Help! Ineed to find a hat!

[riflegunbuilder]

I'm looking for a light grey or Sand colored hat. Want 2 1/4" brim, bound edge. I want C, teardrop, or diamond crease. Looking in the <$125 range. Bailey makes a ha t called "The Orson" which is exactly what I am looking for except it is wool felt. Biltmore has a hat " Royal Sonata" it seems to be only in darker colors. Need to find this hat before the end of April. Anybody got any leads?

 

[Rick Blaine]

From Miller

they seem to offer a variety of brim widths on this 'un... but no bound edge Style: 142 "Baldwin Hat"

And for a little more $$$ our friend Duanne @ The Fedora Store has an awesome "design your own fedora" feature wherein you can specify everything from color to brim width & binding, trim, stiffness & co.
He was offering a 20% discount f/ loungers... dunno if he is still... or you can keep you eye out f/ vintage. Depending on your size, the stingier brims can be pretty inexpensive. Good luck & keep us informed on yr. quest.

Regards,

Rick

 

[Doctor Strange]

Consider the Akubra Stylemaster - it does have a slightly larger brim, but has a teardrop bash, bound edge, and comes in gray or tan. Akubra hats are extremely solidly made - tougher than most modern brands - and even with international shipping, the price is only in the $100 range.

http://www.hatsdirect.com/cgi/products.cgi?view=61&returncat=Fedora+Hats&returnpage=0

Besides HatsDirect, this model is available from a bunch of other Australian vendors at slightly higher/lower prices - poke around. For example (note that you can see the teardrop bash better in this picture):

http://www.yatesmenswear.com.au/onlineproducts/akubra/stylemaster.html

 

[BigSho]

Rick I don't think Miller would be able to customize that hat to spec right now because of the state that biltmore is in. Rifle I think that you will be hard pressed to find a c-crown in stock somewhere with that small of a brim. The stetson downs is a 2 3/8 inch brim and comes in a silverbvelly like color.

Jeremy
Hats Plus Ltd.

 

[riflegunbuilder]

Help!

Ok, guys I'm willing to open my search range to 2 1/2". Does the Downs have a bound edge?

 

[johnnycanuck]

See anything you like here?
http://www.biltmorehats.com/catalogueswinter2006.htm
if so just contact a Biltmore dealer (listed on the web page) and get them to order one in for you.

Hope that helps.

Johnny

 

[Doctor Strange]

Nope, the Downs doesn't have a bound edge - but the Stylemaster does (and it has a 2-1/2 brim). Cheaper, yet better made, than the Setson too. (While I don't have these particular hats, in terms of Indy-style hats, I've got an Akubra Federation and a Stetson Temple: the Akubra is the superior hat in every way, including costing less.)

Don't be put off by ordering from Australia: most folks get stuff from HatsDirect in about a week.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Ya. What doctor strange said. I don't have personal experience with the Stylemaster but the majority of my hat collection is Akubra. Well worth the cash and Hatsdirect is a joy to work with.

Johnny

 

[riflegunbuilder]

Help

Ok, guys really leaning torwards the Stylemaster. Hats direct only seem to offer two colors. Dr. Strange suggested also,Yates mens wear. They show a color Moonstone however they list that as an "indent color" what does that mean in American?

 

[Doctor Strange]

That means it's special-order from the Akubra factory and takes up to three months. You won't have it by mid-April.

Akubra basically cycles through their many hat styles and felt colors on a three-month production schedule. So, you can essentially order almost anything and get it custom made for no extra cost - but it takes time.

I myself am waiting on a "country hat" - a Stockman - that I ordered in non-standard gray from Aussie Bush Hats and Oilskins back in January. Nine weeks so far, and they say it's probably going to arrive there next week... It's great to know your hat is being custom made, but the waiting is brutal!

 

[johnnycanuck]

If you want to look at something without a bound edge you could try the Banjo. At noggintops they will cut the brim down for you if you like as well.
http://www.noggintops.com/page.cfm?p=143

I am sure you can order the Federation in Tawny Fawn, cut the brim down, and shape it however you like.
http://www.hatsdirect.com/cgi/products.cgi?view=58&returncat=Fedora+Hats&returnpage=0

Just some other options.

Johnny