Akubra Stylemaster

[jake_fink]

My style is classic comfort that I can afford. I mix vintage and new clothes without feeling like I have to look terribly modish or museum grade G.E., just so long as I look and feel like me. I tend to wear my vintage hats only on special (or at least particular) occassions, but don't do the rockabilly pomp up as much as I once did now that I have some grey to contend with, consequently I'm wearing (new) hats for most days of the month. I have a couple of Stetsons and a number of Biltmores and now I'm thinking of buying an Akubra Stylemaster. I like the look, from what I can tell, and the colour (acorn -?).

My question is simply, for those of you who have a Stylemaster, how is it, are you happy with it, can you tell me about it, can you (or have you) posted pics?

The toss up is between that and the Federation. I'm not into dressing up like Indiana Jones, but the Federation looks a bit like the hat Robert Redford wore at the beginning of The Natural - and I like that one - or the hat Clark Gable wore in It Happened One Night - another one I like. So if anyone has a Federation that has not been bashed and dusted with fullers earth to look like it belonged to the good doctor Jones or that's in a colour other than medium brown I'd like to hear about that or see it, if I could.

Thanks a bunch guys.

:cheers1:

 

[Zach R.]

Well, the regular Federation is in grey, fawn, and black in addition to Indy-brown. From what I hear and see they are great modern hats that can take a good beating and still come out on top.

The stylemaster looks pretty good, IMO, but the crown is a little too short for me it seems.

 

[Prairie Shade]

Akubra Owner-Many Others Also

I like the Stylemaster BUT if your on a budget, how about looking at my post "It was a Dark and Stormy Night". I think my Stetson Downs compares and for 45.00 plus 7-8 shipping. What the heck, wear it to change the oil in your Astin-Martin. The Fed I have is a beauty for sure, but it still does not have the finish that my Stetson does. Felt IS much heavier and more durable thats for sure. I like both! BUT, I could have a Stetson and have enough change to buy a vintage on Ebay!!!! Just did as a matter of fact. This is just my opinion, I have been wrong!!!!! :beer:

 

[jake_fink]

Thanks guys.

 

[Wesne]

New member, new Akubra Stylemaster

First off, a thank you to everyone on this forum for providing all the information I needed to make an informed decision regarding the purchase of this hat. This is my first fedora.

I've always liked hats, at least in theory. As a kid I had a nice collection of "trucker" caps (late '70s-early '80s) but I could never get used to wearing one. I've also never been able to wear a cowboy hat. The one hat that I did wear, for far too long (it was starting to get quite worse for the wear) was one of those cheap wool felt "crusher" hats. It was my foul weather hat for a long time. I replaced that one with a Filson waxed cotton "packer" hat. The less hair I have on top of my head the more I appreciate hats. I've been wearing that Filson a lot more lately, even when it's not raining or snowing, and my confidence has grown to the point that I wanted something with a little more class.

I've admired vintage fedoras in antique and thrift shops for years, but with a size 7 5/8 head, I've never found one that I liked that would fit me. After reading a lot of posts here, I decided to bite the bullet and order a new Akubra. The Stylemaster seemed to be just what I was looking for. I wanted something well made and stylish but not too formal. I don't even own a suit and never wear ties. Where I live the only people who wear suits on are attorneys on their days in court. My weekday mode of dress is khaki trousers and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

I ordered the Stylemaster in Acorn Fawn, size 61, from Everything Australian. With standard air mail shipping the price worked out to less than $90 U.S.

I have a mixed review of Everything Australian. I received an order confirmation the day after placing my order, but a little over two weeks passed before I got another email notifying me that the item had shipped. There was no indication that the hat was out of stock or any other reason for the delay. Once it was shipped, it arrived in eight days.

I haven't handled any other modern fedoras so I can't really say how this hat compares. I'm happy with it though. The felt has a nice soft finish but it is a little stiff, much stiffer than vintage felt. I have no idea what it will be like 60 years from now, though, or what those vintage hats felt like when they were new.

The hat was just a little loose when it arrived. Not falling down around my ears, but it did feel like a gust of wind could take it off. Based on advice I found here, I dampened the inside of the sweat band and applied some moderate heat. (I held it in front of a small electric space heater rather than using a light bulb.) I was careful not to use too much heat and couldn't really tell if it there had been any change in the size at first. I cut a couple of strips of cheap felt I picked up at a craft shop (33 cents) and put them inside the sweat band, and the fit felt right. The next morning I put the hat on and it felt just a bit too snug. Took the felt strips out and voila! A perfect fit. I think it shrank just the right amount overnight. I've been wearing the hat all week and it feels good.

