The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

[alanfgag]

Thanks for posting photos of your gorgeous featherweight, Aureliano... great bow on that one.

Bond, that does look like a very nice Alessandria. Many Borsos feel light in comparison with American hats - the featherweight model is designated in the front of the sweat as in Aureliano's photos preceeding.

cheers,
Alan

 

[bond]

Thanks A,this is Not labeled featherweight,but referenced by myself as a "Summer" feather weight hat as in comparison to other heavier Borsalino hats that I normally wear.

 

[new2hats]

Thinking about getting the Borsalino Bellagio, don't see many references to it? Any feedback on it?

 

[Aureliano]

I owned one a number of years ago. I bought it at Bencraft. Nice hat, low crown with a bit of elegant taper. Very nice hat altogether. I lost it in Italia...:eusa_doh:

 

[zetwal]

I lost it in Italia...:eusa_doh:

Lost it ... ?!

 

[Aureliano]

I took it off, put it on the bench my wife and I were sitting. 20 minutes later we stood up, went back to the car. Drove 3 blocks and then said: F%#k, where is my hat! :eusa_doh::eusa_doh: Turned around like a maniac in Roman traffic, got to the bench: hat was gone, obviously :cry: lol lol

 

[zetwal]

I took it off, put it on the bench my wife and I were sitting. 20 minutes later we stood up, went back to the car. Drove 3 blocks and then said: F%#k, where is my hat! :eusa_doh::eusa_doh: Turned around like a maniac in Roman traffic, got to the bench: hat was gone, obviously :cry: lol lol

Tough break! You made someone's day anyway. Oh well ...

 

[Aureliano]

Tough break! You made someone's day anyway. Oh well ...

I know, it hurt though.

 

[Aureliano]

Borsalino Feather Weight.
This one belonged to my wife's grandpa and now it's mine. Perfect condition, truly light, light weight from the great Salvatore Balbi shop. Could anyone hint a date for this based on the paper inside label?

 

[DJH]

Very nice!
Great to keep such a special hat in the family as well.

 

[alanfgag]

Wouldn't it be great to have had his description of the shop?! My dating guess would be purely guesswork, but it's an interesting style - linerless with bound brim. Great to see it.

 

[Aureliano]

Wouldn't it be great to have had his description of the shop?! My dating guess would be purely guesswork, but it's an interesting style - linerless with bound brim. Great to see it.

I know! I wonder how to look for records of old businesses in Italy... As a consolation, this is how the street where the Balbi shop was, looks like.

 

[Aureliano]

I just realized this: Fantesca in Italian means servant; maid.
Check out the label of my feather weight [huh] Carla is the female version of Carlos.

Carla the maid? [huh] lol

 

[hatophile]

It was really Carla the Maid's hat? Very nice one and great to have in your collection, Alejandro!

 

[zetwal]

It was really Carla the Maid's hat? Very nice one and great to have in your collection, Alejandro!

Let's hope she didn't stand 86 centimeters and weigh 33 kilos.

 

[Aureliano]

Let's hope she didn't stand 86 centimeters and weigh 33 kilos.

lol lol

 

[Aureliano]

It was really Carla the Maid's hat? Very nice one and great to have in your collection, Alejandro!

I thought it was grandpa the WWII veteran's hat... the things you come to find out... shakeshead lol

 

[hatophile]

I thought it was grandpa the WWII veteran's hat... the things you come to find out... shakeshead lol

Well, she had good taste in hats!

 

[JLMoore3rd]

Okay... I'm new here, but I just wanted to relate a Borsalino hat story: I lived in San Francisco for a while in the mid-80's and there was a small shop in North Beach that sold Borsalino's. I tried on a gorgeous cobalt-blue Borsalino and fell in love... but, alas, being quite skint at the time it was either eat or buy the hat. I regret the food choice to this day! I wonder if I could ever find a cobalt-blue Borsalino again?

On the bright side- I'm off to New York next weekend, so I'll be visiting J.J. Hat Center to check out their inventory... I might yet join the Borsalino Brotherhood!

 

[zetwal]

Okay... I'm new here, but I just wanted to relate a Borsalino hat story: I lived in San Francisco for a while in the mid-80's and there was a small shop in North Beach that sold Borsalino's. I tried on a gorgeous cobalt-blue Borsalino and fell in love... but, alas, being quite skint at the time it was either eat or buy the hat. I regret the food choice to this day! I wonder if I could ever find a cobalt-blue Borsalino again?

On the bright side- I'm off to New York next weekend, so I'll be visiting J.J. Hat Center to check out their inventory... I might yet join the Borsalino Brotherhood!

New Borsalinos in blue are not too hard to find. Post it up once you make your choice. Welcome to the Lounge!