jlee562
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,127
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
I really like the suede finish of my Artlite playboy, especially with the black cherry felt. I feel it brings out the tones in the felt.
I've known Art for more than a decade, but this is my first full custom hat from him(took me long enough, right?).
I've had a number of gray hats over the years, but the proportions have never been right and they've suffered damage and abuse that made them unpresentable. Since gray is a universal color, one shouldn't be without a gray hat, and I got tired of casting about the web for a vintage one that fit the bill. It's a job for Art! I bought an outstanding green fedora a few years back that has been a go-to due to how well it was proportioned to me. I figured if anyone could duplicate it in another color, it would be Art.
I got the conformer and swatches in the mail, picked out 'Blue Smoke', and mailed back the conformer and my green hat with a note on my specifications. The result is in, and I couldn't be happier.
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How it arrived: Open crown - I'd told Art that the cruciform bash on the green hat was my preference, so he left that bit to me.
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My bash, just after steam setting.
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Look, ma! Twins!
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Before steam setting the bash and snap; I like a tight pinch in the front and a very hard snap I like to call the 'SF Snap'; I and my friends local to the SF bay area bring the front of the brim LOW in front of the eyes.
![]()
There's that snap - gotta cover up one eye, it's the male equivalent of Veronica Lake's hair.
![]()
I am smiling. I'm also squinting.
![]()
Art's unmistakable bow; I got a dark gray ribbon instead of a black, just to set it apart from the usual gray hats.
![]()
The box was a surprise, I've had Art renovate a few hats, but they never arrived like this!
![]()
Looks good on the inside, too!
![]()
It's MINE.
I've known Art for more than a decade, but this is my first full custom hat from him(took me long enough, right?).
I've had a number of gray hats over the years, but the proportions have never been right and they've suffered damage and abuse that made them unpresentable. Since gray is a universal color, one shouldn't be without a gray hat, and I got tired of casting about the web for a vintage one that fit the bill. It's a job for Art! I bought an outstanding green fedora a few years back that has been a go-to due to how well it was proportioned to me. I figured if anyone could duplicate it in another color, it would be Art.
I got the conformer and swatches in the mail, picked out 'Blue Smoke', and mailed back the conformer and my green hat with a note on my specifications. The result is in, and I couldn't be happier.
Look, ma! Twins!
![]()
Before steam setting the bash and snap; I like a tight pinch in the front and a very hard snap I like to call the 'SF Snap'; I and my friends local to the SF bay area bring the front of the brim LOW in front of the eyes.
![]()
There's that snap - gotta cover up one eye, it's the male equivalent of Veronica Lake's hair.
![]()
I am smiling. I'm also squinting.
![]()
Art's unmistakable bow; I got a dark gray ribbon instead of a black, just to set it apart from the usual gray hats.
![]()
The box was a surprise, I've had Art renovate a few hats, but they never arrived like this!
![]()
Looks good on the inside, too!
![]()
It's MINE.