Thanks for that link - I bookmarked it - I have to be careful with my suits - at 5’8” if I go too old school the proportions shorten me even further - what I like and what looks good on me often don’t get along
I wonder if the the size of the brim was limited by the felt. 7 1/2 with a tallish crown- maybe they ran out of material - maybe that’s why he wants to sell this one.
Thanks for that link - I bookmarked it - I have to be careful with my suits - at 5’8” if I go too old school the proportions shorten me even further - what I like and what looks good on me often don’t get along
I love the fuller drape, higher rise pants and shorter waistcoat. I’m so glad we are done with those silly skinny suits. The vintage jackets want to be a little longer, 31-32ish, and I need like a 29.5-30 or I start looking like a member of the lollipop guild lol. I love my vintage DBs, but my wife gives me a hard time about them.
I have about a dozen homburgs...I like wearing them with a hoodie...Jean jacket....leather jacket or tweed blazer.....in other words I see them going with anything.
I was in Charleston last year. There is a hat shop right downtown...next to our hotel... Francis marrion. Can't recall the name....lots of straw hatsStill developing my preferences. This is very difficult to do without physical access to the items. This is a problem I’m working on resolving. Im headed to Charleston, SC at some point, which is the closest place to my location where I may be able to play with some cool hats in person without having to buy them first.
These are all my very uneducated opinions, not meant to reflect on anybody else’s preferences.
Initially I was drawn to bowlers almost exclusively. I just think they look cool and look good on my head. This is not an opinion that is shared by members of my immediate family, lol. I still intend to get one at some point, but my wife thinks they look a little costume-y on me, which is fine, but not what I’m going for.
Then I discovered Homburgs. I like these because they are a more traditionally formal hat than a fedora, which lines up with my intended use, (suit and tie, 2-button, 3-button and my favorite peak lapel DB) and I like the structured brim which sort of carries over from the bowler.
My wife thinks I need a middle of the road brim; she thinks too small or too large doesn’t look right on me. We shall see.
Ironically, my wife likes me in just about as classic a fedora as you can imagine, which I initially avoided. My reason for avoiding fedoras was that everybody wears fedoras, and I thought I wanted to be a little bit different. So I’m trying to shoot for a very narrow window between not wearing the most recognizable variation and not wearing something far enough outside the box to register as a costume. I’m coming around on the classic fedora, however.
I default to black or dark or mid grey with matching (not contrasting) ribbon, as this is the most traditional dress application, from what I understand, and in my opinion the easiest point of entry. I also realize this preference will likely expand over time. Dressy, not western, although I do like the cattleman’s crease crown. I’d like to see that on a non-western hat. The structure appeals to me. Assuming it doesn’t look like Frankenstein’s monster lol. I’m just not a cowboy. Yet. When I retire that may change.
Oh, and I definitely do not personally prefer all the intentional distressing, burning, cutting and otherwise over-the-top decorating thing that is going on with a significant subset of the custom western makers. I think they look cool in themselves, but I don’t know how I could wear one. I think this may correspond to what you guys call “bohemian” but I’m not 100% certain.
I like the bound brim, I like the little bit taller looking crown, I like the contrast between the lighter felt and the darker ribbon. I’m not sure how I feel about the flat brim, or if the hat is meant to be worn only with a flat brim, but I think it’s interesting. Probably a little too dramatic for me at this stage of the game, but very pretty.
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style.
I don't mind the hats so much but I look funny in the compulsory lederhosen that goes with them
Lol
Specifically I was referring to the part where this hat is made by Optimo, out of Chicago, and doesn’t look at all like what I associate with them. At first I thought it was some other Optimo, but it’s not. I was just curious why they would outsource hats to somewhere in France, etc.
The hat looks to be is good shape. I learnt to always ask: are there any stains...moth nibbles...flaws...or odors in the hat. Ask...then if you receive a hat not as described ...you have grounds to return. Protect yourself against ignorant sellers....not ****med...they just f
I think you may be underestimating how much I value knowing something was done right lol. Also I’m not sure how much of this vintage stuff I’m going to be doing. I’m much more likely to have the right hat made exactly the way I want it - once I have that dialed in
Dang it. You’re right. It’s annoying how many of these hats are mislabeled in this way. Ah well such is life.
My experience in buying used hats off Ebay is one of having to kiss a lot of frogs. Be prepared for disappointment if you are not buying from an established reseller you trust.
