Lagomarsino hats

[Prof Branestawm]

Hello

I've just registered and am happy to now be a member of the fedoralounge. I'll start as I mean to go on by asking a question: there is a chap on ebay selling lagomarsino hats (the jack model), and I have been considering buying one given the pound's strength against the dollar and my consistant failure to find decent fur felt hats which are both 1/ my size and 2/ affordable.

I've searched the lounge, and there is some information available, but I wondered if anyone could tell me more. I'm particuarly interesting in hearing about the quality of felt and construction - how they stand up to rain, whether the felt shrinks, and so on.

 

[Davidson]

Patience

I can tell you more in a few days. I will receive a Lagomarsino Homburg tomorrow (I hope) and a derby a couple days later. At that point all I will be able to report will be visible fit, finish, and construction (and how the transaction went).

I assume you are in UK, not US. My dealings are with the US distributors in Miami, if you are talking about HATS UNIVERSE on ebay - same people.

 

[Prof Branestawm]

Thanks, that would be helpful.

Your assumption is correct - I'm in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, as opposed to Cambridge, Gloucester or any of the ex-colonial namesakes.

 

[J.B.]

...My dealings are with the US distributors in Miami, if you are talking about HATS UNIVERSE... - same people.

Assuming everyone ends up liking these beau-coo de la bon...

...If you search around and hurry, I think we can do a $30,000 group buy for 2,700 of 'em!

(Trouble is, then we'd have to buy a $300,000 warehouse to store our $30,000 worth of hatboxes?!) :eusa_doh:

 

[besdor]

Lagomarsino makes good quality hats. The fur is as good as a top quality Biltmore .The problem was the styling. They didn't have the right look and weren't as finished as a Stetson or Biltmore.
They do make nice derbies and leather hats though.



Steven
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[Prof Branestawm]

Thanks, Besdor. When you say "The problem was the styling. They didn't have the right look and weren't as finished as a Stetson or Biltmore." I have a vision of loose threads, unattached liners and a lemon-squeezer shaped crown.

Could you tell me what exactly was wrong with yours/those you've seen?

 

[besdor]

The problem was in the neatness of the hat. People here on the lounge are not happy with the quality of Stetosn , but they are trimmed decently and blocked right. The Lagomarsino hats arent trimmed well because theydont have a good source for trimming in Argentina. The shapes weren't quite right for the US market. It's realy a shame as the quality was very good for the price.



Steven
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[Davidson]

The problem was in the neatness of the hat. People here on the lounge are not happy with the quality of Stetosn , but they are trimmed decently and blocked right. The Lagomarsino hats arent trimmed well because theydont have a good source for trimming in Argentina. The shapes weren't quite right for the US market. It's realy a shame as the quality was very good for the price.

Steven
www.bencrafthats.com

Besdor has a wealth of experience, and I defer to his knowledge. I searched on FL for personal experiences people had with these hats, and found little to go by. The main thing I consistently heard was they had good felt. So I had, and still have to some extent, hope that these Lagomarsino hats will be solid hats at a lower price point than Akubra. Akubra seems to me, based on what I read here, to be the price vs. quality leader today for new hats, and I'd like to see them have some competition. I'll post my impressions (as a non-expert consumer) when the hats arrive.

 

[MattJH]

Akubra seems to me, based on what I read here, to be the price vs. quality leader today for new hats, and I'd like to see them have some competition.

I would, too! Until then, my carbon gray Federation, regency fawn Traveller, carbon gray Casual and acorn fawn Cattleman will be worn with reckless abandon. And to boot, I'm waiting on a moonstone grey Stylemaster, a tanbark brown Fedora, and a regency fawn Casual to arrive from indent!

 

[Prof Branestawm]

I can tell you more in a few days. I will receive a Lagomarsino Homburg tomorrow (I hope) and a derby a couple days later. At that point all I will be able to report will be visible fit, finish, and construction (and how the transaction went)

Have you had any luck getting your new hats? A homburg is something I'd rather like myself, one day.

 

[Davidson]

I can tell you more in a few days. I will receive a Lagomarsino Homburg tomorrow (I hope) and a derby a couple days later. At that point all I will be able to report will be visible fit, finish, and construction (and how the transaction went)

Have you had any luck getting your new hats? A homburg is something I'd rather like myself, one day.

I won a Homburg first and then a Derby a few days later. I ordered size 7 1/2 - 60 cm for each. First came the Homburg. It was size 7 5/8. It fit very well. The Derby arrived, size 7 1/2 / 60 cm. It was at least a half size small for me. I am returning the Derby for a 7 5/8 - 61, it is in transit now. They say there will be no problem with the exchange (I pay two-way postage).

