Hatband Opinion Needed

Warbaby · Apr 16, 2008

I love my gray Resistol and I wear it often, but I've decided that I don't really care for the silly little narrow band. I think it might look better with a wider band in black, particularly since it has a fairly wide brim - 2 7/8". Does this make sense to those of you who have more experience with hat aesthetics? If I want to go with a wider band, can I make one from grosgrain ribbon or should I get something that's made to be a hatband and if so, where can I get it and how wide should it be?

bolthead · Apr 16, 2008

Yikes....

RBH, what do ya think? lol

jkingrph · Apr 16, 2008

Classy thin ribbon. I have an Art Fawcett that looks very much like that .

woodsie · Apr 16, 2008

Who cares

It should depend on what YOU feel works for you. If 100 people here respond to your post, you are likely to get 98 different opinions. And, there's no such thing as a "Silly little thin ribbon." Just consider, folks here for some reason unbeknownst to me, think it's cool to emulate Indiana Freakin Jones ( A celluloid character). Let that be your guiding principle.

jkingrph said:
Classy thin ribbon. I have an Art Fawcett that looks very much like that .

Warbaby · Apr 16, 2008

Apologies if I've offended anyone my somewhat flippant remark about "silly little narrow hatbands". I didn't mean to denigrate the style and certainly meant no insult to those who favor narrow ribbons.

I guess I feel the hat needs something to make it more "me", but I'm lacking sufficient hat experience to know what that something might be.

PabloElFlamenco · Apr 16, 2008

I like that (silly little narrow) hatband just fine. But then I've been quoted as being silly little narrow-minded at times

Were you to insist I recommend something else, I would be at a loss. Nice hat!
Paul

RBH · Apr 16, 2008

bolthead said:
RBH, what do ya think? lol

lol lol

I like it... but I also have been known to put a silly wide ribbon on a hat or two. Bottom line its whatever you like, its your hat.

carldelo · Apr 17, 2008

Trial run

I mentioned this on another post, and I think it might help here too. Get some cheap ribbon in a width you're considering and mock up a temporary. You could tape or stitch the ribbon to itself and slip it over the existing one. Maybe you could mock up a bow too, try various colors, whatever, and then check yourself out in the mirror to see if you like it.

Hey, maybe that's a new product that could be developed - nice elastic ribbons with bows in different widths and colors that you could slip over any hat to change its look for a while. Any manufacturers out there want to run with this?

Fatdutchman · Apr 17, 2008

That thin ribbon actually looks fine, I think.

But if you do change it, let me know where you get your ribbon!!! I CANNOT find hat-quality ribbon anywhere. I can find rayon-cotton ribbon (and have gotten some) from one internet supplier, but it is "sawtooth edge", and naturally, I want smooth edge. I cannot find anyone on the entire Earth that has any, much less anyone who is actually willing to sell it to me.

And NO, I cannot find any ribbon that's worth anything in my local craft/decorating/fabric store.

And I think I'd go with a complimentary silvery colored wide ribbon.

Stoney · Apr 17, 2008

A really great looking hat as it is. The only thing I can see is that the crease needs to be deeper in the back. As Carl said, tape a few wider ribbons over the existing one and look at it in the mirror before doing anything to it. you may decide to leave the thin one on it if it looks better in your eyes.
Since it's an Open Road style, I would leave it as is, but hey it's your hat.

carldelo · Apr 17, 2008

P.S.

I forgot to give my vote - I like the hat the way it is - those thin ribbons with the dangly ends add a certain whimsy, or savoir faire, or something, whatever, I just like it, OK? Back to grading papers....

mingoslim · Apr 17, 2008

ARRGHHHH . . .

Changing that ribbon would be tantamount to putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa!

Seriously, it is your hat, so do as you will . . . but if you are really interested in a different look, perhaps you should see if anyone here on the lounge is interested in a trade

Spellflower · Apr 17, 2008

I prefer wider ribbons myself. I really like the aesthetics of a nice bow, and thin ribbons just don't have that option. Also, I like a fedora to look like what I thought of as a fedora before I found this place, and that means wide ribbon. Thin ones verge on cowboy hats for me. Nothing wrong with cowboy hats, just not my look.

Warbaby · Apr 17, 2008

carldelo said:
Hey, maybe that's a new product that could be developed - nice elastic ribbons with bows in different widths and colors that you could slip over any hat to change its look for a while. Any manufacturers out there want to run with this?

I've been thinking the same thing for the past few days and working on designing an interchangeable ribbon. I think I've come up with something that will be easy-off/easy-on, stay in place without damaging the hat, and will look like a conventional band. I'm now making some prototypes for testing. If design works as well as I think it will, I'm going to see if I can manufacture them at a reasonable price.

Here's my question for the fedora wearers: If interchangeable hat bands in different widths and colors were available, would you want them? How much would you be willing to pay for them? I really need to find a way to make a little money here in the wilderness and this might just be the ticket...

If the design works, I'll be happy to send some out to you guys for further testing.

Stoney: Your suggestion about lowering the bash at the back solves the problem for me. The hat now looks much better and the silly little narrow band stays. Thanks for opening my eyes to such an obvious solution.

carldelo · Apr 17, 2008

Good question

I think price would depend on quality of the ribbon and execution of the bow. Having said that, Warbaby I would suggest a system where standard high-grade hatters ribbon is used, with an elastic section hidden behind the bow. If the ribbon was nice grosgrain and the bow had some finesse, I could see the $10-$20 price range being reasonable for a one-size fits all product. Having a nicely done bow would be key. If I had one black removable ribbon, I could use it on any of my hats...

Boxerken · Apr 17, 2008

Warbaby thats a great looking hat. Personally I'm partial to thin ribbons, but in the end what works for you is best.

aliados · Apr 17, 2008

As I've shared before, I find the crown of the Open Roads too high for myself, so I've replaced the bands on a couple of 'em with wider (2 to 2-1/4") bands, and am very pleased with the results.

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