A Good Time for a Custom Hat?

tropicalbob said:

GHT, I've long thought you're the luckiest and sanest man on the planet. All the best to you and your lovely partner.

Click to expand...

What a fine compliment, thank you. I see that you're from Miami. My wife and I were in Miami many years ago, we had travelled down the I95 after visiting friends in Georgia. If I recall the Super Bowl was being held on the same weekend we were there. Getting a room was like pulling hen's teeth, but we managed to get one at a Days Inn. Coming into Miami, two other Interstates merged with the I95, talk about intimidating, especially when the brain is tuned to driving on the left. "There's our place," said my wife, pointing at a Days Inn sign. "How the hell am I going to get there?" I thought, but somehow I did. We only had forty hours before we joined a cruise ship, but we managed to pack quite a bit in. But that traffic junction still gives me nightmares.

GHT said:

What a fine compliment, thank you. I see that you're from Miami. My wife and I were in Miami many years ago, we had travelled down the I95 after visiting friends in Georgia. If I recall the Super Bowl was being held on the same weekend we were there. Getting a room was like pulling hen's teeth, but we managed to get one at a Days Inn. Coming into Miami, two other Interstates merged with the I95, talk about intimidating, especially when the brain is tuned to driving on the left. "There's our place," said my wife, pointing at a Days Inn sign. "How the hell am I going to get there?" I thought, but somehow I did. We only had forty hours before we joined a cruise ship, but we managed to pack quite a bit in. But that traffic junction still gives me nightmares.

Click to expand...

It's called the Golden Glades overpass and is probably one of the ugliest stretches on highway in the country. I always think it's a shame to welcome visitors to Miami with that stretch of hell. It's a shame, really, because there are some very nice areas: my little area, for instance, is gloriously overgrown with tropical plants and trees (avocado and mango trees in my yard), and practically every block represents a different period of architecture from the 1920s through the 1960s. Also, I work just by the harbor downtown, and when I arrive early (6:00 am) I have my coffee on a large balcony overlooking the port: nice to start my day watching a cruise ship coming in off the open sea and under a spectacular tropical sunrise. Anyway, I'm glad it all worked out for you.

tropicalbob said:

It's called the Golden Glades overpass and is probably one of the ugliest stretches on highway in the country. I always think it's a shame to welcome visitors to Miami with that stretch of hell. It's a shame, really, because there are some very nice areas: my little area, for instance, is gloriously overgrown with tropical plants and trees (avocado and mango trees in my yard), and practically every block represents a different period of architecture from the 1920s through the 1960s. Also, I work just by the harbor downtown, and when I arrive early (6:00 am) I have my coffee on a large balcony overlooking the port: nice to start my day watching a cruise ship coming in off the open sea and under a spectacular tropical sunrise. Anyway, I'm glad it all worked out for you.

Click to expand...

Bob; I am in agreement with your metaphyscial thoughts about consuming. Like many of us I feel uneasy in this time of uncertainty. We each need to find peace with 1st world consumption. My wife and I have spoken and have agreed to some thoughtful parameters of what we agree is over consumption. Flexible, but we share the tribulations when we stray. In working to keep my physical and mental health I budget my luxury consumptions. The consumptions fill my spirit. A new hat is not mere physical satisfaction, but allows me when wearing and appreciating the hat to transform my daily awareness to the little things the hat represents.

I hope the above rambling assist. “All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players.” Endow your life with meaning. A few important luxuries can allow focus.

Eric -

Short Balding Guy said:

Bob; I am in agreement with your metaphyscial thoughts about consuming. Like many of us I feel uneasy in this time of uncertainty. We each need to find peace with 1st world consumption. My wife and I have spoken and have agreed to some thoughtful parameters of what we agree is over consumption. Flexible, but we share the tribulations when we stray. In working to keep my physical and mental health I budget my luxury consumptions. The consumptions fill my spirit. A new hat is not mere physical satisfaction, but allows me when wearing and appreciating the hat to transform my daily awareness to the little things the hat represents.

I hope the above rambling assist. “All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players.” Endow your life with meaning. A few important luxuries can allow focus.

Eric -

Click to expand...

Well said Eric!

Steven

I remember Art Fawcett mentioning during the last economic drop that hat making is not a boom or bust industry. It’s very “ready steady” with little fluctuations up and down. Of course with stores being closed will affect that more but people who love hats and want to buy them - will buy them.
Johnny

johnnycanuck said:

I remember Art Fawcett mentioning during the last economic drop that hat making is not a boom or bust industry. It’s very “ready steady” with little fluctuations up and down. Of course with stores being closed will affect that more but people who love hats and want to buy them - will buy them.
Johnny

Click to expand...

so many hatters have lengthy wait lists.....having a years worth of orders on the book really helps to smooth out any episodic blips in the economy. As well, if we here in the Lounge are an indication, hat wearers are front wave boomers with more economic wherewithal than the gig economy millennials.

