Short Balding Guy
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,873
- Location
- Minnesota, USA
Collector or consumer? Yes. My curiosity finds me with many hats. It even finds me having some of the same models from different decades or same models in different felts from modern makers. I start not with a collectors eye, but from curiosity or fancy. I am a hat enthusiast, but because I procure hats and seldom let them go, thereby, by my estimation, I am a collector.
The Fedora Lounge, courtesy of the founders and the internet allows me, an isolated enthusiast to watch and listen to others. More time is spend watching and listening than participating or sharing. I share on fewer threads than my early years.
The forum thread What Hat Are You Wearing is the real deal for me. The frequent weekly postings are of most of the hats that get worn at my house. My outside escapades find me wearing hats/caps all the time. My work frolics have my hats/caps spending time sitting on my desk or in the backseat of my vehicle. I dress and choose my head gear as I do.
All my hats are of my size and all get worn. I do share daily activities in my hats. I do have a couple of hats that are my go to's for really hard efforts, but all hats are eligible for outside chores or long walkabouts. It is because I have many that I can gently wear them - wear them and let them dry/block/steam/condition/store while I am off with a different hat. Hats, modern and vintage, are remarkably durable.
Putting on a vintage hat/modern hat does provide protection and comfort, but it also provides me a connection with what they represent. Maintaining my hats is relaxing and after years of wearing many I have a connection to the adventures we have shared.
Obsession or compulsion: I start any potential hat acquisition with the reminder, I certainly do not need this hat and am not afraid to walk away from anything but "my price." Many more failures to acquire than success, but here I am with a full hat rack! I have given away many hats to many friends and relatives of like size.
I hope I have contributed to the conversation. Best, Eric -
The Fedora Lounge, courtesy of the founders and the internet allows me, an isolated enthusiast to watch and listen to others. More time is spend watching and listening than participating or sharing. I share on fewer threads than my early years.
The forum thread What Hat Are You Wearing is the real deal for me. The frequent weekly postings are of most of the hats that get worn at my house. My outside escapades find me wearing hats/caps all the time. My work frolics have my hats/caps spending time sitting on my desk or in the backseat of my vehicle. I dress and choose my head gear as I do.
All my hats are of my size and all get worn. I do share daily activities in my hats. I do have a couple of hats that are my go to's for really hard efforts, but all hats are eligible for outside chores or long walkabouts. It is because I have many that I can gently wear them - wear them and let them dry/block/steam/condition/store while I am off with a different hat. Hats, modern and vintage, are remarkably durable.
Putting on a vintage hat/modern hat does provide protection and comfort, but it also provides me a connection with what they represent. Maintaining my hats is relaxing and after years of wearing many I have a connection to the adventures we have shared.
Obsession or compulsion: I start any potential hat acquisition with the reminder, I certainly do not need this hat and am not afraid to walk away from anything but "my price." Many more failures to acquire than success, but here I am with a full hat rack! I have given away many hats to many friends and relatives of like size.
I hope I have contributed to the conversation. Best, Eric -