Paul's Hat Works

[Colby Jack]

I've been to Paul's.

I think the guy smokes his lunch.

he's got to to charge that much!...and also to buy one of those hats.....[huh]

 

[Andykev]

Yes it is better at Fino Fino

I purchased a couple of panamas from Paul's about ten years ago. They were Cuencas in the several hundred dollar range and are nice hats. But I've learned since then that I can get Montecristis of considerably better quality for the same price. For those that reside in the SF Bay Area, check out Fino Fino in Palo Alto. (I hope I didn't break any rules just now.)

No, you are being honest! Carol has a very nice hat shop. I found it "hard to find" as it is tucked in a small shopping center. She sells OPTIMO hats, and Graham Thompson does a Trunk Show there a couple times a year. I think he has one this week. Or was it last week? I got the post card..but didn't make it.

http://www.finofino.com/index.html

 

[Undertow]

Gullibility.

Unless the hat is made from the fur taken from a genetically recreated wooly mammoth, has a liner made from Queen Victoria's wedding dress, and has its sweatband embossed with gold leaf, there is no reason for a hat to be $1500 other than for someone to be able to tell his equally-wealthy friends how much his hat cost him.

Remember when I mentioned rich know-nothings?

lol Nice description.

 

[FATS88]

Maybe one day...

The felt, hat bands, wind trollies etc. that Mike uses
are all 1940 vintage "new old stock" I don't know what that means
in it self or is worth.
I wish he would reconsider cleaning and reblocking hats again,
I've even offered to work for him for free! just to learn, so I can
work on my own (personal) hats.
I called him a few weeks back to wish him a happy properous holiday season, and to ask a question, I didn't get a answer,
and I've noticed his website is down.
I can't afford a $1500.00 fed either, but he still spent a couple of hours
educating me on hats, dating hat styles and discussing our rapidly changing
(for the worse) city.
If he can sell hats for his asking price, then we loungers should be supportive.


GO HEAD ON MIKE!
Fats

 

[mesa-royale]

A visit to Paul's hats.

Did a bit of slumming today, thrifts and etc. sporting my Marathon 4X stingy brim and ended up at a vintage clothing store where I scored a sweet 71/2 Bourse Cellini black 2 3/8 inch brim fedora for 45 bucks. Feelin good I headed home and spotted a parking space near Paul's Hats. I've been by it a ton of times but figured it was too pricey for my budget. As I admired his wares in the window, Mike showed up to open the shop. Went in and started yaking about a lid in the window....3 inch brimmed beauty which he announced was 1500 dollars! Okaaay, out of my range but not that scary as it felt to the touch like butter and fit like a dream. I wear a lot of cowboy hats and know they can cost plenty, even the assembly line ones. Then he shifted to the Panama hats and said to me try this on. I said WOW, gorgeous. He said how much do you think?? I said 2 grand, a kings ransom for me. 30,000 smackers and I immediately handed the hat back, carefully, to him and exhaled. I've lived a little and know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but no way 30K. Half the fun of wearing is finding so whatever floats your boat.

 

[Justdog]

Article

Perhaps this article might shed some light on the question of cost and felt quality. Although the article focuses on cowboy hats, the import of the article--price, quality, and scarcity of beaver felt--would apply to fedoras as well:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172417,00.html

Superb link thanks:eusa_clap

 

[Justdog]

Don't forget to ask him how much money the weaver got when you
look at his $30,000 panamas.

Would not want to mistakenly put one of those on a table candle

 

[warbird]

Perhaps this article might shed some light on the question of cost and felt quality. Although the article focuses on cowboy hats, the import of the article--price, quality, and scarcity of beaver felt--would apply to fedoras as well:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172417,00.html

Superb link thanks:eusa_clap

He was charging that for hats long before the so-called shortage, so that isn't an excuse. If he gets schleps to pay that for a hat more power to him. It won't be me. There's only so much you can do to a hat and he can't do anything unless it is line it with gold that several of the other custom guys here don't do also. They likewise use vintage ribbon and accessories. Cowboy hats have themselves been outrageous for a long time, though they are naturally more because of the greater amounts of fur required to make one. Mike Moore will make a custom made cowboy hat for far cheaper and just as good as any of those $1500 or more hats. Period, I have felt his and theirs and seen his and theirs in action. There's no discernible difference.

Some just have the desire to say they paid this for a hat. Me I personally value getting a big value for my money. So i say hey I paid $300 for that hat you paid $2k for, who's the schmuck eh?

They all gets their fur from the same sources and if it was that short on supply, everyone would have gone up crazy amounts. Truth is he sells his hat to folks in that area who have been making insane amounts for a long time and he may have to rethink his biz model as the economy readjusts.

