Recent content by Bird's One View

sold.

Now $189

Now $210 $199

I have for sale a recent production silk satin collapsible top hat, size 7 1/2. I bought it in 2006 or 2007 from Village Hat Shop and have never worn it other than to try it on a couple of times. It has never seen the elements and has only been collapsed a few times (never for more than a...

Try them on if you can. Various Alden lasts fit quite differently and you might find some of their lasts unwearable.

Get a custom hat. Homburgs are stiff and you won't wear it enough to conform it to your head.

I have a Biltmore homburg. I don't like black fedoras, but do like black homburgs. A hat shop can adjust the brim shape to your liking, or you can do it yourself if you are patient and careful.

I have moonstone and carbon. I prefer carbon unless it is hot and sunny. Both shades read lighter in real life than they often do in photos. (Carbon is a shade or two lighter than oxford gray suiting.) Also both have a slightly cyan cast. I would prefer a truly neutral or even a slightly...

The sweat band is noticeably nicer in the Deluxe. The felt is different but I don't have a preference yet (after 1.5 years). Carbon gray is a better shade for me than Moonstone, so I've been wearing the standard more than the deluxe lately ... but the moonstone is more comfortable in hot...

Wear it with striped or checked black / white / gray trousers. Don't try to match.

I think reshaping lapels is asking for trouble. Converting flared trousers to straight leg (or tapered, if you must) is easy enough, though I still don't encourage it.

I'm no expert but I wouldn't call what you describe a notch lapel. Notch lapel, for me, means the top edge of the lapel is a straight continuation of the gorge line (the seam connecting the lapel and collar). Anything else is ... something else.

The best brim width depends on your overall size, head size, face shape, and the hat's crown height. I suggest trying a few on.

Deerstalker or watch cap.

All the ones I have seen in stores or online look to be the same rather poor construction. (The one I have is made of cotton and stapled cardboard.) I wonder if a custom maker of flat caps would be willing to make one.