Deciding where to draw the line

[WonkyBloke]

I couldn't find another hat thread of this ilk, so forgive me if I used the wrong search terms.

Essentially... I hate too much stuff. I hate too many decisions. I hate forking out money for stuff that doesn't get used. As such, I'm probably one of the minority here, that wants a "small is beautiful" array of hats. I think I'm close, very close, but I'm not there yet. I figured I'd start a thread looking at what I personally consider "enough", and see how other people "manage" (if indeed they do ) their own collections.

I'll start off by saying, I'm not counting caps. They're my grab and go hats. If I don't "need" a brimmed hat, a cap will do. There's currently four flat caps, one newsboy, and three baseball type. That's plenty, but I won't rule out further additions if I see something I like. They don't eat up much in the way of space or funds. I'll not ration those any more than I would say shirts or T-shirts, where limiting myself to three isn't particularly practical.

Brimmed hats, different story. More space needed. More funds needed.

Now typically, my attention span stretches as far as three choices. Three coats/jackets for any weather type. Three pairs of dress shoes, three pairs of footwear for wearing shorts with, etc. Any more than that, and I feel claustrophobic, start getting decision fatigue, and resent buying the items I never reach for. However, that's three of any type or role, so for brimmed hats, that's three rain hats, three sun hats, cool weather hats, midwinter hats, etc.

More to follow...

 

[WonkyBloke]

Rain Hats:

This is pretty much taken care of for me. I know fur felts, and to some extent wool felts, can be worn in rain, but they wouldn't be my first choice. I've gone for cotton and nubuck here.

This weathered cotton trilby has had a couple of coats of waxed dressing, and is my first choice for short trips in the rain. If I'm not going to be out in it for an extended duration, it's perfectly adequate, and the wind isn't going to chuck it under a passing bus.

This nubuck safari will be given a neatsfoot oil treatment for my second choice. A better size brim for shedding the rain, particularly if I'm going to be out and about for longer. It's a little larger brimmed, but is slightly oversized with a packed out sweatband, and so it sits "well on".

This cotton safari is not one I'd go out and about in, but is a good choice for staying put. Either outdoor jobs at home, tent camping, or other "non-traffic" outdoor settings. A good all weather choice which will handle the sun too, as I imagine the nubuck one would too.

Yes, I might get caught out in a shower in a different hat, but if I know that rain is on the menu, these three options should handle my needs fine. Job done. So far. It'll be revised if anything fails or I'm parted company with it, but otherwise I consider the rain hat array complete.

 

[johnnycanuck]

If I was building a collection from scratch knowing what I know now this would be my choices

Three dress hats for work, church, you know
First choice is the Akubras federation or deluxe.
Second choice for slightly more casual would be Akubra Campdraft.
Third choice would be a custom of some sort. Rabbit felt if being sensible. Beaver if I wanted to splurge.

Rain/sun hats for weekend warrior, fishing, hiking, antiquing with the wife, lawn care.
First choice Akubra Cattleman
Second choice Akubra territory
Third choice French Pith helmet or a Sunbody hat for the sun protection.

winter
First choice flat cap
Second choice toque or beanie
Third choice ushanka.

that’s would be my bare bones practice list.

agree? Disagree? Let’s discuss.

Johnny

 

[WonkyBloke]

If I was building a collection from scratch knowing what I know now this would be my choices

Three dress hats for work, church, you know
First choice is the Akubras federation or deluxe.
Second choice for slightly more casual would be Akubra Campdraft.
Third choice would be a custom of some sort. Rabbit felt if being sensible. Beaver if I wanted to splurge.

Rain/sun hats for weekend warrior, fishing, hiking, antiquing with the wife, lawn care.
First choice Akubra Cattleman
Second choice Akubra territory
Third choice French Pith helmet or a Sunbody hat for the sun protection.

winter
First choice flat cap
Second choice toque or beanie
Third choice ushanka.

that’s would be my bare bones practice list.

agree? Disagree? Let’s discuss.

Johnny

I'm not familiar with all the Akubras, Johnny. (still learning), but you seem to have things well covered there, pardon the pun. Any particular colour choices for the dress hats? Aside from wanting lighter coloured sun hats, my felts (and to some extent caps), are the only hats where colour is of concern to me personally.

Interesting that two of your three outdoor sun hats are felt, but then you are in a cooler climate I suppose. Is that more for versatility?