I "won" these in ebay auctions. The people are easy to work with and friendly, if not yet the most organized of ebay sellers. Good communication.

I am satisfied with the styles. The Homburg brim is "flatter" than the traditional style seen in US. I applied a little steam and tied it up like a boy with a toothache, and now its fine for me. One could quibble about the finish materials, but still nice enough for me. The glue placement of where the liner was attached was too high in the crown in one place, it might print through the felt after time. But I could fix it if it becomes a bother. I like the felt and the liner, both are very nice. Both the derby and the Homburg are quite stiff - the derby more so - (as one would expect for these styles) but lightweight. The sweatbands in each seem good quality and nicely done.

By the way, one sweatband was gold-stamped with "JJ Hats" also, so some of these are hats that have been returned by retail outlets. I was a bit surprised by that, but the hat was clearly new, and it didn't bother me.

With their exchange policy to address the size issue, I believe these are excellent value for what I paid - $45-$55 US + shipping. For $80-90 US, it would be a choice between this Homburg and the Akubra Homburg. I am dubious, but curious, about Akubra's claim to be able to turn their Homburg into a derby by making it open crown. They don't seem to offer a derby.

Cheers!

 

[Prof Branestawm]

Thanks for the information. I'm still not quite sure whether to go ahead and get a fedora from them - their communication isn't marvellous, so I'm not sure about the crown height and various other things I have asked them, but not recieved a reply about.

 

[besdor]

Many of the Lagomarsino hats that are being sold on Ebay are hat that were refused or not accepted by the vendors from the manufacturer. They are all new . The distributor has a few thousand hats in stock in Florida.



Steven
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[RBH]

Welcome to the Lounge Prof.
Enjoy your stay!

 

[Prof Branestawm]

Thanks! There's a mine of helpful information here.

 

[NewMexExpat]

Very Satisfied With Lagomarsino

Welcome, Prof.

I'm getting in on this thread a bit late, so it may be too late to do you any good. Never-the-less --

I bought a Lagomarsino from Levine Hat Company in St Louis, Missouri in December 2005. I paid $70.00 USD for it. I only own four hats, but it is my favorite. It feels wonderful, handles rain and snow well and holds its shape.

I think the style is the Jack, but am not sure. I'm not wearing the hat today, but I think the dimensions are: 5 - 51/4" crown in front, as bashed; 2 1/2 - 2 3/4" Brim. It came open-crowned, I think, and I hand shaped it while on my head. I have used a little steam, and done some more shaping since the pictures were taken.

Besdor mentioned the different style and finish problems: It is not as straight-sided as many folks here like; it is built with a bit of taper in the crown. (Top picture without flash is closest to actual color)

In the photos, if you look closely at the brim just in front of the pinch on the crown, , toward the right side of the picture, there are some lines or "scratches" visible. I don't know if this was a manufacturing mistake (over-pouncing?) or if I scratched it somehow brushing it or something.

The black leather sweatband is not as nice as the one in my Open Road or Panama Hatworks of Montecristi hat. The liner is nice; it is not glued in, an seems not to be quite centered, but I haven't messed with it much.

I really like the medium brim and the medium ribbon width. As I said, it has become my favorite, but is too heavy for midwestern hot and humid summers. I positively lusted after the Open Roads and Stratoliners I saw posted here, but after getting my OR and wearing it awhile I think the Lagomarsino suits my features a little better.

Hope this is helpful, and that if you get a Lagomarsino that your experience will be as good as mine has been.

Kind Regards,

- Mark

 

[besdor]

As I said, good quality , but the shapes and trimming were not up to par. I spent one week in the Lagomarsino factory and it was a complete mess.




Steven
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[NewMexExpat]

Is my foot in my mouth?

Sorry, Besdor, if I sounded like I was contradicting you; that certainly wasn't my intent. I thought as an owner/wearer I ought to give the Prof a response, and maybe find out if the flaws I made note of were the sort of things you were talking about (shape, taper, "scratches"). I guess I just got lucky and got a hat I'm satisfied with, or I just don't realize how little I still know about quality.

One of the main reasons I lurked here so long, and then finally registered is because I appreciate the wealth of knowledge available here from all levels of hat lovers, but especially from the experienced professionals like you and others here.

Speaking of "how little I still know": When you talk about hats being "trimmed right", is that the shape of the brim, or something else? I think I understand the remarks about style and blocking.

I think it's so cool that you went to the factory! I can't imagine spending two weeks there. You obviously checked them out thoroughly.

Always appreciate your input here; again, I hope my post didn't give the wrong impression.

Best Regards,

- Mark