Help me choose my first fur felt!

Hat Head · Nov 16, 2008

I'm taking the plunge and buying my first fur felt. With hats by Christys' priced at $199 or more on domestic (USA) websites, but priced at about $78 at Hornet Hats due to the slide in the Pound vs. the Dollar. At about $110 total (hat + shipping), the price seems too good to pass up.

Hornet Hats

I need a "foundation" hat, one that matches many situations and wardrobe colors. I already have a cheapie wool felt in grey that I'll continue to wear, so that color is taken care of. That steers me towards a brown or green color.

Here's a rundown of my day-to-day wardrobe. I wear suits and ties nearly everyday at work. I live in the midwest, so winter is here. My nicest topcoats are either a solid, dark brown (dark taupe almost), or a green and brown tweed houndstooth.

My suits: charcoal; gray/brown plaid; gray/black/blue plaid; navy w/white pinstripe; navy w/red pinstrip; brown; dark green; gray; blue-gray.

Here are the styles of hat I'm considering from the Hornet Hat website:

Fedora
Marlborough
Foldaway
Adventurer
Knightsbridge

Not sure I want a very wide brim, leaning more towards 2.5" at most, so the Knightsbridge is where I'm probably leaning. I am open to input, however, and am not ruling out a wider brim.

Colors I'm considering:

Cork
Light Sable
Maize
Sable
Elm

But, again, I'm open to input.

So, now is your chance to steer a newbie in the right direction. Let me hear your opinions on Christys' hats, on the styles you like, and color.

I'm getting ready to head to the Bengals vs. Eagles game here in Cincinnati, but I'll check the thread when I return and see what's been said. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Hat Head · Nov 16, 2008

Pic of me in my Cheapie gray fedora

Here's a pic of me in a cheapie gray fedora, brim size about 2 3/8", to use as a reference.

SonOfaPreacher · Nov 16, 2008

shipping from UK?

I do agree that they do have some very nice hats. But well over a hundred for shipping!:eusa_doh: Wow! Would you be open to suggestions for US made hats? I picked up a very nice fur center dent from the fedora store, it is a beaver brand and I paid 145.00 shipped. I mean not dissuade you from an overseas sale but it seams a bit much for simply the shipping. I do agree that the price to quality of modern hats is sadly lacking, but if you shop around you should find something that will tickle you pink.
I do hope this helps.
Soap

SonOfaPreacher · Nov 16, 2008

Not bad!

I myself have a hat very similar to yours, steel Grey, black ribbon, but you have that stitched? under-welt, mine is raw edged.
Soap

univibe88 · Nov 16, 2008

I think you look great in your hat! For another suggestion for a great value would be to look into Akubra. Look at the Akubra Overload thread. Some models that would suit you well would be: Stylemaster, Hampton or Fed IV

Daoud · Nov 16, 2008

Ah.....he wrote that the price was around $110.00, including shipping- not $110.00 FOR the shipping charges!

So not a bad deal at all, though I do concur that Akubras are great hats available lately at great prices. I love my Federation IV!

Colors? Gray goes with just about anything, but you have that covered....perhaps a darkish tan? My Fed is a deep brown and goes with many ensembles that I wear, but it wouldn't look so good with one of your pinstripe suits.......

Hat Head · Nov 16, 2008

SonOfaPreacher said:
I do agree that they do have some very nice hats. But well over a hundred for shipping!:eusa_doh: Wow! Would you be open to suggestions for US made hats? I picked up a very nice fur center dent from the fedora store, it is a beaver brand and I paid 145.00 shipped. I mean not dissuade you from an overseas sale but it seams a bit much for simply the shipping. I do agree that the price to quality of modern hats is sadly lacking, but if you shop around you should find something that will tickle you pink.
I do hope this helps.
Soap

I'm sorry I was unclear. It's about $108 TOTAL (hat + shipping). Hat is $78 USA, shipping about $30 USA.

Akubra's are nice, but it seems like most syles/colors are about a 3 month wait, and the price difference is negligible.

SonOfaPreacher · Nov 16, 2008

AH! I see!

Thanks for the clarification. I see your point, it would be hard to pass up a deal such as this.
Best of luch or your choice.
Soap

univibe88 · Nov 16, 2008

Hat Head said:
I'm sorry I was unclear. It's about $108 TOTAL (hat + shipping). Hat is $78 USA, shipping about $30 USA.

Akubra's are nice, but it seems like most syles/colors are about a 3 month wait, and the price difference is negligible.

Check with hatsdirect.com, they have many in stock.

Neil · Nov 16, 2008

Stick with grey

Steel grey, meaning not too light a shade, black ribbon is best all round.
Like you already have.

indycop · Nov 16, 2008

What size are you? have you looked into JohnnyPhis auctions?

Rick Blaine · Nov 16, 2008

Already owning one in the 'Indy brown' I just ordered two more Adventurers from hornet, one light gray & one beige, for just under 182 USD delivered. And since then I think the $$$ has gained, however incrementally.

majormoore · Nov 16, 2008

You should spead just a little more and work with Gus Miller, who is a old hatter and has a wonderful hat shop right in your town. Stop by and see what Gus can come up with, I think you would enjoy the hat alot more when you work with him on your first good felt hat.

Major Moore

Hat Head said:
I'm taking the plunge and buying my first fur felt. With hats by Christys' priced at $199 or more on domestic (USA) websites, but priced at about $78 at Hornet Hats due to the slide in the Pound vs. the Dollar. At about $110 total (hat + shipping), the price seems too good to pass up.