I'll cover my other categories shortly. Please feel free to question, comment, advise downsides to my choices etc.

 

[WonkyBloke]

Sun Hats:

My current sun hats are as follows.

This cotton Failsworth Henley is my out and about hat in the sun. The brim is big enough to keep the sun off, but small enough and flexible enough, to not act like a sail. Being mindful of hats acting like sails is a constant concern for me, as I'm disabled, and therefore unable to play chase the hat.

Slightly more wind catching, but still reasonably secure, is my Brazillian Tarp Hat. Those with a keen eye may have noted I have the ball cap version as well. This is my beater hat. Gardening, BBQ smoke and wine/beer spills, having jammy fingered nephews and nieces climbing all over me, it doesn't matter. Any abuse this hat receives will probably just improve it.

I'm back with the Jaxons cotton safari for the third choice. Great for when I'll be sat in the sun, but need something a little more presentable than my tarp hat.

...and I reach my first dilemma, and one of the catalysts for starting this thread. I've seen a panama hat on sale. Certainly too wide a brim for out and about for me for the reasons mentioned above, but great as a dressy sun hat for summer functions. Will that be one too many? Do I want to only use the safari as a rain hat? Undecided ... but as it's on sale, I need to make my mind up sooon...

 

[Edward]

Johnny's list is good. I totally know where you're coming from about not too much "stuff": I'm a 'recovering hoarder' myself and I daren't get into a "collector" mindset or I'll be in trouble. The way I look at my hats is they are wardrobe. That being so, I don't buy anything I wouldn't wear out. Sure, I have one or two precious vintage pieces I wouldn't wear just *anywhere*, but I don't keep anything that doesn't fit or isn't ever worn. Think about a hat like you would any other clothes. What will you wear it with? I tend for the most part to just grab a cap when I'm in jeans. A brimmed hat is more something I'll grab when I'm a bit more 'next notch up' - office clothes, blazer and slacks and everything North of that.

The Akubra Federation (exclusive from Hatsdirect.com) that Johnny recommends is an excellent choice: great vintage look (developed originally as something of an 'Indy' hat) and available in a good range of colours. I'd suggest - assuming you wear both earthtones and greys/blacks - a good place to start would be one fedora in a brown or tan, and one in a grey or black. If you find you wear them a lot and want a bit more variance, then try some other options - maybe you wear more earthtones so would like a second one in a different colour in the brown range, or you wear a lot of navy, grey and black so a different grey appeals, or whatever. Once you have a couple like that then it can be fun to try something else - oxblood, navy, baby blue... Of course, you will probably find you'll want something different for hot weather; I spend the Summer in a mix of linen or cotton caps and Straw hats. One of the best options around for a straw is the Akubra Capricorn -https://hatsdirect.com/products/capricorn - of all my brimmed Summer hats, far and away the most often worn. They're a polystraw; anathema to some, I'm sure, but really very much more durable than a panama or a shantung straw, which is a big plus - and they take rain with no problem. I have a grey and a fawn (https://hatsdirect.com/products/capricorn); also a couple in white, which I think is called the 'Rink'. The white ones I worried looked a little.... meat counter until the new shine was off them, but accessorised right they look great. The vented furfelts from Akubra that Johnny mentions can also be good in the Sun - a bit hotter under 'em in my experience, but an excellent choice if you're travelling a lot and can only take one hat. I travelled across much of Eastern China across three weeks in 2008 with one such - from punishing Sun in Beijing to the worst rain in 120 years of records in Hong Kong SAR, it took it all no problem. Also wore the same hat in India on my first trip there a little later, similarly excellent. Great if you want that 'big game hunter' / Safari look, and still be able to put it on with a suit for dinner in the evening.

There are other types of hat you might like to try as well. Took me years to warm to a bowler, but I rather like them now. A homberg can be lovely if you want something a little different for black tie, if you do that, or a slightly more formal edge in daywear. Hombergs can be a great vintage hat purchase as they can often be found for a tiny fraction of the going rate for a vintage fedora. That said, for all but very few you'll encounter, a black fedora will cover you in the vast majority of instances where a Homberg would be ideal, and anyone who would make a thing of pointing out a supposed faux pas, well... there's a difference between etiquette and manners.

 

[WonkyBloke]

Great post @Edward !

