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Lean'n'mean

Lean'n'mean

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,077
Location
Cloud-cuckoo-land
deadlyhandsome said:
I didn’t even notice on the small screen of my phone. I zoomed in and it looks more like it’s dyed or painted on! Very odd. I could add a pugg to cover it I suppose, or I could request it without the “ribbon” all-together.
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A painted/sprayed on ribbon should send alarm bells ringing as to the quality of the straw.The item description is already misleading (to be polite) so it's possible it ain't what it claims to be.
 
Last edited:
deadlyhandsome

deadlyhandsome

Messages
18,936
Location
Central California
Lean'n'mean said:
A painted/sprayed on ribbon should send alarm bells ringing as to the quality of the straw.The item description is already misleading (to be polite) so it's possible it ain't what it claims to be.
Click to expand...

Normally you do get what you pay for. I’ve thrown lots of good money after bad in my time looking for a bargain. I’m still curious about the hat, but my skepticism is in full swing.

Shame that there aren’t more options for Milan hats.
 
belfastboy

belfastboy

Messages
10,390
Location
vancouver, canada
deadlyhandsome said:
I don’t know what technically makes a hat a Milan, but SunBody may indeed qualify. However, I keep palm hats in their own category as they have such different characteristics compared to Milans made from wheat straw, hemp, etc.
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The hats came to be known as "milan" as they used a particular wheat straw grown in sandy soil and woven in Milan, Italy. Italy stopped producing it and unfortunately it all comes from China these days. I have a vintage milan and while heavier than my Panama hats it is decidedly lighter than a Sunbody.
 
deadlyhandsome

deadlyhandsome

Messages
18,936
Location
Central California
belfastboy said:
The hats came to be known as "milan" as they used a particular wheat straw grown in sandy soil and woven in Milan, Italy. Italy stopped producing it and unfortunately it all comes from China these days. I have a vintage milan and while heavier than my Panama hats it is decidedly lighter than a Sunbody.
Click to expand...


My understanding was that even 80 years ago the wheat straw came from China and it was sewn into hat bodies in Milan. I don’t “know” that, but it sticks in my brain.

I’ve posted this video before:


it reminds me of how pharmaceutical companies say the first pill cost them $200,000,000 and the second $.02. I wonder how many practice hats were made to develop the skill and the feel to do do this?
 
James Matchett

James Matchett

New in Town
Messages
2
Hi there I am new. I have a question. I just bought a dark grey fedora, and was wondering what suit colours (other than dark grey, of course) would go well with a dark grey fedora? It's not a colour too often seen, and has a different shade than the more common light grey. Thanks.
 
belfastboy

belfastboy

Messages
10,390
Location
vancouver, canada
James Matchett said:
Hi there I am new. I have a question. I just bought a dark grey fedora, and was wondering what suit colours (other than dark grey, of course) would go well with a dark grey fedora? It's not a colour too often seen, and has a different shade than the more common light grey. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I am pretty conventional so for me the grey hat would be worn with blues, blacks and multiple shades of grey.
 
belfastboy

belfastboy

Messages
10,390
Location
vancouver, canada
deadlyhandsome said:
My understanding was that even 80 years ago the wheat straw came from China and it was sewn into hat bodies in Milan. I don’t “know” that, but it sticks in my brain.

I’ve posted this video before:


it reminds me of how pharmaceutical companies say the first pill cost them $200,000,000 and the second $.02. I wonder how many practice hats were made to develop the skill and the feel to do do this?
Click to expand...
I am not certain when it stopped being produced in Italy but the original wheat straw was grown in Tuscany due to the characteristics of the soil that produced straw suitable for hats.
 
Mighty44

Mighty44

One Too Many
Messages
1,739
Hello—

A question about Long Oval sizing in vintage hats. Is a LO hat typically a little larger in Stetsons?

