Shape a Panama?

[Matthew]

Hey folks,

I just received this hat:

The description says:

<i>Made by Bianchi, this is a natural color geniune Panama straw man's hat size 7 1/8. It has a 2 1/4 inch brim black grosgrain trim and a sweatband. If you wish to reshape it: dampen throughly, reshape and hold in place with crumpled plastic bags inside and allow to dry. It is probably 20 years old.
</i>

From:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ch.dll?from=R40&satitle=280096201007%09&fvi=1

Now, concerning what this fellow says to *do* to this hat in order to shape it; do you reccomend that I actually soak the hat and then dry it in a (preferred) C-Crown-fedora shape? That's one of the main reasons I bought it.

*Can* I do this? I'd love to - it's pretty ugly in its present state. Just how do I undertake this process (I haven't done anything like this before)?

If not, how else can I shape this hat, if at all?

Thanks,

M

 

[RBH]

To try and give you an answer, yes I think you can put your own c-crown in that hat. Here are some photos of a panama I bought at Dillards around 9-10 years ago. It came with a center dent and I wet the crown and put the hat on and put the shape to it . I had forgotten about this hat, I used to wear it in the yard and garden, Im glad you made me remember it!
If you decide to give it a shot please let us know and show us some photos.

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/1331/hpim1212wl4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/8396/hpim1213al9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/4214/hpim1214fo7.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[Stoney]

They don't sell them like that at Dillards any more. I was just in there and also at Nordstroms, last week, and the pickings were pretty slim. Nordstroms did have some nice Panamas, but the price was too stiff for the grade of the hats.
Neither had any fur fedoras at all.

 

[RBH]

They don't sell them like that at Dillards any more. I was just in there and also at Nordstroms, last week, and the pickings were pretty slim. Nordstroms did have some nice Panamas, but the price was too stiff for the grade of the hats.
Neither had any fur fedoras at all.

You are SO RIGHT Stony. I, myself was at a Dillards today. They had several style hats, and a couple were Stetsons. None were what I would call a 'straight' looking straw fedora or even a regular looking panama style. They either had wiiiide brims or way short crowns, not to even say anything about the straw.
The old hat in my photos is still soft although sweat stained, I believe I will be wearing it some this summer. It has a little mushroom effect at the very top of the crown, but I think with some wear it will ''line'' back out.

 

[Matthew]

So...

Thanks for the info RBH, But...

Just how *exactly* do I shape the hat? Just soak it and shape it? How do I get it to stay until dry without me having to <i>hold</i> the thing until it completely dries?

Although I'm sure nobody would recommend it; but can it be done multiple times (in case I screw up?)?

What is the deal with the bags, as the seller describes?

Thanks for describing the process to me in detail... Anyone?

Matt

 

[RBH]

I will try...

I turn my hat brim up--- I then put warm water in the crown, several times till the crown is pliable [do this over the sink] and also you only have to wet what part of the crown you want to shape.
After the water has drained from the crown I then put the hat on--- You know what style you are going for so you should have an idea of what it should feel like when you have it on--- use your hands to put the crown shape in --- do this where you can watch yourself-- take the hat off often to make sure you have the shape you want-- work the straw slowly to put in the shape--
usally it will hold the shape when you get it in, but if you do have a place pop out on you you may need to rewet and work the shape back in..
I try to do this when I know I can wear the hat for a long time-- sometimes I wear it till it is dry--
I usally get mine shaped in one wetting but I suppose you could do this several times but I would try to get it in the first or second time.
As to the bags I have no idea, maybe he is talking about using them as a kind of stuffing.
I have tried steam, but for me it takes longer and to put the shape in the hat gets just about as wet.
Hope this helps...

p.s. I re-looked at your hat.. I would not wet that straw to much at first, try to wet it just enough to be able to work into a shape and not have it crack or break on you. Also you MIGHT want to try the steam on it.