The way I look at my hats is they are wardrobe. That being so, I don't buy anything I wouldn't wear out. Sure, I have one or two precious vintage pieces I would wear just *anywhere*, but I don't keep anything that doesn't fit or isn't ever worn. Think about a hat like you would any other clothes. What will you wear it with?

Agreed! Many of my hats are functional, with the looks being very much secondary. Much like it is (for me anyway) with wellies, sandals, and hiking boots. So long as I'm wearing the right hat for the occasion/weather, the look is good enough. Sun hats maybe slightly different, and I've covered those. Plus I have caps if the Henley isn't the right hat for whatever else I'm wearing. I'll address felts separately later...

I tend for the most part to just grab a cap when I'm in jeans. A brimmed hat is more something I'll grab when I'm a bit more 'next notch up' - office clothes, blazer and slacks and everything North of that.

Being slightly unconventional looking anyway (my hair reaches down to the bottom of my ribcage), seems to let me get away with wearing something too dressy for the rest of my attire. Or should I say, it does if I leave my hair down, whereas it needs to be more in keeping if I tie it back. So having my hair down, slightly dresses down the hat, if that makes sense.

One of the best options around for a straw is the Akubra Capricorn -https://hatsdirect.com/products/capricorn - of all my brimmed Summer hats, far and away the most often worn. They're a polystraw; anathema to some, I'm sure, but really very much more durable than a panama or a shantung straw, which is a big plus - and they take rain with no problem. I have a grey and a fawn (https://hatsdirect.com/products/capricorn); also a couple in white, which I think is called the 'Rink'. The white ones I worried looked a little.... meat counter until the new shine was off them, but accessorised right they look great.

I cracked up laughing at "meat counter"!

That looks a great hat, and a "poly"straw wouldn't be of detriment to me. I was looking at Bart Hats Woltz Trilby for the same reason. It was actually a choice between that and the Henley for my out and about hat (my out and about hats being smaller brimmed for wind security). The Capricorn would definitely be a contender for me for static wear "garden functions", etc, if I found one at the right price. Akubra choices are limited (and expensive) here though, and the cost of shipping and border tax/duty/release charges prohibitive.

The vented furfelts from Akubra that Johnny mentions can also be good in the Sun - a bit hotter under 'em in my experience, but an excellent choice if you're travelling a lot and can only take one hat. I travelled across much of Eastern China across three weeks in 2008 with one such - from punishing Sun in Beijing to the worst rain in 120 years of records in Hong Kong SAR, it took it all no problem. Also wore the same hat in India on my first trip there a little later, similarly excellent. Great if you want that 'big game hunter' / Safari look, and still be able to put it on with a suit for dinner in the evening.

I'm hoping my nubuck and cotton safaris will be good "do it all" hats (again, I'll cover my felts separately). Affordabl, durable, and versatile. I used to have a Barmah Sundowner Roo, which was great for rain and shine in all manner of attire ... in still air. For air movements stronger than happening to walk too close to a flatulent cow, the brim danced all aver the place. In a moderately strong breeze, it was ridiculous, either leaping off, or if you put your head hold, the brim collapsed over your eyes.

There are other types of hat you might like to try as well. Took me years to warm to a bowler, but I rather like them now. A homberg can be lovely if you want something a little different for black tie, if you do that, or a slightly more formal edge in daywear. Hombergs can be a great vintage hat purchase as they can often be found for a tiny fraction of the going rate for a vintage fedora. That said, for all but very few you'll encounter, a black fedora will cover you in the vast majority of instances where a Homberg would be ideal, and anyone who would make a thing of pointing out a supposed faux pas, well... there's a difference between etiquette and manners.

I'm not "there" yet. I do have a grey wool bowler, which actually doesn't look too bad on me. I ordered a cheap one mainly as a tester to see if the look worked for me. However, while it suits my face, I can't see me having much cause to wear it, and would be struggling to pair it with both purpose and matching attire in my lifestyle. However, it will remain here as a "fun" hat, just to wear for absolutely no reason whatsoever

 

[belfastboy]

Probably the most accurate way to describe my perspective on this: Who needs a line? My approach for most things/activities with which I engage is to jump in and immerse myself in it. When I first became interested in vintage mountain bikes I began to assemble a modest collection and over 15 years purchased, resucued, refurbished probably 50 bikes. At the peak I had 30 in the permanent collection.
At the end I could say I knew first hand everything I desired about mountain bikes, how they handled, etc. I then, hard as it was, began to disassemble the collection. I am now down to the 6 that I ride.
My approach with hats has run a similar path but as it turns out the world of quality fedoras is a bit broader field than mountain bikes. I have 60 in the collection plus about a dozen newsboys and it is largely complete but now that I am making fedoras it opens up an entire new world and I discover there are so many hats I want to make and add to the collection. So at this point there is no limit, nor any need for one.