I thought I would revisit this thread for the original question: is this a good time to order a custom hat. I have hats on order with four hatters...yep, my name is Brent and I’m an addict. To the point: all of the hatters are running well behind. Some are over twice what I was quoted. I’m not put out as they will eventually arrive and it’s too hot for much felt wearing here anyway. I just find it intriguing that all of the hatters I’m using are running behind. I don’t think it’s the availability of materials either. I think that everyone feels like the world is just a bit off kilter and nothing is working like usual. I don’t think it’s a bad time to order a custom hat, but if you lack patience this could be a frustrating time to place an order.

I know there are real problems in the world and a delay in a custom made hat is definitely not going to get any sympathy. What a strange and unsettling time we’re living in.

deadlyhandsome said:

I thought I would revisit this thread for the original question: is this a good time to order a custom hat. I have hats on order with four hatters...yep, my name is Brent and I’m an addict. To the point: all of the hatters are running well behind. Some are over twice what I was quoted. I’m not put out as they will eventually arrive and it’s too hot for much felt wearing here anyway. I just find it intriguing that all of the hatters I’m using are running behind. I don’t think it’s the availability of materials either. I think that everyone feels like the world is just a bit off kilter and nothing is working like usual. I don’t think it’s a bad time to order a custom hat, but if you lack patience this could be a frustrating time to place an order.

I know there are real problems in the world and a delay in a custom made hat is definitely not going to get any sympathy. What a strange and unsettling time we’re living in.

Click to expand...

Hang in there, Brent. We're in the same boat - I've probably got a dozen refurbs and two new commissions on the books that likely won't see fruition for at least a year. Which 4 hatters are you waiting on?

Garrett said:

Hang in there, Brent. We're in the same boat - I've probably got a dozen refurbs and two new commissions on the books that likely won't see fruition for at least a year. Which 4 hatters are you waiting on?

Click to expand...

I’m guessing yours are with BSHW...I think I’d forget that I placed the order for as long as his queue is. I’ve actually thought about commissioning a hat from Bob as a retirement gift to myself when that time gets closer.

I have six hats coming from VS, Gannon, Phoenix, and Northwest. I don’t mind the wait...not much anyway.

Part of the delay has been me allowing others who placed orders after me go before me. I told Gannon to let his less patient customers jump queue. VS is a bit of a mess right now as David merges his shop with Art’s and he tries to get his backlog taken care of. It will all work out. I’m feeling fine about all of them. I’m just grateful that I have the ability to indulge in this passion.

I would sure like to add a custom to my collection. The wait times I received for most hatters were over a year. Then COVID-19 came into play so I ordered two modern Stratoliners two fill in for my custom need at this time.

I have sent an inquiry to Stratton Hats. They are showing a custom wait time of 8-10 weeks. I’ll make a decision when I receive their felt color samples.

Steven

1967Cougar390 said:

I would sure like to add a custom to my collection. The wait times I received for most hatters were over a year. Then COVID-19 came into play so I ordered two modern Stratoliners two fill in for my custom need at this time.

I have sent an inquiry to Stratton Hats. They are showing a custom wait time of 8-10 weeks. I’ll make a decision when I receive their felt color samples.

Steven

Click to expand...

I’ve wondered why we don’t see more Stratton custom hats here. I’ve looked at them a few times myself.

Just FYI, both Gannon and Northwest have wait times in the 10-16 week range and I think Hufvud is about the same; although, I’m hesitant about international shipping at the moment.

deadlyhandsome said:

I’ve wondered why we don’t see more Stratton custom hats here. I’ve looked at them a few times myself.

Just FYI, both Gannon and Northwest have wait times in the 10-16 week range and I think Hufvud is about the same; although, I’m hesitant about international shipping at the moment.

Click to expand...

I often think that half the fun of ordering a custom hat is the sense of expectancy I get from it: playing with the ideas of style, colors of ribbons, etc. I also love to travel, but I realized some time ago that it's very similar to ordering a hat: sometimes the best part of it is just having something to look forward to. Not that I don't want the hat!

tropicalbob said:

I often think that half the fun of ordering a custom hat is the sense of expectancy I get from it: playing with the ideas of style, colors of ribbons, etc. I also love to travel, but I realized some time ago that it's very similar to ordering a hat: sometimes the best part of it is just having something to look forward to. Not that I don't want the hat!

Click to expand...

Yes, I think that is part of why I continue to order hats. When I finally receive the long awaited hat the excitement soon fades and morphs into a kind of sadness or disappointment. Now that I have the hat there is nothing to look forward to, nothing to anticipate.

