Panama Hat Thread

[ManofKent]

That's certainly a fine hat, with a fine weave.

 

[frenchgentleman]

Very nice. Where is Pauline Brosset located in Paris?

Thanks!
Pauline Brosset is located in the 3rd arrondissement, at 43 rue Volta, but an appointment is needed in order to meet her because this is not a showroom. She has a facebook page with all her info https://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/Pauline-Brosset-Chapeli%C3%A8re-cr%C3%A9ations-sur-mesures/179291628820389

 

[DJH]

frenchgentleman, that is a really good looking Montecristi.

I like the weave, the proportions, the blocking and the wider than usual ribbon. I hope you get plenty of nice weather to be able to enjoy wearing it.

 

[frenchgentleman]

Thank you for your kind word, DJH!
Lately the weather has not been nice in Paris, I have not been able to enjoy wearing my panama yet, but I don't despair!

 

[wine65]

Frenchgentleman,
Wonderful hat, Enjoy!

 

[BladeOfAnduril]

My new monticristi arrived today! It's a "Fedora 1" in sub-fino from panamahatsdirect.com. It's not nearly as nice as some others in this thread, but for a started straw, I'm happy with it. It has a black grosgrain ribbon. Brim is just shy of 2.5". It came with a liner, which is spot glued. I'm debating whether or not to take it out. I want the hat to be cool, but I also don't want to ruin the straw with sweat or my Groom & Clean habit. Thoughts?

 

[Duper]

Nice hat Blade. I might use a little steam and give the brim just a bit more swoop. I hope you get lots of sunny days to wear it.

,,,Mike

 

[BladeOfAnduril]

Thanks Mike. It has a very subtle swoop, but it could certainly do with a bit more.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[job]

I would not want a liner in a straw hat. I need some air flow. I might carry a hanky to mop up with now and again.

 

[BladeOfAnduril]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to reform the brim to give it some more swoop, since I don't happen to own a flange?

 

[DJH]

I love a swoopy brim. I either use steam or just water and then do this...

Works great!

 

[Duper]

I ordered two straws from Panamadirect recently. Both came with a liner. I removed both of them. I also used the steam kettle to tweak the brim on both as well.

 

[job]

I have one straw hat that is hard to shape so I had to steam it then set the brim on a table top, letting the rest of the hat hang off while weighting the brim with books. Afterwards I sprayed felt stiffener on it.

 

[winter_joe]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.my/viewitem?itemId=400504967669 just paid for this biltmore Panama a little much but overall pretty excited for it. Don't have very many summer hats so this will be a welcome addition.

 

[AnalogReigns]

Anyone ever hear of the importer Panamahutdirekt.de? (No, it is not panamahatsdirect.com, a "hut" means house in German--it has a whole different website) Yes it apparently is an ethnically German direct importer which claims to send straight from Montecristi. Their prices are very good (for example a near top of the line "Superfino" of 670 wpsi is $345 with free shipping to the USA). Anyone heard of them at all?

 

[DJH]

Hey Analog, you might find that one of our German friends has used this company, but most people here seem to use the US based sources.

There are plenty of businesses that import the straw bodies and block and finish them here.

If you decide to purchase from the German site, it will be very interesting to hear how it goes and to see photos of the hat.

 

[alanfgag]

Measuring Montecristi weave on the fly

Works well when a brother can't spare a dime.

 

[mikespens]

Nooooo!............not another weave count measurement reference! Even your flies look good Alan. Sure it's just admiring the weave like I am though, but from a different POV.

 

[1961MJS]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to reform the brim to give it some more swoop, since I don't happen to own a flange?

Hi

DLK's suggestion below is pretty good, but what I saw Rocky at Buckaroo Hatter do was slightly more impressive. On my John Wayne Cavalry hat, he steamed the whole brim and then held it on an 8-15 inch (didn't measure it) cardboard sleeve. For lessor curls, he used his belly. The belly method leaves a more continuous curve than just bending the front brim.

Later

 

[barrowjh]

alan, hilarious. constipated fly.

What does a fly with stomach problems say? "I 'spec so" and of course, the constipated fly, " I 'spec not"