 

[WonkyBloke]

I'd suggest - assuming you wear both earthtones and greys/blacks - a good place to start would be one fedora in a brown or tan, and one in a grey or black. If you find you wear them a lot and want a bit more variance, then try some other options - maybe you wear more earthtones so would like a second one in a different colour in the brown range, or you wear a lot of navy, grey and black so a different grey appeals, or whatever.
<snip>A homberg can be lovely if you want something a little different for black tie, if you do that, or a slightly more formal edge in daywear.

My felts (cooler weather, and being dressed up)

I currently have one (preowned) fur felt that's teetering between fedora and trilby in brim size, and a wool felt blues trilby, which is as close as I get to homburg with my current array.

On top of these, I have a Christy Epsom in black on the way, which should be here within the next few days.

Between these three, I think I have everything covered for now in terms of felts. Do correct me if I'm wrong, but black (and grey) goes with pretty much everything but brown, and brown goes with pretty much everything except blue. As such, I have a starter set of three, which will give me chance to see what works for me and what doesn't.

I do like the idea of a Christy Foldaway. Not just because it can be packed away (with caution), but because the look of the hat can be changed too. More versatility. However, brim size may be a concern for me, unless I'm going to start stapling hats to my head ( ) and I need to spend longer with the hats I already have, to know whether or not a wider brim on a felt would be desirable to me.

 

[WonkyBloke]

Probably the most accurate way to describe my perspective on this: Who needs a line? My approach for most things/activities with which I engage is to jump in and immerse myself in it. When I first became interested in vintage mountain bikes I began to assemble a modest collection and over 15 years purchased, resucued, refurbished probably 50 bikes. At the peak I had 30 in the permanent collection.
At the end I could say I knew first hand everything I desired about mountain bikes, how they handled, etc. I then, hard as it was, began to disassemble the collection. I am now down to the 6 that I ride.
My approach with hats has run a similar path but as it turns out the world of quality fedoras is a bit broader field than mountain bikes. I have 60 in the collection plus about a dozen newsboys and it is largely complete but now that I am making fedoras it opens up an entire new world and I discover there are so many hats I want to make and add to the collection. So at this point there is no limit, nor any need for one.

I dare say that you are going to be in a majority position there, and that far fewer people on this forum will be taking a moderated approach as I am

 

[Mm25]

If I could have only one modern, production hat it would be an Akubra Campdraft. It comes open crown and you can bash it a dozen ways and it looks good in all of them. It has enough brim to block sun, but not so much you can’t wear it to town. It stands up to rain and it’s cheap enough you don’t have to baby it.

 

[WonkyBloke]

Winter hats:

This is very much a work in progress for me.

I do have a GoreTex Gelert Mountain cap ... somewhere ... I'll take pics when it stops hiding. That's pretty much my starting point for winter hats. It's not particularly in keeping with this forum, but it ticks all the boxes in terms of function for me. It's warm, waterproof, peaked (to keep the rain off the glasses), covers the ears if I need it to, and will stay put irrespective of how windy it is. That pretty much sums up what I want from a winter hat.

I do have beanies for when it's not raining, but if I'm out and about in that and the heavens open, the glasses have to come off. I can't see much without them, but I can see even less when they're covered in rain, as it's like looking through your bathroom window.

Tilley Tec-Wool is a potential contender, and I'm keeping an open mind about others.

 

[WonkyBloke]

If I could have only one modern, production hat it would be an Akubra Campdraft. It comes open crown and you can bash it a dozen ways and it looks good in all of them. It has enough brim to block sun, but not so much you can’t wear it to town. It stands up to rain and it’s cheap enough you don’t have to baby it.

I just looked that up. Nice looking hat!

Sadly not an option for me, as they're not stocked here, and buying one in may add 50% or more to the price when shipping and duties etc are added. Might also be a little too much brim for me personally, but I can definitely see the appeal for those who can make it work for them.