Well, I'll quit rambling now and share some photos, including my best effort at a self-portrait while wearing the hat.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549217/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/423549217_eaef869722_o.jpg" width="720" height="529" alt="stylemaster 1" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549220/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/423549220_b09e8c8a33_o.jpg" width="720" height="579" alt="stylemaster 2" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549222/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/423549222_01af6b3cd0_o.jpg" width="720" height="606" alt="stylemaster 3" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549223/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/423549223_04ae9b9558_o.jpg" width="720" height="584" alt="stylemaster 4" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549234/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/423549234_b245d78005_o.jpg" width="540" height="706" alt="stylemaster on" /></a>

 

[Fletch]

Stylin'!

Great choice for a first, all-around quality lid.

Welcome to the Lounge!

 

[MattJH]

I have a 7 5/8 head as well, and I'm actually starting to narrow down my small collection significantly, and the only constant so far is that not a single Akubra is being sold -- I love them.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Very nice hat indeed, and you wear it well.

Have any others?

 

[Feraud]

Welcome to the Lounge. I am glad to read your first hat buying experience went well. The stiffness of the hat will subside with use.
Enjoy it!

 

[Wesne]

Very nice hat indeed, and you wear it well.

Have any others?

Thank you sir. No others as yet. I gravitate toward antique shops and thrift stores when I'm traveling, though, and I'll be commencing my quest in earnest to find a vintage hat that fits me. Pickings are slim and competition is tight in this size range on eBay, I have found.

 

[M_Jones]

Hey Wesne, us Montana boys must be cut from the same cloth. I myself gravitate towards khakis and long sleeved button-down shirts with the sleeves rolled up. Your new lid suits you well. Wear it in health!

What part of MT are you from? I hail from Belgrade (Bozeman to those less familiar with the territory) and plan to move back there after the military. You just can't beat the beauty of that country IMHO.

 

[mingoslim]

Gee . . . that is a great looking lid! I seriously think I am going to have to pick one of those up for myself . . .

 

[John in Covina]

This hat looks realy nice, you got it with the hat pre-bashed? I have the same but got it as an open crown and did my own bash. They are pretty stiff but the one I have is about 3 months old and been worn about half that time. so it is starting to soften up nicely. After reading the mostly positve reccomendations on a number of Akubras I was confident in purchasing it at David Morgan where it was a little more but arrived with in days of the order. (Pacific NW to Pacific SW.)

Wear it with pride and confidence, it looks great on you!

John in Covina

I ordered the Stylemaster in Acorn Fawn, size 61, from Everything Australian. With standard air mail shipping the price worked out to less than $90 U.S. I haven't handled any other modern fedoras so I can't really say how this hat compares. I'm happy with it though. The felt has a nice soft finish but it is a little stiff, much stiffer than vintage felt. I have no idea what it will be like 60 years from now, though, or what those vintage hats felt like when they were new.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549217/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/423549217_eaef869722_o.jpg" width="720" height="529" alt="stylemaster 1" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549220/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/423549220_b09e8c8a33_o.jpg" width="720" height="579" alt="stylemaster 2" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549222/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/423549222_01af6b3cd0_o.jpg" width="720" height="606" alt="stylemaster 3" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549223/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/423549223_04ae9b9558_o.jpg" width="720" height="584" alt="stylemaster 4" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55751256@N00/423549234/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/423549234_b245d78005_o.jpg" width="540" height="706" alt="stylemaster on" /></a>

 

[Wesne]

M Jones - I live in Libby, up in the northwest, timber country. Grew up "back east" but came here as soon as I had the chance. Been here 12 years now and don't plan on ever leaving.

John - The hat came pre-bashed. I'd like to try my hand at my own bash someday. If I were to get another new Akubra, I'd go with an unbashed one, maybe a Campdraft to complement the Stylemaster. I like the bash on this one but I also like the individuality and imperfections of an old-fashioned do-it-yourself bash.

If anyone's wondering about the dimensions on this hat, the brim is 2.5 inches and the crown is 4.5 inches at the front and 4 inches at the back.

 

[cooncatbob]

Very nice: I've been eyeing a Federation in Carbon Grey but I'm waiting to see what happen with the unofficial lounge hat.

 

[MKL]

I really like the color. Nice hat.

Enjoy it.

 

[RBH]

Welcome to the Lounge Wesne.
Akubra makes a fine fedora, and yours is no exception. You wear it very well.
Good luck in your search for a vintage hat.

 

[J.S.Udontknowme]

Hello Wesne. That hat looks good on you. I have a grey Stylemaster that I wear a lot. I like the thin felt and light weight.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Welcome to the Lounge Wesne, the dimensions look right for you. You wear it well!!

Enjoy

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I'm really liking that hat - the bash and the color as well. I've been debating chocolate brown or a light tan for ages, and that's a great happy medium. I'm telling myself I have plenty of work to do here at home today...but something tells me I'm going to be on the road up to David Morgan before too much longer to see which they have in stock...although ordering from Australia is another option - sounds like it was about three weeks from order to delivery?