jlee562
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,061
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
I wouldn't hesitate to pay Optimo prices if I could. They are bar none the finest made hats out there. Whether that justifies their price over a Fawcett or any other custom hatter is up to debate, and even though I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Optimo, even I would say that their price is inflated relative to other custom hatters.
But it's also the case that a Mercedes is inflated relative to say, an Acura. Is it nicer? Absolutely. Is it that much nicer? Probably not.
Same thing with Optimo. You pay extra for wild trapped furs, in custom dye runs. You pay for the bells and whistles which basically only Optimo does now (100% belly fur felts, melusine finish, heathered felts). And let's be honest, you also pay rent for their physical storefront.
But as far as the original question, my personal budget is around Teach's actually, $100. For me though, my sense of "value" is distorted by the fact that I have a small head and get most of my deals under $60. I get real cautious when it hits $50. And it takes a real special hat to go above $100. I missed out on a stunning blue Borsalino that had some really nice reverse taper, it went for $121, which I gladly would have beaten if I hadn't put a deposit down on a Facwett.
And as far as that Cavanagh, in that price, at that size, in that condition, a totally fair price to pay. If that were my size, and if I had the cash, I'd bid up to $250 on that hat.
Because if you think about the economics of buying a new hat, you're right at the $175-$250 range anyway for an off the rack or custom. But a vintage Cavanagh in excellent condition is just going to be better than any new hat you can buy off the rack and at least equal to a custom, IMHO.
But it's also the case that a Mercedes is inflated relative to say, an Acura. Is it nicer? Absolutely. Is it that much nicer? Probably not.
Same thing with Optimo. You pay extra for wild trapped furs, in custom dye runs. You pay for the bells and whistles which basically only Optimo does now (100% belly fur felts, melusine finish, heathered felts). And let's be honest, you also pay rent for their physical storefront.
But as far as the original question, my personal budget is around Teach's actually, $100. For me though, my sense of "value" is distorted by the fact that I have a small head and get most of my deals under $60. I get real cautious when it hits $50. And it takes a real special hat to go above $100. I missed out on a stunning blue Borsalino that had some really nice reverse taper, it went for $121, which I gladly would have beaten if I hadn't put a deposit down on a Facwett.
And as far as that Cavanagh, in that price, at that size, in that condition, a totally fair price to pay. If that were my size, and if I had the cash, I'd bid up to $250 on that hat.
Because if you think about the economics of buying a new hat, you're right at the $175-$250 range anyway for an off the rack or custom. But a vintage Cavanagh in excellent condition is just going to be better than any new hat you can buy off the rack and at least equal to a custom, IMHO.
