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EstherWeis

Vendor
Messages
2,615
Location
Antwerp
Get a taupe color.
It becomes more grey with cool tones and brown with warm tones.
That’s usually how I fix this issue.

Grey works too but I think you would like the brown more. So go with your gut instinct so to speak.
I think people overthink hat colors a little sometimes. It will match the person wearing it if it’s the right color. There for is matches everything that person is wearing.

And if you still doubt go to a store and try on a grey vs a brown hat. You will know immediately.
 

Duff

New in Town
Messages
24
Greetings Duff et al:
Well, i feel like an expectant Uncle awaiting your pride and joy.
In summary of the “Duff Project”:
Good advice all around.
Best advice from JC..get what you want supported by Z.
DH for the Pecan in the brown you seemed to lean towards.
You for starting with a custom, Sheez, and supplying clothing color pallets, concerns and selfies.
So..who is your hatter choice? Many will have plenty on that choice. You will be required to post voluminous images of said hat so we can enjoy your voyage.
Been fun.
You have all the makings of a hat guy!!
1 down 99 to go!! Ha
Again welcome to the lounge.
Be well. Bowen

I gotta tell ya, it hasn't been easy picking a hatter. Still, as much as I wanna share the details, I'd rather wait until everything becomes official, so to speak.

And yeah, going custom for a first hat is not something that most folks do, but I have no hat shops around, and I can't find anything vintage that I like or that I feel is worthwhile (not as of yet at least).

Now, I'm definitely leaning towards brown for my first hat, and the colors I'm liking in brown are definitely pecan/chestnut; there's an overlap, depending on which hatter you're dealing with or which batch of felt you're looking at). I've also always been fond of green, particularly a sage green as of late, so it's a backup option, or an option to keep in mind when getting a second hat. When it comes to grey, something funny happened: I photoshopped my images to include the granite grey hat I posted earlier, and I'll be damned if it doesn't look good, too, haha. Again, keeping it in mind, if not for this hat, the second or third.

I promise, uncle Bowen, as soon as everything is settled, I'll share more details. And, of course, once the hat has been received (which might be a long while), pictures will follow.

Cheer
 
Messages
12,017
Location
East of Los Angeles
I gotta tell ya, it hasn't been easy picking a hatter...
If you haven't already, you might consider Tim "Alley Kat Hat Co." Mahovich. He doesn't have an official website, but his username here is Cane Rod Maker (he hasn't visited the Lounge since April though), he has an Etsy shop, and you can see more of his work on Instagram. He's only made one hat for me so far (more when finances permit) and that was four years ago, but it was exactly what I wanted, his hand stitching and attention to detail are as good as anyone else's (and better than some), and he's extremely easy to work with. And no, I don't get one red cent for my feeble attempts at promotion, but I know quality work when I see it.
 
Messages
15,259
Location
Arlington, Virginia
If you haven't already, you might consider Tim "Alley Kat Hat Co." Mahovich. He doesn't have an official website, but his username here is Cane Rod Maker (he hasn't visited the Lounge since April though), he has an Etsy shop, and you can see more of his work on Instagram. He's only made one hat for me so far (more when finances permit) and that was four years ago, but it was exactly what I wanted, his hand stitching and attention to detail are as good as anyone else's (and better than some), and he's extremely easy to work with. And no, I don't get one red cent for my feeble attempts at promotion, but I know quality work when I see it.
I whole heartedly agree.
 
Get a taupe color.
It becomes more grey with cool tones and brown with warm tones.
That’s usually how I fix this issue.

Grey works too but I think you would like the brown more. So go with your gut instinct so to speak.
I think people overthink hat colors a little sometimes. It will match the person wearing it if it’s the right color. There for is matches everything that person is wearing.

