the "Black hats series"
A huge compliment for you all and the beautiful hats you display everyday
 

Rollin Rains

New in Town
Messages
35
Location
Cypress Bower
I agree with others that some of the newer Stetsons are indeed decent looking
Like many on this forum have posted, I have had very mixed results with the modern Stetsons, regardless of price or quality designation. I mentioned my regret at purchasing a Chatham. It was sold as a "Royal Deluxe Quality". I wore it in the rain once and it warped in ways that I did not know were possible. And that was after following time-tested and careful drying procedures.

On the other hand... Last Sunday I posted some pictures of my Inwood to this thread. It was less expensive and marked as "Royal Quality". Its felt is as thin as a poplin dress shirt. Yet, I have worn it camping and fishing, where I subjected it to several rounds of thorough soakings with no way to dry it propperly - mostly relying on sun-drying it on my head.
If you saw the pictures of the Inwood I think you will agree, it's holding up quite well.

You won't be able to see the Chatham unluss you come across it in the thrift-store.
 
Last edited:

StoryPNW

One Too Many
Messages
1,171
Location
Pacific Northwest
Like many on this forum have posted, I have had very mixed results with the modern Stetsons, regardless of price or quality designation. I mentioned my regret at purchasing a Chatham. It was sold as a "Royal Deluxe Quality". I wore it in the rain once and it warped in ways that I did not know were possible. And that was after following time-tested and careful drying procedures.

On the other hand... Last Sunday I posted some pictures of my Inwood to this thread. It was less expensive and marked as "Royal Quality". It's felt is as thin as a poplin dress shirt. Yet, I have worn it camping and fishing, where I subjected it to several rounds of thorough soakings with no way to dry it propperly - mostly relying on sun-drying it on my head.
If you saw the pictures of the Inwood I think you will agree, it's holding up quite well.

You won't be able to see the Chatham unluss you come across it in the thrift-store.
Interestingly my Lamont is labeled as a Royal on the sweat band but is labeled as a Royal Deluxe on the box. I have handled a few modern Whippets, Strats, and ORs but have not been particularly impressed.
20241214_173504.jpg
20241214_173518.jpg
 

Rollin Rains

New in Town
Messages
35
Location
Cypress Bower
Interestingly my Lamont is labeled as a Royal on the sweat band but is labeled as a Royal Deluxe on the box. I have handled a few modern Whippets, Strats, and ORs but have not been particularly impressed.
View attachment 664365 View attachment 664366
This is the label on my Inwood. I don't know if it matters. At this point I feel like I could purchase another Inwood with the same designation and get a completely different quality hat. It seems like what you get is a complete roll of the dice.
IMG_20241208_105751126.jpg
 

RickP

One Too Many
Messages
1,019
Only the Second Day of Stingymas and here I am making an exception…. If ever so slight. But I could not resist wearing this Willoughby in a beautiful deep green heather felt for our little holiday get together here at the house tonight. Even if its brim does tiptoe its way past 2 inches to just 2 1/8.

Like many on this forum have posted, I have had very mixed results with the modern Stetsons, regardless of price or quality designation. I mentioned my regret at purchasing a Chatham. It was sold as a "Royal Deluxe Quality". I wore it in the rain once and it warped in ways that I did not know were possible. And that was after following time-tested and careful drying procedures.

On the other hand... Last Sunday I posted some pictures of my Inwood to this thread. It was less expensive and marked as "Royal Quality". It's felt is as thin as a poplin dress shirt. Yet, I have worn it camping and fishing, where I subjected it to several rounds of thorough soakings with no way to dry it propperly - mostly relying on sun-drying it on my head.
If you saw the pictures of the Inwood I think you will agree, it's holding up quite well.

You won't be able to see the Chatham unluss you come across it in the thrift-store.
My experience with newer Stetsons has been hit and miss. Ive picked up a few in multi hat deals that I sure would NOT have bought otherwise. Some like my early 2000 Sovereign Temples are really nice. I have a "Roadster B" that is actually a decent hat as well as one Weekender that I actually like for a casual hat ( we WONT talk about the OTHER Weekender however lol) As long as its a decent fur felt Im not against modern hats... SOME are actually attractive units. WOOL hats on the other hand are usually a full blown MISS! Ive got a few that again came in as part of a multi hat deal, that dont look horrible but just dont wear well... These will be destined as gifts as a BBQ hat to someone who would otherwise be hatless. One of my recent mistakes is the essence of a poster child for cheap modern hats. A "3x Stetson cowboy" hat turned out to be a 3x WOOL. Ill let the picture speak for itself. It had a definate cartoonish quality to it (we all need a little humor in our lives)

I have NOT acquired a good handle on how to steam and reshape a wool hat yet. It just doesnt work the same as a fur felt. Im seriously thinking of dusting off my fiberglass skills and fabricating a 2 piece brim mold... dip the dang things in shellac and clamp together in a press till dry. At least then it might be "donat-able" to someone

Life is too short for junky hats

PXL_20241211_172138861.jpg
PXL_20241211_172311578.MP.jpg
 

RickP

One Too Many
Messages
1,019
This is the label on my Inwood. I don't know if it matters. At this point I feel like I could purchase another Inwood with the same designation and get a completely different quality hat. It seems like what you get is a complete roll of the dice. View attachment 664367
This triggered something in my kid- brain.... Ive come across two different modern Stetsons that had "ROYAL STETSON" on the sweatband, But "ROYAL DELUXE" printer on the liner. Must be a sliding scale in QC or quality designations that occurs on a late friday afternoon at the factory lol

PXL_20241215_021750563.jpg
 

RickP

One Too Many
Messages
1,019
And by the way.... is anyone else concerned about the California warning tags on the new Stetsons? Just what kind of "Cancer or Reproductive Harm" am I risking from wearing one? lol

PXL_20241215_021750563.jpg
 

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