 

[feltfan]

The felt, hat bands, wind trollies etc. that Mike uses
are all 1940 vintage "new old stock" I don't know what that means
in it self or is worth.

I think you'll find that most custom hatters have at least
some vintage ribbon. Check out Art Fawcett's limited editions.
Odds are very good Mike gets his felt from the same supplier, too.
There is nothing in the materials to justify the price.

BTW, while it is true that Mike's store has been around for what?
100 years? and Mike has owned it for decades, I doubt he has made
or sold very many felt hats. As I recall, he started trying it in the
mid-90s and at his prices, I bet they don't fly off the shelf.
It would be interesting to know how much actual felt hat making
experience he has.

I wish he would reconsider cleaning and reblocking hats again

When I bought a Biltmore from him many years ago, it was with
the promise that he would clean and block hats bought at his store.
Now he won't do that. I feel no need to do further business with him.

I can't afford a $1500.00 fed either, but he still spent a couple of hours
educating me on hats, dating hat styles and discussing our rapidly changing
(for the worse) city.
If he can sell hats for his asking price, then we loungers should be supportive.

Yeah, he's a lot more interested in shooting the breeze than he
is in working. I don't know that we should be supportive of his
efforts to sell his hats for too much money. While I am all for separating
the rich from their money, I am concerned that a lot of people will be
turned off of hats if they think they can't afford a good one due to
Mike's prices. I'd rather see the rich taxed at a higher rate and hats
sold at a fair price.

If I'm not being entirely clear here, let me state my opinion:
to sell hats at those prices is just dishonest and takes advantage
of the lack of knowledge of the buying public. Sure, Mike will talk
hats and teach you a bit. But he won't tell you that you can get
a superb hat for a fifth of his price or less. I don't feel too bad for
most folks who want to spend a lot for snob value, but I don't think
he's doing much good for hats. We should support honest hat makers
like the ones so often mentioned on this site who offer a product as
good or better than the one Mike offers for much less money.

 

[KatintheHat]

I've found that what truly astonishes people is the fact that I can call a $200 hat cheap.

 

[Lily Powers]

Saw this brief blurb/photo in today's (14/14/2008) SF Chronicle's Living Section about Paul's Hat Works and that he's struggling to pay the rent on his shop space. It intrigued me and I appreciate reading the feedback from Loungers familiar with the shop, as it was a possible stop on my visit to SF this week with my Fedora lover. o I mean my boyfriend who loves to wear Fedoras). I think we'll visit Fino Fino in Palo Alto instead, thanks to the suggestions here.

Here's the link to "City Exposed: Paul's Hat Works."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/12/14/cityexposed.DTL

 

[FATS88]

I think you'll find that most custom hatters have at least
some vintage ribbon. Check out Art Fawcett's limited editions.
Odds are very good Mike gets his felt from the same supplier, too.
There is nothing in the materials to justify the price.

BTW, while it is true that Mike's store has been around for what?
100 years? and Mike has owned it for decades, I doubt he has made
or sold very many felt hats. As I recall, he started trying it in the
mid-90s and at his prices, I bet they don't fly off the shelf.
It would be interesting to know how much actual felt hat making
experience he has.


When I bought a Biltmore from him many years ago, it was with
the promise that he would clean and block hats bought at his store.
Now he won't do that. I feel no need to do further business with him.


Yeah, he's a lot more interested in shooting the breeze than he
is in working. I don't know that we should be supportive of his
efforts to sell his hats for too much money. While I am all for separating
the rich from their money, I am concerned that a lot of people will be
turned off of hats if they think they can't afford a good one due to
Mike's prices. I'd rather see the rich taxed at a higher rate and hats
sold at a fair price.

If I'm not being entirely clear here, let me state my opinion:
to sell hats at those prices is just dishonest and takes advantage
of the lack of knowledge of the buying public. Sure, Mike will talk
hats and teach you a bit. But he won't tell you that you can get
a superb hat for a fifth of his price or less. I don't feel too bad for
most folks who want to spend a lot for snob value, but I don't think
he's doing much good for hats. We should support honest hat makers
like the ones so often mentioned on this site who offer a product as
good or better than the one Mike offers for much less money.

I see that you're from Oakland,
are you affiliated with "The Hat Guys" ?
Because if you are then that would help explain some your remarks.
I can empathize with you about your Biltmore, that is kinda messed up.