And if you still doubt go to a store and try on a grey vs a brown hat. You will know immediately.
Late to the show....but Esther is dead on with the taupe recommendation!! It very much DOES reflect the colors around it and is one of the most versatlle colors you will ever wear. Brown when you need brown, grey when you need grey.........this was a color the hat companies used a lot in the 40's-50's......many vintage hats especially "Whippet" styles are found in taupe, taupe-grey, and taupe-brown.
I just cannot get it to be dark blue or black....;)
M:)
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
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Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
Late to the show....but Esther is dead on with the taupe recommendation!! It very much DOES reflect the colors around it and is one of the most versatlle colors you will ever wear. Brown when you need brown, grey when you need grey.........this was a color the hat companies used a lot in the 40's-50's......many vintage hats especially "Whippet" styles are found in taupe, taupe-grey, and taupe-brown.
I just cannot get it to be dark blue or black....;)
M:)

Of the available colors, what modern felt would you call taupe?
 
Of the available colors, what modern felt would you call taupe?
Your examples are all over the board and I see many examples do not even equate well with others of the same name. However the "Sahara" and "Dove" seem somewhat consistent and would fall in this category of Taupe.....and would be very versatile colors.
M
At least on my monitor anyway...;)
EDIT On the second chart 8175 through 172 are good examples. I do not even see a good example on the third color chart. 1040 and 1080 on the last......
 
Last edited:
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
Your examples are all over the board and I see many examples do not even equate well with others of the same name. However the "Sahara" and "Dove" seem somewhat consistent and would fall in this category of Taupe.....and would be very versatile colors.
M
At least on my monitor anyway...;)
EDIT On the second chart 8175 through 172 are good examples. I do not even see a good example on the third color chart. 1040 and 1080 on the last......


Thanks Mark.

This is the challenge of choosing colors long distance. The colors look different based on lighting, the photographers skills, the monitor you’re viewing them on, variations of dye lots, etc. Even when I’ve received sample felt swatches I’ve been slightly surprised at the color of the final hat. Part of the value of showing the same colors looking so differently is for the uninitiated to realize that the hat they’ll receive might not be the color they were expecting.

Now back to taupe, if we stick to beaver felts from Winchester, do you see one that looks to be close? Sahara is a possibility, but I’ve never actually seen a hat in that color and in some photos it has some orange tints. I do like dove and think it is a great color; however, it is not an option for most makers as there is a minimum order of 36 hat bodies in that color. You would think that Winchester would offer more options in this color range. Also, I believe that sand has been discontinued in beaver.

All the Tonak felts are rabbit fur felt (maybe some hare blends) and I’m looking for beaver. I posted the colors just as reference material and it as part of the “taupe question.”

Brent
 
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Hopefully more helpful than confusing.


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Mojave and Sahara seem to fit. Mojave being the grey side and Sahara on the brown. Hard to tell but Mojave in real life could end up being almost too light...but then who knows....often felts will photograph much lighter than they actually are.
And as you say the colors can be quite different when the hat arrives........hard nut to crack. But, I do think BOTH colors would produce and awesome hat!!!!
M
 
Messages
10,855
Location
vancouver, canada
Your examples are all over the board and I see many examples do not even equate well with others of the same name. However the "Sahara" and "Dove" seem somewhat consistent and would fall in this category of Taupe.....and would be very versatile colors.
M
At least on my monitor anyway...;)
EDIT On the second chart 8175 through 172 are good examples. I do not even see a good example on the third color chart. 1040 and 1080 on the last......
Colour is so tricky. I have a Dove beaver from Art. It is decidedly a blue/grey colour. The most Taupe(y) coloured felt I have is one of Art's "Limestone" felts in beaver. A beautiful neutral mid tone felt.
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
Colour is so tricky. I have a Dove beaver from Art. It is decidedly a blue/grey colour. The most Taupe(y) coloured felt I have is one of Art's "Limestone" felts in beaver. A beautiful neutral mid tone felt.

Ah, Limestone. It’s on my VS list right behind Blue Smoke. Who doesn’t love VS, but when trying to get other hatters to make you a hat the 36 hat body minimums Winchester has for what used to be VS exclusive colors make it tough.


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