Looking for some brand advice on a new hat.

[Jack H]

Can't argue with the suggestions, but it would be helpful to know your location. There may be something near you we know about that you don't.[/QUO

 

[tropicalbob]

Being able to see how a hat looks on your particular noggin is everything, but, if you're not able to do that, I think you can't go wrong with a Campdraft or a Fed IV. I don't think I've ever seen anyone look bad in one or the other. I've known a few guys who started off with hats that didn't suit them, me included, and it put us off hats entirely for some time. Also, if you find the right "starter" you can forget about the "one hat" concept: it really is a sort of addiction. Incredible fun, though.

 

[Jack H]

Thanks guys.

We live in Albertville Alabama. It's a small town between Birmingham and Huntsville. Northeast part of the state.

 

[Frunobulax]

Thanks guys.

We live in Albertville Alabama. It's a small town between Birmingham and Huntsville. Northeast part of the state.

Yeah, that's a pickle. Atlanta is the closest place that probably has a decent hat shop. perhaps @Bamaboots has a suggestion.

 

[Bamaboots]

Thanks guys.

We live in Albertville Alabama. It's a small town between Birmingham and Huntsville. Northeast part of the state.

Welcome, Jack. Very familiar with the Albertville area. My dad was living there when he passed several years ago. Not much in hats there. JR's Western World on University in Huntsville carries a few modern Stetson dress hats and of course a slew of westerns. Preston's in Athens, west of JR's also carries a few modern Stetson dress hats but not many. I was in there about four days ago and they had several colors of the Stratoliner but nothing impressive. At least if you visited these you might find a style you like and get your sizing down then you'd be a little more comfortable doing some online shopping for a nicer hat.

 

[Frunobulax]

Welcome, Jack. Very familiar with the Albertville area. My dad was living there when he passed several years ago. Not much in hats there. JR's Western World on University in Huntsville carries a few modern Stetson dress hats and of course a slew of westerns. Preston's in Athens, west of JR's also carries a few modern Stetson dress hats but not many. I was in there about four days ago and they had several colors of the Stratoliner but nothing impressive. At least if you visited these you might find a style you like and get your sizing down then you'd be a little more comfortable doing some online shopping for a nicer hat.

Thanks, buddy. I knew you'd come through.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[belfastboy]

Thanks guys.

We live in Albertville Alabama. It's a small town between Birmingham and Huntsville. Northeast part of the state.

I fully agree with TropicalBob. Trying on a hat in person is critical in my experience. It is not just what style hat fits your proportions but also what style hat you feel comfortable wearing. I own Akubra Campdrafts and love them, a big fan of Stetson Stetsonians but they are both big crown, medium brimmed hats and maybe too much hat to start with. Or perhaps not, you may be comfortable with that right off the bat but it would be a shame to purchase your first hat and be disappointed with the look. It took me a while to warm up to the bigger crowns and wider brims. A 1/4" diff on a brim makes a big difference to the look. Crown height can be played with lessened by bashing a deeper crease.
As a note too hat sizing varies so there is inherent risk in buying online unless they have a return policy or will check the size and guarantee it before shipping. I ordered a 7 3/8 Biltmore on Ebay last week it is marked 7 3/8 but fits like a large 7 1/2. Nice hat at a great price but it sure don't fit me.

 

[Jack H]

I fully agree with TropicalBob. Trying on a hat in person is critical in my experience. It is not just what style hat fits your proportions but also what style hat you feel comfortable wearing. I own Akubra Campdrafts and love them, a big fan of Stetson Stetsonians but they are both big crown, medium brimmed hats and maybe too much hat to start with. Or perhaps not, you may be comfortable with that right off the bat but it would be a shame to purchase your first hat and be disappointed with the look. It took me a while to warm up to the bigger crowns and wider brims. A 1/4" diff on a brim makes a big difference to the look. Crown height can be played with lessened by bashing a deeper crease.
As a note too hat sizing varies so there is inherent risk in buying online unless they have a return policy or will check the size and guarantee it before shipping. I ordered a 7 3/8 Biltmore on Ebay last week it is marked 7 3/8 but fits like a large 7 1/2. Nice hat at a great price but it sure don't fit me.

I did stop by a local Western store to at see what they had. No fedora of course. I did try on a few western hats hoping to get an idea on sizing. But I discovered that even for the same brans and style of hat, the sizing wasn't consistent. They were $60 to $100 hats which might have been a factor.

I would love to find a good shop with lots of fedoras to try on. I'm having surgery tomorrow and don't know if I'll be up to taking a trip anywhere before Christmas.

 

[Frunobulax]

I did stop by a local Western store to at see what they had. No fedora of course. I did try on a few western hats hoping to get an idea on sizing. But I discovered that even for the same brans and style of hat, the sizing wasn't consistent. They were $60 to $100 hats which might have been a factor.

I would love to find a good shop with lots of fedoras to try on. I'm having surgery tomorrow and don't know if I'll be up to taking a trip anywhere before Christmas.

Well, best of luck with the surgery.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Bob Roberts]

What Fruno said. ^^^

 

[Jack H]

Thanks. I'lol post an update.

Btw, hope it doesn't get me laughed out of here, but I like the fedoras that Redington wears on The Black List.

 

[Redfokker]

You should focus on something enjoyable while recovering from surgery, like a new hat! Hope all goes well. We will be waiting here patiently for you.

 

[Frunobulax]

Thanks. I'lol post an update.

Btw, hope it doesn't get me laughed out of here, but I like the fedoras that Redington wears on The Black List.

Of course not. Spader wears some fine lids. He's been discussed many times over in the Hats on TV thread.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[RJR]

Of course not. Spader wears some fine lids. He's been discussed many times over in the Hats on TV thread.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Hope the surgery went well.As Fruno says,Spader's hats are often dicussed.As I remember mostly Borsos from JJ Hat Center.

 

[tropicalbob]

Question for the old hands: have we ever seen anyone who instead of developing from smaller brims and crowns to larger ones go in the opposite direction? From larger to smaller? I can't think of anyone.
PS - Hope the surgery went well. Cheers.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Im sure some have gone from smaller to larger and then mighta backed off a bit. Not Joao though.

 

[Jack H]

Well the surgery went well. I'm at home for rest and recovery. Very sore. No lifting anything over 2 pounds for 2 weeks. No driving for a while.

So plenty of time to read threads here, to look at fedoras online and trying to find a hat shop with really nice hats in driving distance.

 

[Frunobulax]

Speedy Recovery, Jack. Glad things worked out.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Well the surgery went well. I'm at home for rest and recovery. Very sore. No lifting anything over 2 pounds for 2 weeks. No driving for a while.

So plenty of time to read threads here, to look at fedoras online and trying to find a hat shop with really nice hats in driving distance.

Jack,

Birmingham is 5-6 hours' drive from New Orleans. You could drive down for an overnight stay and check Meyer the Hatter: http://meyerthehatter.com/

An old-line hat store, they have nearly everything you can imagine. Though their website seems to be low on choices, there's quite a bit more selection in the store.

 

[tropicalbob]

Well the surgery went well. I'm at home for rest and recovery. Very sore. No lifting anything over 2 pounds for 2 weeks. No driving for a while.

So plenty of time to read threads here, to look at fedoras online and trying to find a hat shop with really nice hats in driving distance.

If it cheers you up any, I had a temporary replacement tooth put in two days ago: I just swallowed it with a bite of a chicken sandwich. Until tomorrow I'll be looking like Jed Clampett.
Glad to hear your surgery went well, though.