New hat guy

[jba972]

I just fell into this rabbit hole after casually picking up a Superduper fedora as a first hat. Now I'm really interested in more refined hats and visited Optimo. I didn't make a purchase....yet. Should I have stopped somewhere else before I got this point?

 

[belfastboy]

I just fell into this rabbit hole after casually picking up a Superduper fedora as a first hat. Now I'm really interested in more refined hats and visited Optimo. I didn't make a purchase....yet. Should I have stopped somewhere else before I got this point?

As you are brand new to the hat world my suggestion; Wait before you make the plunge on an Optimo.. There is a very good chance your taste in hats will evolve/change over time. I am a custom hat maker and I have observed in my years of hat collecting and now hat making the common arc is a slow arc of change. Eventually you will land on your sweet spot of style, dimensions, proportions etc. I have a few custom hats from about 20 years ago that I rarely wear now as my style choice has changed so much. You can commission a custom hat from as low as $350. Start there until you find your lane then splurge on the Optimo.

 

[jlee562]

If money is no object, go get that Optimo. It's more or less the nicest hat you can buy. Since you're close enough to visit, they'll fit you in person, to help dial in a height and width that works for you, and this is always better than trying to imagine what a picture of a hat will look like on your head.

But there is also a cottage industry of independent hatters. Gannon and Northwest Hats are particular favorites around these parts. You might want to look into their offerings, because Optimo tends to favor a more tapered crown.

There is a difference between what you will get from Optimo and other independent hatters. While other folks can source from the same felt manufacturer (FEPSA in Portugal), Optimo's silver beaver felts are exclusive to them, and a higher grade of quality over other 100% beaver felts. There has been a hatter or two that have tried to sell themselves to new posters as having "much the same" components as Optimo and that is just dishonest used car salesman schtick. Optimo's hats also go through processes that not all hatters are able to do, such as use of a blocking machine, or decatization.

Since the raison d'être of the Lounge is vintage, I'd also encourage you to look at eBay too. A relative bargain compared to Optimo or a custom. Those of us who favor vintage enjoy the higher quality felts used back in the day and open crown styles that are more easily customizable. Nothing beats a pre war hat.

 

[jba972]

If money is no object, go get that Optimo. It's more or less the nicest hat you can buy. Since you're close enough to visit, they'll fit you in person, to help dial in a height and width that works for you, and this is always better than trying to imagine what a picture of a hat will look on your head.

But there is also a cottage industry of independent hatters. Gannon and Northwest Hats are particular favorites around these parts. You might want to look into their offerings, because Optimo tends to favor a more tapered crown.

There is a difference between what you will get from Optimo and other independent hatters. While other folks can source from the same felt manufacturer (FEPSA in Portugal), Optimo's silver beaver felts are exclusive to them, and a higher grade of quality over other 100% beaver felts. There has been a matter or two that have tried to sell themselves to new posters as having "much the same" components as Optimo and that is just dishonest used car salesman schtick. Optimo's hats also go through processes that not all hatters are able to do, such as use of a blocking machine, or decatization.

Since the raison d'être of the Lounge is vintage, I'd also encourage you to look at eBay too. A relative bargain compared to Optimo or a custom. Those of us who favor vintage enjoy the higher quality felts used back in the day a d open crown styles that are more easily customizable. Nothing beats a pre war hat.

I didn't realize that Optimo had their own selected pelts. The feel or texture impressed me,as well as the weight of the hat. Yes I was measured and tried on a few hats. Didn't think a quarter inch in brim size could feel that different. I'll look into those two brands and see how the crowns differ.

 

[belfastboy]

I didn't realize that Optimo had their own selected pelts. The feel or texture impressed me,as well as the weight of the hat. Yes I was measured and tried on a few hats. Didn't think a quarter inch in brim size could feel that different. I'll look into those two brands and see how the crowns differ.

Optimo or any hat maker does not deal in pelts. The term is 'felts'. The pelts are processed at a factory then the fibre is usually sent to a different factory and the fibre is felted and turned into a capeline. It is the felt capelines that Optimo commissions from the FEPSA factory.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Optimo's silver beaver felts are exclusive to them, and a higher grade of quality over other 100% beaver felts.

The feel or texture impressed me,as well as the weight of the hat.

Optimo Silver Cloud, simply the finest felt in a modern custom hat.