Bob Roberts
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 11,201
- Location
- milford ct
You're welcome. Amongst other things too.
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Optimo south side mobsters
- Thread starter Bruce Wayne
- Start date
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.
Seen from the front.
Seen from the bow side.
Seen from the plain ribbon side.
Seen from the rear.
Seen from the top.
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.
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.
Seen from the front.
Seen from the bow side.
Seen from the plain ribbon side.
Seen from the rear.
Seen from the top.
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:
Very nice,I like the colors.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.
Seen from the front.
Seen from the bow side.
Seen from the plain ribbon side.
Seen from the rear.
Seen from the top.
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.
Bruce Wayne
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,394
So my bottle green optimo has too high of a crown at 6 1/2 inches so I'm going to sell it. Earlier this morning I ordered it's replacement. Exact same dimensions except with a 5 1/2 open crown.
DJH
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 6,355
- Location
- Ft Worth, TX
Yeah, 6 1/2 is a seriously high crown.
DOGMAN
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,625
- Location
- Northeast Ohio
I convert westerns with 6 1/2" crowns.I like to crease my hats at 5" in the front.Love the tall crowns.
Bruce Wayne
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,394
Want to buy my current hat?
Same here.
DOGMAN
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,625
- Location
- Northeast Ohio
I'll bet it's a awesome hat.To be honest I'm way to cheap to buy a Optimo hat.
Bruce Wayne
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,394
I'm asking $450 which is $200 off the current price.
Bruce Wayne
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,394
My hat will be ready on July 9th.
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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?
DOGMAN
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,625
- Location
- Northeast Ohio
Yes,I have creased a 6 1/2" crown with teardrop,diamond and center dent.Love the deep crease.
Bruce Wayne
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,394
T-minus two weeks until I pick up my new hat.
Bruce Wayne
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,394
Turns out that my hat was delayed by a week because of the move to to new firehouse factory location. I will be picking it up this Saturday & then going for a hike at Red Gate Woods.
Bruce Wayne
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,394
I don't remember if it was mentioned but with the move to the new flagship store downtown & production moving to the old Beverly fire house the store on south Western Ave is now closed.
mbroadus
New in Town
- Messages
- 11
- Location
- Arlington, VA & Austin, TX
Some great info and pics on this thread. Bought my first Optimo last weekend while in Chicago.
KY Crusader
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 314
- Location
- Bluegrass State
Please post some pictures if you can!
mbroadus
New in Town
- Messages
- 11
- Location
- Arlington, VA & Austin, TX
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.
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.