He WAS working on hats the three times I've been by there.
Buy, don't buy[huh] but why cheap shot him?
Also, he DID tell me of other custom hatters, stateside, and overseas,
to better fit my tastes and finances.
Thirty eight years in business, thirtyEIGHT years.
The attitudes of the bay area hat RETAILERS, not to mention lacking the
knowledge of basic hat terms (when searching for a new straw a few years back, a famed hat seller, when asked about optimo crowned hats;
pulled out pork pies:eusa_doh: ) is what led me to his store
in the first place.

I will close with my opinion:
As I mentioned above, there are other places to buy a hat in the
region, nobody is standing outside his store with a gun or shepherd's
staff to make you go in or buy anything, if it was so, I'd be $4500 poorer.
And what's really dishonest, is when someone comes into a store,
looking for a particular style of hat, and explains in detail with photos, or other media, and then act like they don't know what you're looking for, and
won't help you by saying "try so and so's" or "I can order that" etc.
I could mention more but there's no need to take up all this thread space.
I did'nt know the FL could be used to talk smack about anyone selling hats.
If that's the case, I've plenty to tattle about*

*If anyone is interested I'd be more than happy to post a detailed journal
of my experiences with three bay area retailers. just the facts.
Experiences that I did not have with the four custom hatters
that I've had the pleasure to give my money to, and proud to be seen with their hats on.


All the same
Happy Holidays!
Fats

 

[feltfan]

I see that you're from Oakland,
are you affiliated with "The Hat Guys" ?
Because if you are then that would help explain some your remarks.
I can empathize with you about your Biltmore, that is kinda messed up.

Ha! If you read a bit more of this site you'll know better than to
suggest I'm associated with the Hat Guys.

Glad you enjoyed your visit with Michael. I still think
to sell hats at those prices is just dishonest and takes advantage
of the lack of knowledge of the buying public. Unless I hear
specific reasons to think otherwise, I encourage hat buyers
to seek other options. This is not "talking smack". This is sharing
a tip with others on the site who have shared so many tips with me.
There is nothing wrong with criticism, if it is accurate.

 

[FATS88]

Twas' the year of presumption

It seems to me,
that if YOU read a bit more of this site;
you would know that most of the the HAT buying public
is right here, or maybe it just looks that way.
I'd be interested to know how many loungers have bought a titfer
for more than...say one thousand dollars, taking into account
the price of a Top hat or a well made panama.

Did you yourself, bother to ask Mike about his prices?
or are you assuming he is dishonest? that's a severe word.
I'm just asking questions, not "suggestions" about your
publicly posted comments, so don't get your hackles up.

Mike seems like a decent man, and he's not a part of this thread
to rebut the bad mouthing, and that's why I replied.


Happy Holidays?
Fats

 

[Andykev]

Please share

*If anyone is interested I'd be more than happy to post a detailed journal
of my experiences with three bay area retailers. just the facts.
Experiences that I did not have with the four custom hatters
that I've had the pleasure to give my money to, and proud to be seen with their hats on.


/QUOTE]


I would enjoy any review and experiences you may wish to share.

 

[FATS88]

"The Retailers" ....sounds like a Ronald Regan B movie

AK,
Check your PMs

Fats

 

[Matt Deckard]

When i was in San Francisco last I stopped at Paul's and had a long conversation with him while he showed me the hats and his shop. He has a nice hat box collection.

I was wearing a brown Optimo at the time... he never looked at the liner though he loved the hat and thought it was vintage.

Looking closely at his fedoras... the leather bands were pretty stiff and the felt was, well it was stiff as well. It kind of reminded me of when I went to Gelot in Paris. The hats were something they didn't really want you to touch and if you did touch the hat you were expected to buy it.

I'll say that those looking for a status symbol by paying a high price they will have that high price paid, but the only way to gain your status is to mention that to everyone. The hats though... My optimo just had a better finnish and better construction.

 

[quintox]

One should always have the opportunity to speak their opinion – and forums are usually a good place for this purpose. I enjoy hearing and reading others opinions and sometimes respond with my own opinion but, always with balanced thinking.
As for choosing where to spend money, I appreciate guidance and experiences from others- where they buy is also very important.

Q


“The lips of wisdom are there, for the ears of understanding”

 

[feltfan]

I hope there are bartenders explaining that to these folks.

Yes there are Bartenders doing just that. Thank you,...AK.

 

[Paul-ette]

The Ladies of Paul's Hat Works

Hey y'all,

If any of you are interested in knowing a little bit more about the four ladies who have taken over Paul's Hat Works as well as keep yourselves updated on the progress of the shop, check out our blog at www.hatworksbypaul.wordpress.com. Also, our grand re-opening is going to be on Saturday, August 29th, if any of you would like to come email me (olivia@hatworksbypaul.com) your mailing addresses and I'll send you a formal invitation,

Keep up the great hat wearing,

~Paulette