First hat.

[Blooze]

Ok, ok, so I haven't any pics yet and this is my first post, but I received a Stetson Retro in the mail the other day and so far love it. I've always wanted to wear a fedora style hat, but until recently just felt I looked too young, awkward, if that makes sense. Well, since I'm now 40, who cares! And my wife thinks the style looks good on me

I figured a cheap straw was the way to start with it being pretty hot here in the TX panhandle. That and the only hat you kind find here is a western. Which leads me into my first question, or questions.

I'll be in Dallas Sat. late morning for the Lone Star Audio Fest and figured I should stop by the Hatco Outlet since I'll be within a few miles of it. Obviously it will be a good time for me to verify my size, see what styles I may like, and maybe get a couple of "starter" hats fairly inexpensively. Since it seems some of the stock is seconds, etc....what should I look for in workmanship if I find one I like the look of? And are there materials I should shy away from (eg. wool/wool blends)?

And the final question: do they clean and box the hats there? If they do what would be an appropriate tip to the person performing the work?

Thanks ahead of time for any responses and thanks for the wealth of info I've come across here at the Lounge.

....Shane

 

[danofarlington]

Ok, ok, so I haven't any pics yet and this is my first post, but I received a Stetson Retro in the mail the other day and so far love it. I've always wanted to wear a fedora style hat, but until recently just felt I looked too young, awkward, if that makes sense. Well, since I'm now 40, who cares! And my wife thinks the style looks good on me

I figured a cheap straw was the way to start with it being pretty hot here in the TX panhandle. That and the only hat you kind find here is a western. Which leads me into my first question, or questions.

I'll be in Dallas Sat. late morning for the Lone Star Audio Fest and figured I should stop by the Hatco Outlet since I'll be within a few miles of it. Obviously it will be a good time for me to verify my size, see what styles I may like, and maybe get a couple of "starter" hats fairly inexpensively. Since it seems some of the stock is seconds, etc....what should I look for in workmanship if I find one I like the look of? And are there materials I should shy away from (eg. wool/wool blends)?

And the final question: do they clean and box the hats there? If they do what would be an appropriate tip to the person performing the work?

Thanks ahead of time for any responses and thanks for the wealth of info I've come across here at the Lounge.

....Shane

I would buy hats that appeal to you obviously, just try them out. When you try them on bear in mind that hats are very clothes-specific, and if you buy two you might want to pick one for one class of clothes and another for another. Then you'll cover more bases with that visit. Don't buy a wool hat.

Workmanship? Just forget it and buy one. It's not a football helmet. Tip? Isn't that their job there?

 

[mayserwegener]

I picked up a 7 3/8 Stetson Whippet Straw about a month ago at the HatCo / Stetson outlet for $40.00. Not sure if they have anymore left though (in any size) but they are sharp for a modern hat. I also saw a couple Stetson Nostalgias (open crown) and Chathams in size 7 3/8. Both are nice modern fur felts. A box comes with each hat you purchase. Definitely worth a visit.

 

[Blooze]

Since I've not had the opportunity to really check my size, I'm not for certain, but when I've measured my head it comes out to 22 3/4", so I figure I'll start looking at the 7 1/4's to begin with.

I'd love to have one of the straw Whippet's for this summer.

 

[jwalls]

Welcome

You'll not only information but friends here as well.

 

[The Good]

You know, as a first fedora, I almost got the Stetson Retro, but I ended up going with something cheaper... an Ultrafino Panama Hat, actually (not the quality, but the brand name). I think the Retro looks quite nice, actually, and if I had to do it over again, I would have started off with that and not my cheapie "Panama" hat of dubious quality. You did good!

I still wear the Ultrafino on hotter days, and I do like it, but it's already sweat stained, and some of the straw weave looks a bit discolored and is softer than the rest. This is because I wore it out on hiking trails and sweat in it. I think that after a certain point, I'll relegate it to being more of a yard-work and beach hat. It's not something I'd really consider wearing with a suit or sport coat at this point. After this summer's up, I might try to buy a nicer grade straw, perhaps Panama again, but this time a more reputable one from Panama Bob, or even Stetson. If not a Panama, I might go with a SunBody straw hat, as they could apparently handle rain as well.

 

[Blooze]

I was able to stop by the Hatco Outlet store for about an hour Sat. and found two hats that I liked on me. A Dobb's Dayton in Cordova with a black ribbon and a Stetson Gary Imperial Plus in graphite, both for $59 ea. Good starter hats I think. They had two sage green Chathams that fit me, but one had a greasy thumb print on it and they couldn't get it out and the other was $99. A good deal, but I wanted to get two hats since my chance of getting back anytime soon are nil. There was also one straw Whippet and a felt brown Whippet that I tried on, but decided I didn't like the way it looked on me. Other than that they really didn't have a selection in 7 1/4 (though a couple of 7 1/8 and 7 3/8 fit.....mis-sized maybe), and nothing in the clearance section. I was on a short time table as well and with about a dozen people waiting to get their hats cleaned and steamed I just had the lady at the register box me up so I could go. Both the hats looked in pretty clean condition.


If it wasn't for this forum I never would have known the store was there.

Oh, by the way, here is what I was in Dallas for. I helped organize it this year.

http://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=12492&start=0&