Newbie - Don't know where to start

[weberboy]

I'm recently interested in wearing nicer hat (rather than my standard baseball caps). I did some online searching and stumbled across this site. I also did some searching for hat stores in my area (Chester County, PA). I can't find anything without going into Philadelphia. I don't even know what type of hat would be right for me. I searched the mall for some hats just to try on and can't find any at all. HELP! How should I get started?

I'm looking to start out cheap. I don't know if I will stick with it. So I don't want to end up in a specialty store in the city that will end up costing me big bucks.

Any help on how to get started is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[handlebar bart]

Welcome to the FL, you will like it here. I started out with an Akubra Sydney which is a good starter hat because it is not too aggressive in crown height or brim treatment. It also isn't too expensive. I have now moved onto hats with much taller crowns (ebay, customs, and in the merchants forum) , but it took time to become comfortable with that look. The sydney helped with that transition for me. And though I have 'outgrown' the sydney I still wear it daily as my work hat. It isn't the only hat that falls into the category of a starter hat, but it worked for me. There are great vendor sponsors here who would love to put you into a good hat.

 

[MattJH]

Another fellow Philadelphian, or at least somewhat local to it. Seriously, such a hat-wearing city.

weberboy - You need to travel into the city to pick up a modern fedora. Try Hats In The Belfry on the northeast corner of 2nd and South. Otherwise, I second handlebar bart's opinion. The Akubra Sydney is an excellent one to start with.

And read the sticky threads.

And the archives.

And the FAQs.

And try on hats.

 

[GWD]

I agree with the first two post, WELCOME to the lounge! Go down town and try on as many hats as you are interested in. Study yourself in the mirror with each hat, pretty soon you'll get a feel for what you like and dislike. Bring a friend and asked his or her opinion. If you follow the typical pattern you'll be drawn to the stingy brim hats (hats with less than 2 inch brims) you'll probably like them best because they aren't that big of a departure from the caps you're used to wearing, and most of the younger hat wearing crowd are wearing the shorter brim fedoras. My collection is about half and half, stingy and non stingy brims. Get what you like and enjoy!

Good Luck!

 

[MattJH]

Another hat shop to try is on the south side of South Street between 8th and 9th. Ask for Oscar. He's great.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

I'm recently interested in wearing nicer hat (rather than my standard baseball caps).

Good for you! And welcome to The Lounge. Show us what you end up with.

G'luck

 

[tortswon]

Welcome

Howdy weberboy and welcome from another Philly area newbie. I'm in much the same position as you from the standpoint of experience so I can't give you substantive advice. From the standpoint of procedure (you can tell I'm a lawyer), ask and you will receive. The members here have been uniformly courteous and gracious in sharing information. I have also called several of the gentlemen who make hats and they have proven to be a valuable resource. Take your time and have fun! Best, Sam

 

[MAB1]

heheheh http://www.outbackoutlet.com/shop/category.asp?catid=9

If your are in our local area, please visit us at the Outback Trading Company Store where you will find a sale everyday. Business hours are Mon-Sat 9:30 a.m.until 5:00 p.m. You will soon discover "It's Worth the Drive"
29 S 3rd St
Oxford, PA 19363-1602

That's where most of us got our Riverina's.

 

[weberboy]

Thanks for all the quick responses. Dumbjaw - Hats In The Belfry was the only store I could find in my searching. I guess a trip to South Street will need to be planned soon. I'll let you all know what I end up with.

Wish me luck.....

 

[MattJH]

Thanks for all the quick responses. Dumbjaw - Hats In The Belfry was the only store I could find in my searching. I guess a trip to South Street will need to be planned soon. I'll let you all know what I end up with.

Wish me luck.....

I live 5 blocks off of South Street. I'd be glad to meet up with you and offer some tips if you'd like. The other one is between 8th and 9th and it's called South Street hats. A Saturday morning / early afternoon would be perfect for me. If not, the clerks at both stores should be able to help you out as well (although Hats In The Belfry gets very busy at times and there's generally only one clerk staffed).

