Je je je Actually I am a Lawyer ja ja ja I work in engineering but have a law degree !!!
Okay... so my new D'Aquino arrived over the weekend, and I just picked it up at the post office. I was very nervous at first because of the huge gouge in the box (thank you postal service). But fortunately, she had it well protected. Here's my review...
**My request vs what I received:
Open crown: 5 1/2" / Received 6"
Creased to a teardrop: 4 1/2" high / Received 5"
Brim width: 2 1/4" / received 2 3/8
Brim binding matching the hat body / Received burgundy brim binding
Ribbon: 1 1/2" burgundy ribbon / Received 1 1/2" ribbon with extra stitching running through.
Color: "light gray" body / Received light gray body, but from my perspective, it leans more towards a "medium gray."
**Felt: The rabbit felt is soft to the touch, but more course in appearance than my other felts. It's not as light as my 50s vintage, but not as heavy as my Fed IV. It feels lighter and less dense than my modern premiere Stetson felts. It does remind me most of my Imperial Campdraft, though this has just a bit more stiffness in it.
**Hits: There are no flaws whatsoever in the stitching. The ribbon is "heartier" than I expected. I requested a size 59.5, knowing that some of you have gotten it "half-sized." It's marked 59 1/2 (with the 1/2 handwritten in), and it fits just right. The bow on the sweat is well done.
**Misses: The lining has light staining in it. This was disappointing. I haven't worked on it to see if it's deeply embedded or just in need of a light cleaning. The front point of the crown is not aligned properly with the back bow. I'll be reworking the crown, so that's something I can fix.
**Other details: Delivery was 33 days from date of order. Communication was okay. I usually got a response within 48 hours of asking a question.
**Overall Impression: It's a gorgeous hat... one I'll be wearing often. I wish I had asked for the 2 1/2" brim or larger to match the larger crown I received. I'm glad it's at least 2 3/8". The misses on some of the details are a reminder that this is a custom hat under $100. And none of those misses disqualify the hat's overall greatness. If you want your custom hat to be made to exact specifications, D'Aquino is not the way to go. If you have a design idea and want it in the ballpark (with a few surprises thrown in) for a great price, this is the way to go!
Dry creased with a little more pinch...
The stain/dirt in the liner is disappointing.
The bow work is very nice. I was hoping to have the size embossed on the sweat like some others have had. Just the paper tag on this.
Gotta find a shirt to match. This one didn't quite work!
Fruno, thank you. The pieces she's made for you are gorgeous and why I placed the order.
There's Alden's on the 200 block of Walnut and Eddie's on the 300 block of Market. Alden's had a few Biltmore furs, but mostly wool stuff. Same with Eddie's (almost all wool). It's their straws where you can find some quality hats.