I have two Knox hats, one 7 1/8 and one 7 1/8 LO and they are definitely the same size just a longer oval on the latter — which is much more comfortable on my thin head. The Knoxs (a 15 and a Premier) have fairly rigid sweats, so it really makes a difference. I also have a vintage Stetson LO strat that feels bigger than my other 7 1/8 Stetsons. But all my Stetsons are so soft that they seem to conform to my head shape regardless. Is this typical—almost like the LO is a half size up in Stetson or does it more typical just reflect the shape?

Thanks,

David
 
deadlyhandsome

deadlyhandsome

Messages
18,936
Location
Central California
Mighty44 said:
Hello—

A question about Long Oval sizing in vintage hats. Is a LO hat typically a little larger in Stetsons?

I have two Knox hats, one 7 1/8 and one 7 1/8 LO and they are definitely the same size just a longer oval on the latter — which is much more comfortable on my thin head. The Knoxs (a 15 and a Premier) have fairly rigid sweats, so it really makes a difference. I also have a vintage Stetson LO strat that feels bigger than my other 7 1/8 Stetsons. But all my Stetsons are so soft that they seem to conform to my head shape regardless. Is this typical—almost like the LO is a half size up in Stetson or does it more typical just reflect the shape?

Thanks,

David
Click to expand...


My experience with Stetsons is that the LO hats measure the same in circumference as the the standard oval. It’s just a different shape.
 
Mighty44

Mighty44

One Too Many
Messages
1,739
I've got a beat up Stetson Playboy that has become a real favorite for running errands, hiking, etc. It has always had kind of an ugly stain on the crown but it never really bothered me until I started wearing the hat so much. The hat is silverbelly, the stain looks like grease though it doesn't go all the way through the felt. Any suggestions for trying to get the stain out? I remember seeing someone on here talking about some kind of powder, but I couldn't find the thread.

Thanks!

6E997897-DA75-4326-A595-DA0F0887774A_1_105_c.jpeg
 
Bamaboots

Bamaboots

Messages
11,169
Location
Alabama
Mighty44 said:
I've got a beat up Stetson Playboy that has become a real favorite for running errands, hiking, etc. It has always had kind of an ugly stain on the crown but it never really bothered me until I started wearing the hat so much. The hat is silverbelly, the stain looks like grease though it doesn't go all the way through the felt. Any suggestions for trying to get the stain out? I remember seeing someone on here talking about some kind of powder, but I couldn't find the thread.

Thanks!

View attachment 346327
Click to expand...

Google is your friend. In your search enter: cleaning felt fedora lounge. Plenty of cleaning tips including the powder ones will show up.
 
deadlyhandsome

deadlyhandsome

Messages
18,936
Location
Central California
tamz0r said:
Anyone have any experience with Yellow 108 hats? i like the style of a lot of their hats but i’d be curious if anyone here had any experience and/or opinions on them. www.yellow108.com
Click to expand...


From what I’ve seen they are wool hats with machine pressed shapes. They are more trendy fashion items than the types of hats most of us here focus on. They remind me of the Lack of Color hats that are having their 15 minutes.

If you like the style and don’t need a hat that will last for years then go for it. Wool hats like this usually don’t hold their shape well, but they are disposable fashion accessories and you can’t expect much out of anything in that category.

As for style, all that matters is that you like it. If you like it then what else matters?
 
belfastboy

belfastboy

Messages
10,390
Location
vancouver, canada
tamz0r said:
Anyone have any experience with Yellow 108 hats? i like the style of a lot of their hats but i’d be curious if anyone here had any experience and/or opinions on them. www.yellow108.com
Click to expand...
I second what Deadly posted. If you are OK with disposable fashion and want a hat that lasts for a season or two then if that is the style you like go for it. But there are other much better choices out there. Check out Akubra, especially the CampDraft or FedIV, for about the same money you get a fur felt hat with good leather sweats that will last you for a decade or more of tough wearing. Check out Hatsdirect or Everything Australian or DavidMorgan....all good Akubra suppliers.
 
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