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Optimo south side mobsters

Delthayre

One of the Regulars
Messages
258
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
My brick Dearborn came today. I had hoped to wear it on my trip to Philadelphia tomorrow, which it arrived in time for, but the weather is likely to be too cool for featherweight felt. (I'll likely wear my black VS hat)

I was told that it would probably be sent to me in late April and they were right about that. Buying from Optimo was different from my very limited experiences with other hatters, but they do seem invested in their products and I'm pleased to have one. The box that it came in, used as a platform for the pictures, is quite nice.

The color is darker than I had anticipated, but I like it and had been afraid that it would be too outré a red. It is slightly overlarge. I think that a miscommunication or error during the telephone fitting led me to getting a 2 5/8 hat, when I usually wear a 7 1/2 (and lately, especially after a haircut, I might be a 7 3/8). Never mind, because that's correctable complaining (I can ask them to reblock if it it's really a bother) and it is a great hat. The dimensions are very 'old school' and it's very nicely shaped. I might be wrong, but the brim feels close to dress weight, but the crown, which is where weight counts, is certainly thinner and more pliable than my dress weight hats. Everything about it seems well crafted of good materials and it has a very classic feel. I wasn't sure how wide the bow would be, but I like the width that they chose.

The style is called 'Dearborn', the felt is featherweight brick and the ribbon is in nicotine.

26097324624_cee8b23b40_z.jpg

Seen from the front.

26637142121_8cf3d9b50f_z.jpg

Seen from the bow side.
26637138421_9ee997876f_z.jpg

Seen from the plain ribbon side.

26430432270_d963ddfc1f_z.jpg

Seen from the rear.

26430427980_b9771e3a2f_z.jpg

Seen from the top.

26676437666_9e1c1c487d_z.jpg

The inside of the hat.

When the weather at last settles on warmer temperatures, it will see plenty of use. Perhaps with a little wear and absorbed sweat, it will settle on my head of its own accord.
 
Last edited:

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
My brick Dearborn came today. I had hoped to wear it on my trip to Philadelphia tomorrow, which it arrived in time for, but the weather is likely to be too cool for featherweight felt. (I'll likely wear my black VS hat)

I was told that it would probably be sent to me in late April and they were right about that. Buying from Optimo was different from my very limited experiences with other hatters, but they do seem invested in their products and I'm pleased to have one. The box that it came in, used as a platform for the pictures, is quite nice.

The color is darker than I had anticipated, but I like it and had been afraid that it would be too outré a red. It is slightly overlarge. I think that a miscommunication or error during the telephone fitting led me to getting a 2 5/8 hat, when I usually wear a 7 1/2 (and lately, especially after a haircut, I might be a 7 3/8). Never mind, because that's correctable complaining (I can ask them to reblock if it it's really a bother) and it is a great hat. The dimensions are very 'old school' and it's very nicely shaped. I might be wrong, but the brim feels close to dress weight, but the crown, which is where weight counts, is certainly thinner and more pliable than my dress weight hats. Everything about it seems well crafted of good materials and it has a very classic feel. I wasn't sure how wide the bow would be, but I like the width that they chose.

The style is called 'Dearborn', the felt is featherweight brick and the ribbon is in nicotine.

26097324624_cee8b23b40_z.jpg

Seen from the front.

26637142121_8cf3d9b50f_z.jpg

Seen from the bow side.
26637138421_9ee997876f_z.jpg

Seen from the plain ribbon side.

26430432270_d963ddfc1f_z.jpg

Seen from the rear.

26430427980_b9771e3a2f_z.jpg

Seen from the top.

26676437666_9e1c1c487d_z.jpg

The inside of the hat.

When the weather at last settles on warmer temperatures, it will see plenty of use. Perhaps with a little wear and absorbed sweat, it will settle on my head of its own accord.
Very nice,I like the colors.
 
Messages
10,858
Location
vancouver, canada
I convert westerns with 6 1/2" crowns.I like to crease my hats at 5" in the front.Love the tall crowns.
6" is the highest open crown I have ever bashed and had to work the bash to get it down to a level that looked okay on me. Can you bash a 6 1/2" crown down to a 5" or so with a deep teardrop?
 

mbroadus

New in Town
Messages
11
Location
Arlington, VA & Austin, TX
Please post some pictures if you can!

Will do...I bought a Heirloom silver belly with charcoal band. My wife also purchased a hat from Optimo, a non creased crown with a wider brim (Heirloom 1000 in shark grey). She been looking for a good quality womens hat ever since we returned from Paris. All the Parisian women were wearing them with and they looked great. Now we have to wait till October for delivery.
 

gregf

New in Town
Messages
8
Location
Seattle
It's permanent. I spoke with someone this past week.
That's really disappointing! The text on their site is a little goofy too...something like "We suggest you contact the original manufacturer." Do they have a lead on where to get a time machine? Odd too, since so much of their site and promotion talks about reviving the art of the traditional hatter. I'd think it would be worth maintaining this end of the business even if they needed to charge more.
 

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