 

[ScionPI2005]

Wish me luck.....

LUCK!!!

And do show us what you come up with. And welcome to the Lounge!

 

[ScottyBlues]

Definitely link up with another hat guy. There's nothing so helpful as taking an experienced hat-wearer when you go shopping to get feedback on what's a good fit and looks good for your face. Plus, they will be far better at spotting differences in quality, particularly in the felt.

Welcome to the fraternity!

 

[Stan]

Hi,

By all means, do make the trip to a hat shop and try some on. I could not find one around Raleigh at the time I was starting, and so opted for the eBay route.

The end result is I now have some of my early acquisitions that will probably wind up sitting on the shelf, eventually to go back up on eBay. Once I figured out what I wanted, it wasn't what I first started with. Ye Olde learning process, as it were.

I'd suggest going to a real hat shop, even if the end result is you buy nothing at first. I also like the idea of hooking up with someone that has hat experience even if what they hwppen to like isn't exactly what you happen to like. It'd make the whole process more enjoyable at the least!

Stan

 

[Panamabob]

Welcome. BTW, that's my nickname...I should have grabbed it first...Weberboy.

 

[tortswon]

Can I grab some of that action?

I live 5 blocks off of South Street. I'd be glad to meet up with you and offer some tips if you'd like. The other one is between 8th and 9th and it's called South Street hats. A Saturday morning / early afternoon would be perfect for me. If not, the clerks at both stores should be able to help you out as well (although Hats In The Belfry gets very busy at times and there's generally only one clerk staffed).

Hey Dumbjaw, can I go along on that excursion? I live right next to Society Hill Towers. I would have PM'd but I can't do that yet (not enough posts). Best, Sam

 

[MattJH]

Hey Dumbjaw, can I go along on that excursion? I live right next to Society Hill Towers. I would have PM'd but I can't do that yet (not enough posts). Best, Sam

Of course! I had a momentous teenage moment right there in the courtyard of Society Hill Towers. Remind me to tell you about it.

Me, weberboy, tortswon. Anyone else?

 

[swisslet]

Just so you know weberboy, hats are really, really addictive: get one, and I guarantee you will be hooked and boring all your friends with talk of bashes and turns and things like that. That's what happened to me, anyway.

Oh, and one hat is never enough... so be ready for that too.

Welcome. If I were you, I'd take up some of these kind gentlemen on their offers of help.... you can't have too much expert guidance when you're taking those first little steps into a larger world. The forums here (and on Club Obi Wan if you're interested in an Indy Fedora) were a gold mine of useful information for me.

I just joined the 14 month waiting list for an AB Deluxe, and I'm counting the days!

 

[Colby Jack]

Welcome to the lounge weberboy!...Enjoy enjoy!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap and I'd go for an Akubra to start with....Ya can't go wrong!

 

[Spats McGee]

Welcome to the Lounge, weberboy, and Happy Hat Hunting!

A word of caution, though. I'm going to echo the "hats are addictive" line. Get one decent hat and pretty soon, you'll need:

• One to wear with your brown suit;
• One to wear with your black suit;
• One to wear on casual occasions;
• One to wear on formal occasions;
• One to wear in cold weather;
• One to wear on hot weather;
• One to wear . . .

I think you can see where this is going.

Good luck on you search.

 

[Stan]

One to wear....

Hi,

Just FYI, I've not been at this a year yet, and my own 'one to wear' list is up to two dozen. Yes, 24, and I *know* it will wind up much, much longer that that since the original list was only for four hats total......

So, by all means make the trip to the hat store with the willing assistants lining up here to help you out. Go with a 'one hat only' list - but don't be surprised when that list grows as time passes!

Oh, and most of all, enjoy yourself! I have to admit that this hat business has been *very* enjoyable. I'm speaking for myself only here, of course, but I think you'll find that I'm not alone!

Later!

Stan