New Member Need Help

[Romans6.23]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and the fedora world. I've been digging through endless sites but still can not find a fedora for me. My price range is a little bit low at the moment around $60-75 range.

I'm looking for a fedora that will hold up at least a few years. Currently I just have a cheap cotton fedora in the stingy style. The stingy style fedora I think fits me more then others, I'm pretty tall and slim.

New or vintage doesn't matter. My hat size is between 7 1/4 and 7 3/8. I dress business casual, usually slacks and a long sleeve button down shirt if that helps.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[billysmom]

Welcome! You're among phenomenal enablers here.

You have a fairly common hat size, so competition on eBay is rather stiff for vintage lids. But the more common, less Golden Age stingies can be had in your price range.

Sue

 

[RBH]

Welcome to the Lounge!
Check out The Fedora Store for one ....they have a large offering in many prices.

http://www.thefedorastore.com/Felt-Dress-Hats-s/1.htm

Also check out Bencraft.

http://www.bencrafthats.com/list.php?cattype=1&subcatid=1&subcname=Felt+Hats

When you find the style you like, I suggest contacting one of the fine hatters here on the Lounge to get you a custom fedora !

Good Luck!

 

[Romans6.23]

Thanks. I have already checked out that store also a few others. I guess my problem is trying to narrow down one that is "worth" the money. I just want to make sure I get the best quality for my price range.

Here is my cheap fedora. I know its not great but we all have to start somewhere.

 

[indycop]

Welcome to the lounge! I believe you have hatman jacks in Kansas also, Wichita maybe.

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Welcome sir! I would agree with billysmom that a good non-vintage hat in your price range should be easy to find on e-Bay. Best bet is to ask questions of the seller before bidding; most are happy to answer and be helpful. Choose from those with good photos (and several different angles).

 

[Romans6.23]

I'm not too far from the Stetson factory outlet. What is the likelihood that I would find a fedora in my price range there?

 

[seed]

Honestly, you should consider pushing up your price range just a bit and get a decent fur felt that will last your lifetime...not that you will care as you will soon be purchasing more additions, up to and including vintage and customs. As with anything at which you are relatively new, don't expect to find the end all, be all perfect answer to your needs. You won't even know what is close to that until you try out different things. And don't expect to find the best deal on your first try. Just get something reasonable that you will totally wear.

Personally, I would recommend going to a good hat store and trying out some decent factory hats in the style you like. If they carry Akubra or Biltmore, those are solid starters. Get one with the stingy brim you like, and or have them or someone else cut it to your personal width. Then either have them shape it or take it home and get your tea kettle ready. Just be sure to read the threads here on how to do it! And be careful around your sweatband. You might consider purchasing some stiffener, but usually it isn't necessary (sometimes though). A hat brush is a must however, and a hat stand is extremely handy.

That said, my first entry into the world of actually wearing hats in public was a Biltmore Eleganza which had the brim cut to 1 3/4 and the crown steam-shaped in the store. Knowing what I know now (thanks to this board), I realize the store was not that knowledgeable, skilled or all that reasonable in price (not too bad though)...but they were as helpful as they could be and followed my instructions as best they could. The result is a hat I still wear a lot and one which has resulted in a lot of offspring from other sources, including eBay and custom makers such as VS and Penman. But thanks to my original hands-on purchase in the beginning, I know what to order sight-unseen.

 

[Mr. Paladin]

I'm not too far from the Stetson factory outlet. What is the likelihood that I would find a fedora in my price range there?

I think it quite likely. Hats at the Garland Outlet now seem to be priced at three levels-$59.95-$79.95-and $99.95 for the beaver hats such as the Pinnacle. I would assume your pricing there would be similar. Stetson often has some prototypes or hats made for other companies there which are a bit different from their regular line, which is fine as it is. I would definitely try there if its close enough for a trip. I like many of the modern Stetsons, as well as vintage models, and own several.

 

[AlterEgo]

Romans6:23,

Seed's advice is excellent. Read it three more times.

You are a newbie to the hat world and presently know next to nothing, so you have to start somewhere. Best place is IN PERSON at a local hat store. Trying on many different styles of hat with a hatter who is patient and understands you are a freshman in this realm and is more interested in long-term patronage instead of a quick sale is the ideal scenario. I don't know the hat store scene in KC, but perhaps others here do and will chime in with where to go.

If there's no such convenient resource, and usually even when there is, you can expect to pay more for a lesser product that may not be the ideal hat for your head/face/body build. You cannot become an expert without considerable experience, and that takes some strike-outs before hitting the homer.

If you must stick to a strict budget, look at the Jaxon hats at Village Hat Shop. Even then, at your stated price point, you may be largely restricted to wool felt hats. Although you may learn something about what STYLE looks good on your head from a wool hat, they are a TOTALLY different animal from fur felt, so I would advise you to merely try wool felts on for looks only and not buy one.

Once you decide what looks good on you--and, warning--that will expand as you get more and more into hats--hold off purchasing and save up for a while to get a decent pure rabbit fur felt. I'd strongly recommend an Akubra.

Akubras direct from Australia at www.EverythingAustralian.com.au, www.HatsDirect.com, or even www.DavidMorgan.com in Seattle are currently in the $110 to $135 range, including shipping, and they are hats that will truly last a lifetime, or if you decide the one you got is not for you, easy to sell. The Sydney/Fedora or especially Hampton are relatively narrow brim Fedora's you'd probably like.

Good luck and welcome to the world of fine fur felt hats!