EDIT:
I just looked up the other hats from @johnnycanuck above, and sadly those probably fall in the same category for me. Again, great hats, particularly if these are the ones we're used to seeing Johnny in, in the "wearing today" thread. Not a Wonky Bloke friendly option though I'll stick to admiring them on all your heads instead

Some of you guys really do wear those hats well!

 

[belfastboy]

I dare say that you are going to be in a majority position there, and that far fewer people on this forum will be taking a moderated approach as I am

There is another thread here in the Lounge that addresses the collector mentality. I think in this thread we are speaking to two very different constituencies. Those that buy hats for their utility and the others who are collectors. If I am at all representative of the 'collectors' then the activity ibecomes multifaceted....utility, fashion, research, aesthetic enjoyment, academic history etc. If you asked a stamp, coin or art collector ...how many is enough, I suspect you would get a quizzical look in response.

 

[WonkyBloke]

There is another thread here in the Lounge that addresses the collector mentality. I think in this thread we are speaking to two very different constituencies. Those that buy hats for their utility and the others who are collectors. If I am at all representative of the 'collectors' then the activity ibecomes multifaceted....utility, fashion, research, aesthetic enjoyment, academic history etc. If you asked a stamp, coin or art collector ...how many is enough, I suspect you would get a quizzical look in response.

Absolutely!

It's of little surprise on a forum for me to have struggled to have found a thread like this, for those who don't collect (intentionally, or otherwise). Enthusiasts do tend to be accumulators, even if they don't intentionally set out to collect. Those of us who like wearing hats, but don't want to be ever chasing more hats, better hats, rarer hats, or deeper knowledge, still like to occasionally have something to say/contribute too though

 

[Mm25]

I just looked that up. Nice looking hat!

Sadly not an option for me, as they're not stocked here, and buying one in may add 50% or more to the price when shipping and duties etc are added. Might also be a little too much brim for me personally, but I can definitely see the appeal for those who can make it work for them.

EDIT:
I just looked up the other hats from @johnnycanuck above, and sadly those probably fall in the same category for me. Again, great hats, particularly if these are the ones we're used to seeing Johnny in, in the "wearing today" thread. Not a Wonky Bloke friendly option though I'll stick to admiring them on all your heads instead

Some of you guys really do wear those hats well!

It’s unfortunate that shipping pushes them out of your reach. Here, one of their virtues is quality for the cost. They are cheaper and better made than their competitors ( My opinion of course).

 

[belfastboy]

I dare say that you are going to be in a majority position there, and that far fewer people on this forum will be taking a moderated approach as I am

There is another thread here in the Lounge that addresses the collector mentality. I think in this thread we are speaking to two very different constituencies. Those that buy hats for their utility and the others who are collectors. If I am at all representative of the 'collectors' then the activity ibecomes multifaceted....utility, fashion, research, aesthetic enjoyment, academic history etc. If you asked a stamp, coin or art collector ...how many is enough, I suspect you would get a quizzical look in response.

It’s unfortunate that shipping pushes them out of your reach. Here, one of their virtues is quality for the cost. They are cheaper and better made than their competitors ( My opinion of course).

I concur. Akubra, in my opinion, offer the best bang for your dollar of any of the production grade hats.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I periodically thin the herd and usually feel good about getting my collection down in size. The issue is that the core collection, those hats I really don’t want to consider loosing, keeps getting larger.

When I have hats that I love but didn’t wear all year because the boxes they live in are in the back corner at the bottom of the stack than I wonder what’s the point of having them? If you are a pure collector that’s different. If you are a student of hats that’s different. If you just enjoy collecting even if you don’t see them for long periods that’s different. I’m not saying that my way of collecting is right for anyone other than myself, but for me if I’m not seeing and using and enjoying them then I don’t see the point in keeping them.

I have several custom hats on order (including a Gannon that should ship next week!), but I’m also thinking for the first time about divesting myself of even some of my custom hats. I need to trim my hat collection way back.

My problem is hats are relatively inexpensive, come in near infinite varieties, and can be worn and put to use (I enjoy wearing hats). I also enjoy the hunt. I enjoy the mystery. And I enjoy the community here where we can share our finds. I’d like to say that I’ll soon get to the point where I only buy the truly exceptional hat and will reduce my collection to around 50, but hat collecting is now one of my hobbies and I don’t know that I’ll go through with it.

