Brooks Brothers top hat

[AlanC]

Nice, but it ain't cheap. I wonder who makes them (made in England)?

 

[deanglen]

Explains why the Monopoly Man always wore one.

dean

 

[Jovan]

There is no way that hat is worth $1000, especially from mainline BB.

 

[Samsa]

Good lord, $1000 for a hat? I think our own Ascot could do you a vintage hat for better than that...

 

[Jovan]

Indeed.

 

[Dinerman]

It only comes in Small Medium and Large.

 

[Jovan]

That is what makes the price even more ridiculous... get with the program, Brooks!

 

[AlanC]

Well, the Akubra top hat (rabbit, I assume) is certainly a better value (and sized!).

Locke sells theirs for £325.00 in 'polished fur' (likely not beaver or at least pure beaver).

fftopic: The Locke embroidered smoking cap is cool:

 

[MK]

.

Herbert Johnson gets £900 for theirs.

 

[RBH]

Explains why the Monopoly Man always wore one.

dean

lol lol lol

 

[metropd]

It is way to short and has no bell curve or style. I do think for this it is ridiculas to pay $900. Their are lines no curves no elegance. I would spend $1,600 and much more(but think I could get something on ebay for MUCH LESS) if it had the characteristics of what I preceive a top hat should have. A top hat to me is a satorial symbol off class, style , refinement, and power. I am getting a new top hat(looking on ebay first before the british top hat collector stores) for walking around town but it will have all these details and exceed all expectations or else I would be a fool to spend that kind of money.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It only comes in Small Medium and Large.

even worse, it doesn't even come in small, just M, L & XL

bk

 

[Anthony Jordan]

I am inclined to wonder if it might be by Christy's - the melusine fur felt, but the price seems wildly excessive for that. Not the most handsome hat I've seen but at least they are stocking them...

 

[Topper]

That are a number of versions of the Polished fur felt available in the UK. Ususlly termed "Melusine" none to my knowledge use "beaver" though are still considered a fine fur felt. If it is beaver they use then it is a different manufacturer to the ones I know of.

The UK versions I know differ slightly in the tip labels of the vendors, as well as possibly the liners ( silk as opposed to plain satin). Though they all come in exact size options. The apart from the height the difference between the taller 6&1/4 and 5&1/4 the other differece is the band - a grosgrain ribbon and bow on the taller , and mourning felt without bow on the smaller.

One manufacturer has a very stiff felt version ( polished), whilst another has a softer version which has melusine (not as polished) brushed felt on the upper and lower brim. The makers also differ in the stitching on the brim binding, one a straight through the brim edge stitch the other an off-set blind stitch.

The M/L/XL options for this price version in question are a tad undesired by some. Also I cannot see if the band is actually silk as they mention?

Depending on head size ( the main cause of high cost of silks due to their availability) it is possible to get an antique silk in reasonable condition for the same money from some sources - though as always one pays for quality, so the more you can afford the higher the liklihood of a "near mint" condition silk.