The way I see it, the current state of the world--specifically the pandemic precautions--is quite unusual, but there's always the potential for either disaster or fortune. That's life. So the question shouldn't be whether this is a "good time" to order a custom hat, but rather whether or not you have the spare money to do so. It's really no different than any other time in your life--if your finances are so tight that the price of a hat will cause problems, don't buy one. If you're one of those fortunate people who has been able to cover the monthly expenses and set a few clams aside to create a financial safety net for yourself, have at it. If you're somewhere in-between, plan for the hat by setting one or two of those clams aside every week/month specifically for that purpose.

This is not to say I don't "get it". If I were one of those "more money than brains" people I'd probably have to add a room onto the house just to store all of the junk I'd buy, then add another room when the first one got full, then add...well, you get the idea. Unless it's mandatory for you to spend your days outdoors exposed to the weather, these days hats of any kind are luxury items. Most of us here wear them because we want to, not because we need to. So be smart and order that custom hat when it won't cause other problems.

Zombie_61 said:

The way I see it, the current state of the world--specifically the pandemic precautions--is quite unusual, but there's always the potential for either disaster or fortune. That's life. So the question shouldn't be whether this is a "good time" to order a custom hat, but rather whether or not you have the spare money to do so. It's really no different than any other time in your life--if your finances are so tight that the price of a hat will cause problems, don't buy one. If you're one of those fortunate people who has been able to cover the monthly expenses and set a few clams aside to create a financial safety net for yourself, have at it. If you're somewhere in-between, plan for the hat by setting one or two of those clams aside every week/month specifically for that purpose.

This is not to say I don't "get it". If I were one of those "more money than brains" people I'd probably have to add a room onto the house just to store all of the junk I'd buy, then add another room when the first one got full, then add...well, you get the idea. Unless it's mandatory for you to spend your days outdoors exposed to the weather, these days hats of any kind are luxury items. Most of us here wear them because we want to, not because we need to. So be smart and order that custom hat when it won't cause other problems.

Click to expand...

As always, you seem to read my mind re my thoughts on things. That being said, since starting my new job, although I'd love to wear my vintage and custom hats, I basically wear a Fed IV every day because I don't want to dirty up the rare/more expensive ones. Don't get me wrong - I love my Feds, but they are (relatively) cheap and easy to replace should some work catastrophe (wire rack grease, for example) befall them, and I don't feel as bad hitting them with naptha and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser when they do get stained.

I'm fairly lucky that I have not been unemployed since this whole unpleasantness began, but I'm not buying any hats any time soon, as far as I can tell (although quite a number of Hufvuds I've seen here and on FB have spoken to me in encouraging, sensual tones).

scottyrocks said:

As always, you seem to read my mind re my thoughts on things. That being said, since starting my new job, although I'd love to wear my vintage and custom hats, I basically wear a Fed IV every day because I don't want to dirty up the rare/more expensive ones. Don't get me wrong - I love my Feds, but they are (relatively) cheap and easy to replace should some work catastrophe (wire rack grease, for example) befall them, and I don't feel as bad hitting them with naptha and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser when they do get stained...

Click to expand...

Speaking of reading minds, you've described one of the reasons I like my Akubras so much--unlike a good vintage hat, they're relatively easy and inexpensive to replace if anything happens to them. But also, for a modern production hat, I think they're good value for the price.

deadlyhandsome said:

I thought I would revisit this thread for the original question: is this a good time to order a custom hat>

Click to expand...

This thread seems to be a kind of: "Sign of the times." Some fascinating entries as the world realised that plagues can affect our modern world as lethally as they did before the discovery of antibiotics and other life saving drugs.
Now it seems, we could well be facing Armageddon. Tina & I, like everyone else are very concerned but we still went out and enjoyed a meal in a local Italian restaurant. We were celebrating Tina's birthday. Tonight, we hope to meet up with more than a few friends at a country pub where we can forget what's happening for a few hours and dance our socks off.
In keeping with this thread's title, Tina and I have both had custom hats made. I found a milliner in the county town of Dorset, namely Dorchester, who has made Tina a replica of Alison Doody's hat that she wore in the character of Dr. Elsa Schneider in the movie: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Tina only received the hat yesterday as a birthday gift, she didn't wear it last night and she can be a tad camera shy, so I certainly know better than to be an annoyance.

This is that hat, and when Tina is ready, I shall look forward in sharing her wearing it.

Meanwhile, although that milliner specialises mostly in hats for the ladies and in particular, custom made hats for weddings and Ascot races, she told me that she can make men's hats too, it's just that there's too little demand to make it worth doing. Besides her wedding orders go well into the future.

She was not wrong when she said she could make men's hats:

This lovely, bespoke hat, in what the lady called, "racing green," will be the hat of my choice for tonight's party. She had made me another in a colour she calls: "Nutmeg." I told her about this forum and one particular hat that has always caused me to commit the sin of covet, that being a silverbelly. "

"Let me have a think about it," she said, after looking at the images on line.