Optimo south side mobsters

[EggHead]

jlee, I seem to remember that you have another oxblood hat. Can you show them side by side? and perhaps make some comments?

 

[bowlerman]

That is very sharp, jlee. I think the black ribbon brings out the blood in the ox. I am sufficiently envious now. I've been fantasizing a black hat with an oxblood colored ribbon as well. Wonder if I'll ever get around to having a ribbon changed.

By the way-- I think your black sheep of this same ilk is also underwelt, correct? Can you (or anyone) tell me what all the hype about an underwelt is? I've owned and loved a few overwelts, but have never seen an underwelt in person.

 

[Aureliano]

Well, mostly because the only 2" ribbon they had in stock was black, but it ended up being alright because I wear a lot of black as it is. I also have this Stetson Golden Century that I got from the bay which has a 2" burgundy/maroon ribbon which is not quite as dark as the film hat, but would compliment it nicely, which I have been thinking of swapping. But I am pretty satisfied with the black for now.

Gotcha. It looks nice. When I ordered mine, I think Tiffani told me that the Depp's hat had a 1 3/4 ribbon. She sent mine like that but looking at the picture above, it looks like a 2 inch. Check it out.

 

[jlee562]

The good news is I found my digital camera. The bad news is that it is no longer functional, so again I apologize for the camera phone pics. [huh]

jlee, I seem to remember that you have another oxblood hat. Can you show them side by side? and perhaps make some comments?

Certainly....it's pretty overcast out where I am, so the color of these photos is not a great real life representation of what they both look like, but they show the contrast. When Art came out with his Oxblood and Black Cherry felts, there was discussion that Optimo's "Oxblood" is really a misnomer, compared to the more redish color traditionally associated with Oxblood and I'm inclined to agree. My Black Sheep hand dyed Oxblood is more akin to Art's Oxblood (but a bit darker, and a bit more burgundy undertone), while Optimo's Oxblood is indeed closer to the Black Cherry felt than the Oxblood.

(The Black Sheep hat gets pretty washed out here, and you can see the Optimo almost appears black.

That is very sharp, jlee. I think the black ribbon brings out the blood in the ox. I am sufficiently envious now. I've been fantasizing a black hat with an oxblood colored ribbon as well. Wonder if I'll ever get around to having a ribbon changed.

By the way-- I think your black sheep of this same ilk is also underwelt, correct? Can you (or anyone) tell me what all the hype about an underwelt is? I've owned and loved a few overwelts, but have never seen an underwelt in person.

Thank you kind sir! Yes, the Black Sheep also has an underwelt, although the crown is creased a bit shorter and the brim is a bit wider. Personally I like underwelts as opposed to overwelts in that I feel it looks more like a Cav edge than an overwelt, because the over layed layer of felt looks more obvious on top.

Gotcha. It looks nice. When I ordered mine, I think Tiffani told me that the Depp's hat had a 1 3/4 ribbon. She sent mine like that but looking at the picture above, it looks like a 2 inch. Check it out.

I'm pretty convinced that Depp's hat has a 2" ribbon that must have been some vintage stock that they ran out of. If you look at, say, this picture:

And you compare the width of the ribbon relative to the width of the brim, they come out about the same. I do very much like the ribbon on your hat, and I believe it's the same as pictured on the website, but like I said, I did want the 2" ribbon. Also, I have a Black Penman fedora which has a really nice wine colored ribbon and I thought the two might be mighty similar if I went for the same ribbon on the Optimo. Indeed, when I ordered from Mr. Penman, I asked him to make me a hat in the vein of the Dillinger hat:

 

[Aureliano]

I agree with you, Depp's hat is definitely a 2 inch. Your 3 hats are beauties, man. Congrats!

 

[bowlerman]

+1. You have all the perfect variations on "The Deppinger." Here is a guy who knows when and what to spend his money on! Now I hyperventilate.

 

[Brando11]

Fluteplayer- Congratulations on a stunning hat! Months ago I stashed this picture away of one of RLK's many gorgeous hats. The colors knocked me out, and your new Optimo does as well-

I proudly present my first Optimo creation, the 'Michigan City'...

Oxblood felt, a lowered 'Dillinger' crown, ribbon bound edge (9L I believe), and a very RLK inspired ribbon. The credit for the dimensions and crown block go to Tiffani, I told her the image I wished to evoke, and she worked her magic... The result is a hat with ideal dimensions for my facial construction, and a decidedly vintage flair.

 

[HatsEnough]

That one is great. The colors are stunning. But if I were to get one it would have to be a bigger brim... though I know it stops being a hat modeled after the film hat at that point. I just need a brim between 2-7/8 and 2-1/2 to be acceptable.

 

[EggHead]

All nice hats gentlemen, look very good on my 40" TV!

 

[Aureliano]

I'm on my way to see Graham at his trunk show here in NYC!

 

[Aureliano]

I saw Graham and Tiffani yesterday afternoon and got to spend a good hour and a half talking with him. He brought samples of all his new colors, and let me tell ya' those dyed silberbelly (not the natural like the one Al owns but rather Al's hat dyed, if that makes sense) are amazing (Al's hat is also amazing BTW. I still want one like his!). Saw their new light weights and the new colors, some amazing montecristis. It was awesome. And yes. I bought one. one of the new blue ones. Pictures soon.
He told me a couple of things/surprises that I can't talk about. But you'll find out soon.

 

[randooch]

That one is great. The colors are stunning. But if I were to get one it would have to be a bigger brim... though I know it stops being a hat modeled after the film hat at that point. I just need a brim between 2-7/8 and 2-1/2 to be acceptable.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I think it would be great to see a photo of you wearing one of your hats. Aren't you interested in having the gallery weigh in on the ideal brim width for your face? I know you said it's all about the hats, but really, I think, it's also about how we wear them.

There, did I convince you?

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Optimo hats Chicago custom bespoke beaver felt fedora

New article about Optimo Hats.

 

[BobC]

Thanks for the link, Ed. Interesting read

 

[delectans]

Thanks for the link, Ed. Good overall article, but I must say that the author is not entirely correct in his assessment of Optimo's position regarding the Cavanagh Edge, and he also neglected to mention the extraordinary Optimo 1000 felts.

 

[Aureliano]

Thanks for the link, Ed. Good overall article, but I must say that the author is not entirely correct in his assessment of Optimo's position regarding the Cavanagh Edge, and he also neglected to mention the extraordinary Optimo 1000 felts.

I agree. And he misspelled Cavanagh. Huge pet peeve of mine. HUGE.

 

[delectans]

I was waiting for you to chime in on his spelling. lol I suppose he could be pardoned for the error if he has never previously handled a Cavanagh, or does not frequent the lounge, where he would certainly have seen the many others who have committed the same offense. :nono:

 

[Aureliano]

This is the hat I bought from Graham's trunk show here in NYC. He had several samples of his new 100% beaver felt and, though fascinated by everything he had, I kept coming back to this. Since I was his last appointment of his trip, he sold me the "sample" he had made expressly for the trunk show. It fit me perfectly.
The color is from their new batch for the fall/winter called Laguna Blue in, of course , 100% beaver. Park Avenue model (came with a center dent. I creased it teardrop) Underwelt brim.

 

[jlee562]

Stunning! Not a color I could pull off, but the felt and ribbon combination is perfect.

 

[alanfgag]

Beautiful!