Hornet Hats

I need a "foundation" hat, one that matches many situations and wardrobe colors. I already have a cheapie wool felt in grey that I'll continue to wear, so that color is taken care of. That steers me towards a brown or green color.

Here's a rundown of my day-to-day wardrobe. I wear suits and ties nearly everyday at work. I live in the midwest, so winter is here. My nicest topcoats are either a solid, dark brown (dark taupe almost), or a green and brown tweed houndstooth.

My suits: charcoal; gray/brown plaid; gray/black/blue plaid; navy w/white pinstripe; navy w/red pinstrip; brown; dark green; gray; blue-gray.

Here are the styles of hat I'm considering from the Hornet Hat website:

Fedora
Marlborough
Foldaway
Adventurer
Knightsbridge

Not sure I want a very wide brim, leaning more towards 2.5" at most, so the Knightsbridge is where I'm probably leaning. I am open to input, however, and am not ruling out a wider brim.

Colors I'm considering:

Cork
Light Sable
Maize
Sable
Elm

But, again, I'm open to input.

So, now is your chance to steer a newbie in the right direction. Let me hear your opinions on Christys' hats, on the styles you like, and color.

I'm getting ready to head to the Bengals vs. Eagles game here in Cincinnati, but I'll check the thread when I return and see what's been said. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

univibe88 · Nov 17, 2008

Holy Cow that's right, you are in Cincy! Forget the Brits and the Aussies. Go see your hometown hatter right now. RIGHT NOW! All of us would kill to have a hatter like Gus Miller in our backyard. The name of his shope is Batsakes Hat Shop - 1 W 6th St. I have one of Panama Bob's hats blocked by Gus. It's incredible. Go see him right now!!!!

Hat Head · Nov 17, 2008

univibe88 said:
Holy Cow that's right, you are in Cincy! Forget the Brits and the Aussies. Go see your hometown hatter right now. RIGHT NOW! All of us would kill to have a hatter like Gus Miller in our backyard. The name of his shope is Batsakes Hat Shop - 1 W 6th St. I have one of Panama Bob's hats blocked by Gus. It's incredible. Go see him right now!!!!

I know where Batsakes is . . . my office is right across the street. But, what can I really get for $110 from Batsakes in a fur felt? Plus, I have walked in there a few times, and they always steer me towards the $300+ hats, and the language barrier, the gruff-ness, etc. It's probably my fault as much as anyone's, but I've just never gotten the "let us help you" vibe from them.

univibe88 · Nov 17, 2008

It disappoints me to hear this. You have one of the better hat shops in the country and the have pushed you away. That is sad.

I know what you mean, though. Boston has one of the oldest pipe/tobacco stores in the country, yet I do not enjoy going there because of the gruff attitude. Tabacco and hat shops really are both a dying bread and should be greatful for their customers, not pushing them away with attitude.

majormoore · Nov 17, 2008

Stop by and visit with Gus, tell him you really would like to have a good felt hat made by him, because you have heard so many good things about him. tell him you have this amount of money, bump what you were going to spend by another 50, and tell him the amount, ask if he has any thing some one had ordered and did not like, see if he has a body with a little flaw in it, or a small rough spot that he could not sell as a 1st, he may have one that is a 2nd, and he can cut you a deal on it.

Try and spend your money here in the states if you can, plus you will have a hat from a well known hatter, and he may not be around to many years, but you will have a great hat.

Just my two cents worth, try to help out a little.

Major Moore

Hat Head · Nov 17, 2008

majormoore said:
Stop by and visit with Gus, tell him you really would like to have a good felt hat made by him, because you have heard so many good things about him. tell him you have this amount of money, bump what you were going to spend by another 50, and tell him the amount, ask if he has any thing some one had ordered and did not like, see if he has a body with a little flaw in it, or a small rough spot that he could not sell as a 1st, he may have one that is a 2nd, and he can cut you a deal on it.

Try and spend your money here in the states if you can, plus you will have a hat from a well known hatter, and he may not be around to many years, but you will have a great hat.

Just my two cents worth, try to help out a little.

Major Moore

I'm a "support the dying arts" and a "support the local business" kind of guy. But, I'm also a free-market believer. Business flows to where it's easy to do business. For me, Batsakes has not been a place where it's easy to do business. Would a second or flawed piece of felt from an old-fashioned hatter be better than what I get from Hornet Hats? Perhaps, perhaps not. For a hundred dollars, I'd rather go where it's easy.

Once you consider that 99% of the people who see your hat will comment on the fact that you're wearing a hat, and not the quality of the hat, why spend the extra cash and deal with the extra headache? I'll spend for quality, I'll be inconvenienced for quality, but only to a point.

Boris K · Nov 17, 2008

.

Hat Head, I can understand your perception of Gus and the folks at Batsakes. I am near Cincy and have had a custom hat made by Gus. The language barrier is interesting to me. He is an old school hatter and doesn't really cater to the hobby market, but seems sincere in helping customers and making them happy.

I found that the more specific we are in requests, the more helpful he is. He chatted with me about Bogart for some time, etc. once he knew what I wanted. If you want to meet me there, send me a PM. Maybe we can tag-team him to your satisfaction

Regardless, I hope your felt hat search is fully successful.

univibe88 · Nov 17, 2008

I am glad you responded Boris. I remembered that you had a very nice Gus Miller Bogart hat, but I couldn't find the thread. I think that style of hat would look very nice on Hat Head.

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