I found it and almost ruined it in the same day!

[portolan]

Yesterday I was thinking about how dumb I was to have left all my hats in Mexico. I still haven't mastered what to do with a hat on a plane, so I left them in Chihuahua.

Then just this morning I was prowling around in my closet and found a hat sitting there that I had forgotten I own. I bought it a year or so ago from Colonel Littleton and never wore it! On my head it went as I went to Publix to do some shopping. As you may have heard, Florida is an interesting climatological zone this week. So much rain....

Well, it is raining this morning (no surprise). I got to Publix, waited for a lessening of the inundation and ran towards the store. The wind caught my newly-found hat and sent it doing cartwheels through the parking lot puddles. Picture an almost sixty year old running through the parking lot in the rain chasing a runaway hat. You are right, it was ugly.

The hat was soaked. I was soaked. All the cart guys were safely huddled under the overhang laughing at the hat's misfortune. My question is this, how do all those cowboys in the movies gallop along at breakneck pace, shooting the bad guys and never lose their hats. I lost mine in one minute at no breakneck pace.

"It's ruined," I said to myself....What would the guys on The Fedora Lounge do in a situation like this? At least they would know what to do....

Me, I got home and took out the hairdryer. I stood there for half an hour drying and drying. Finally after $100 worth of electricity, the hat was kind of, sort of dry. Maybe you aren't supposed to use a hairdryer on a hat---I did. So here is the result....

Is there a book entitled "Hat Care for Dummies?" I sure need it! Next time it rains I am going to wear my Tampa Bay Bucs baseball cap!

 

[funneman]

Welcom to the Lounge.

The hat looks good to me.

Just keep that dryer away from the sweatband.
It'll curl up like a cheech!

What part of South Florida?

Davie, Florida here.

 

[Dinerman]

According to a tag in a '50s Resistol of mine,

If caught in the rain, uncrease crown and allow to dry at room temperature

 

[RBH]

Looks like no harm done. And a nice looking hat to boot.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Yeah, you and that hat came through just fine.

I sometimes think we worry a little too much about getting hats wet and give the hats too little credit for being able to handle it.

There are some light colored, very fine, very old hats in my bunch which I wouldn't like to see tumbling through puddles, but the majority of my hats are tough and ready for the elements. In fact, I've found that the better the quality of the hat the more resilient it is.

And I only (CAREFULLY - LOW SETTING - TWO FEET AWAY) use a hairdryer on Panama straws when I have dampened the brim and am shaping it. Never on felts. Just let them dry or risk shrinkage.

 

[rrog]

I can't believe you did that. That hats looks absolutely awful! Looks like you've ruined it. It's not worthy of being worn anymore. You simply must get rid of that hat. Sell it. Even if you have to give the thing away, get rid of it fast!

And since you're getting rid of it anyway, my addres is...

lol


Seriously, the hat looks good. It would appear you worried for nothing.

Rick

 

[Magus]

there is no need to worry when you have a soaked hat, just block it on something stable (I use a hat form shaped to my head) prop the brim the way you desire with somthing (I use foil balled up and let it dry. no problem. Unless the hat is wool. then all bets are off as shrink...taper...and warp may occur. Your hat looks just fine.

M