 

[Romans6.23]

Stetson Outlet

Well the family and I drove to St. Joseph to the Stetson Outlet store. I tried on on almost every fedora on their wall. I decided to go with a Dobbs Dayton in Cordova color and another Dobbs in Steel I do not know the model name. Total for both hats came to about $60.00.

I fall inbetween 7 1/4 and 7 3/8. Some of the 3/8 I tried on were way to big and the 1/4 were too tight. Both the hats I bought are in 1/4 the Dayton was stretched a little by a worker there. It feels tight but doesn't leave a mark on my forehead.

I think my next choice will just be a custom from maybe Art or Penman. After I save up the money. I might as well save the money to buy a hat that will fit me perfect and last me a long long time.


Thanks for the replies and the forum it has been very helpful. I am really glad I tried on the hats instead of just ordering one because the sizes very so much from hat to hat.

 

[theinterchange]

I tried on on almost every fedora on their wall. I decided to go with a Dobbs Dayton in Cordova color and another Dobbs in Steel I do not know the model name. Total for both hats came to about $60.00.

Wow, that's a great price! :eusa_clap Congrats, and I look forward to seeing pics of them on your head. AND, welcome to the Lounge!

Randy

 

[seed]

Congrats. And good on you for getting something you could sample. Now that you have a couple of hats, a few things will come up from which you will learn for future purchases. One of them is how you like a hat of a certain crown height to sit on your head. Personally, I like the lower crown hats to sit just a bit higher on my dome as compared to the slightly higher crown hats I have. From that, you will learn wear to wrap the cloth measuring tape to find the exact circumference of your melon for when you order your custom. Just remember to hold the tape loosely!...and in general, slightly too big is always better than too small.

The next thing I learned is that certain styles, crown heights and colors go better with different types of outfits I wear. Generally, the less formal (i.e. down to a tank top), the more my lower crown hats work. When I am wearing my nice rain coat with what appears to be nice clothes underneath, my higher crown hats (which are not really high compared the vast majority of members here) fit the bill. And although I really only wear stingies with the brim snapped up, I know that the above observations apply for brim width if I ever decide to wear wider brims (wider goes better with more formal for me).

These are my own personal preferences...that's all. You have to find what works for you. And when you do with the tools you have just purchased, you too will find what is comfortable for you. Plus you will experiment with bashes to get it right for your personal tastes. Don't be afraid to change the bash on your expensive hats. This is just me, but I can't understand some of the bashes (or lack thereof) I see in pictures of people who just ordered an expensive custom. They just take it out of the box and wear it as they received it. In contrast, there are a few members who always expertly rebash their hats to a relatively large extent and the difference is HUGE in a positive sense...and truthfully, it's not that hard to do!

One final thing...Be sure to get a couple of hat stands and a hat brush. Personally, I would also recommend a hat stretcher for those hats which are a bit too tight. Although I have read on more than a few occasions the importance of either getting an expensive stretcher and or using one of those super expensive full size, heated metal stretchers found in some stores, my own experience is that the very common and affordable Hat-Jack works just fine. I have even used them on a couple of expensive customs which were too small. And the result was nothing short of GREAT.

Oh and I bought a very nice steamer (Jiffy) which I can use for my hats or clothes. My advice is to save your money and just get a tea kettle (which does NOT whistle, of course). The steamer I got is extreme overkill for shaping hats, but it is very handy for clothes and such (I hate ironing!), so it is not a total loss.

Good luck to you.

 

[MCrider]

Hmmm he was looking for that one hat to last a lifetime... then he went and bought TWO hats and is now talking about a custom. Oh what a slippery slope this is!

 

[gtdean48]

Hmmm he was looking for that one hat to last a lifetime... then he went and bought TWO hats and is now talking about a custom. Oh what a slippery slope this is!

Another victim of this dreaded sickness we all share...

 

[Mickey D]

There are many many more experienced folks that reside and post here. Great information.
I'm also new to hat wearing, particularly fedoras. I For what it's worth, I started with a couple Bailey hats from the Fedora Store. Nice styles, decent construction and in your price range. Wearing them are getting me used to hats and I get a lot of compliments.
Give them a thought until you are ready to move up.

Bailey stingy (formed stiff wool felt)

 

[carldelo]

I decided to go with a Dobbs Dayton in Cordova color and another Dobbs in Steel I do not know the model name. Total for both hats came to about $60.00.

Very well done, considering a Dobbs Dayton costs $130 new. I wish I lived on the same part of the continent as a Stetson outlet. Dark brown and mid-gray are a great pair to start off with, as well. Welcome to the obsession, sounds like you'll need something in silverbelly or sage green very soon....

 

[Romans6.23]

Very well done, considering a Dobbs Dayton costs $130 new. I wish I lived on the same part of the continent as a Stetson outlet. Dark brown and mid-gray are a great pair to start off with, as well. Welcome to the obsession, sounds like you'll need something in silverbelly or sage green very soon....

I almost went with the Silverbelly but the ones I tried on just didn't fit right. They had some Open Road for only $20 but I don't think my head can shrink to the size they had.

Being a novice at fedoras I did notice the flaws in the hats and the reason they were at that price. Knowing that I still think they were some good deals.

 

[carldelo]

I almost went with the Silverbelly but the ones I tried on just didn't fit right. They had some Open Road for only $20 but I don't think my head can shrink to the size they had.

Being a novice at fedoras I did notice the flaws in the hats and the reason they were at that price. Knowing that I still think they were some good deals.

Yep, no reason to buy a tight hat - no joy there. There'll be more coming around the bend presently, no doubt. $20 for an OR is a bona-fide steal, but only if it's in your size...