 

[WonkyBloke]

I periodically thin the herd and usually feel good about getting my collection down in size. The issue is that the core collection, those hats I really don’t want to consider loosing, keeps getting larger.

When I have hats that I love but didn’t wear all year because the boxes they live in are in the back corner at the bottom of the stack than I wonder what’s the point of having them? If you are a pure collector that’s different. If you are a student of hats that’s different. If you just enjoy collecting even if you don’t see them for long periods that’s different. I’m not saying that my way of collecting is right for anyone other than myself, but for me if I’m not seeing and using and enjoying them then I don’t see the point in keeping them.

I have several custom hats on order (including a Gannon that should ship next week!), but I’m also thinking for the first time about divesting myself of even some of my custom hats. I need to trim my hat collection way back.

My problem is hats are relatively inexpensive, come in near infinite varieties, and can be worn and put to use (I enjoy wearing hats). I also enjoy the hunt. I enjoy the mystery. And I enjoy the community here where we can share our finds. I’d like to say that I’ll soon get to the point where I only buy the truly exceptional hat and will reduce my collection to around 50, but hat collecting is now one of my hobbies and I don’t know that I’ll go through with it.

I think to a large extent, some people just love shopping too. Not that there's anything wrong with that of course, but I don't think that the shopping element should be ignored as a hobby in it's own right. It's essentially a focused shopping hobby with social benefits (both online and off, for some folks). I'm not saying that applies to you specifically, Brent. Just an observation I've made across different forums, on various different products and interests.

I've done the enthusiastic collector thing in the past, but found I always gravitated to the best few, and everything else became like your neglected hats at the back of the pile. Except in my case, it was the vast majority that was being neglected. That way I can use my favourites more often I feel kind of maxed out with my hats already. Most of them look too new, and it will be a year or two at least before they start looking and feeling like MY hats. The more hats I own, the longer that will take. When they start wearing, fraying, and bearing stains of everywhere we've been, I'll like them so much more. They have to start new though, otherwise they feel like someone else's faithful companions, instead of my own.

I still get the twinge for shopping therapy, but spread it wide these days. Maybe a hat, or maybe books, or a plant, or a box of Manx kippers. I want to move it more to "activities" now though. When the world gets back to some normality anyway. A train journey, day at the zoo, weekend at the coast, medieval castle, boat trip, stuff that gives me that "Woohoo! New thing" feeling, but without the clutter

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I think to a large extent, some people just love shopping too. Not that there's anything wrong with that of course, but I don't think that the shopping element should be ignored as a hobby in it's own right. It's essentially a focused shopping hobby with social benefits (both online and off, for some folks). I'm not saying that applies to you specifically, Brent. Just an observation I've made across different forums, on various different products and interests.

I've done the enthusiastic collector thing in the past, but found I always gravitated to the best few, and everything else became like your neglected hats at the back of the pile. Except in my case, it was the vast majority that was being neglected. That way I can use my favourites more often I feel kind of maxed out with my hats already. Most of them look too new, and it will be a year or two at least before they start looking and feeling like MY hats. The more hats I own, the longer that will take. When they start wearing, fraying, and bearing stains of everywhere we've been, I'll like them so much more. They have to start new though, otherwise they feel like someone else's faithful companions, instead of my own.

I still get the twinge for shopping therapy, but spread it wide these days. Maybe a hat, or maybe books, or a plant, or a box of Manx kippers. I want to move it more to "activities" now though. When the world gets back to some normality anyway. A train journey, day at the zoo, weekend at the coast, medieval castle, boat trip, stuff that gives me that "Woohoo! New thing" feeling, but without the clutter

I agree that experiences give me much more pleasure than possessions. My hat hobby hasn’t come at the expense of anything more important.

What you call shopping I call “the hunt.” I like finding the deals and the unusual. Finding an 80 year old gem is very satisfying. It’s also great to commission a custom hat and start a new hat on its 100+ year journey.

I also feel completely different than you on vintage items. For me, the fact that an item’s story predates me doesn’t bother me at all. I’ll add my marks and at some point someone else will assume ownership. It’s part of its appeal to me: being part of the history of a quality item that 70-100 years later are still going strong. I much prefer vintage over new, and in hats you also usually get a much better item when you go vintage.

I do enjoy that unlike so many other subjects of collection, hats can be worn and put to use. It’s not something hidden away that no one gets to see. It’s also a very tactile experience: vintage felt is fantastic stuff.