Panama Hat Thread

[deanglen]

Just got my first straw hat today.

Brian, looks like an advertisement for the hat! Great choice, looks great!
dean

 

[deanglen]

My optimo crown.

Cheers!

Dan

DJ you've got the image down pat! Terrific hat and glasses!

dean

 

[deanglen]

One thing that I notice about Dan Jones' hat and many other panamas is the way the brim breaks as it separates from the crown, and the gentle curves in the brim itself. I noticed this first in an inexpensive panama I own.

Rather than a crip 90 degree transition from crown to brim, the transition seems to be more of a curve. In fact, the brim itself seems to curve more than to "snap" into place. It's difficult to describe, but the effect seems to be that of a material (toquilla fiber) that is fairly soft and therefore changes shape somewhat more gradually than a stiff straw or felt.

I have some Milan straws; they are quite stiff and have much more crisp transition angles, and there's more "snap" to the curve in the brim.

Does this description make sense? If so, am I observing a quality of the material itself, or does it have more to do with the quality of the hat and the way it has been blocked?

Pilgrim, I'm glad someone else noticed this and commented on it. I feel pretty sure it's a consequence of the hat material and the blocking style, and
I'm wouldn't know if it's quality thing, or some other factor.

dean

 

[Panamabob]

I think it is probably the nature of the paja and the technique used in blocking. When I look at hand finished hat, the block is more crisp at the brim break than those pressed on a machine.

 

[Flieger]

Here's my Pachacuti "Brisa Fine", sorry for the ****py photo.

Regards
/Flieger

 

[deanglen]

Here's my Pachacuti "Brisa Fine", sorry for the ****py photo.

Regards
/Flieger

The photo is fine, nice mood, great hat!

dean

 

[Dinerman]

My Adam Pana-Brisa. I did have one other straw, a '60s milan opti-pie, but my dad's appropriated it.

 

[Panamabob]

Some new styles for come guy down in Florida. I think you've seen him like this:

I couldn't resist!

 

[RBH]

Some new styles for some guy down in Florida. I think you've seen him like this:

I couldn't resist!

Bob.... you are almost up there with Dean!!!




Great hats everyone!!!!!!!!

 

[Prof Branestawm]

I'm a big fan of panamas. If only I had a camera I'd post pictures of mine: a slightly bashed about one I wore through the middle east 2 years ago, a Pachacuti rollable fedora that I've put a thicker ribbon and windcord on, and a Christy's optimo with the top squared off.

The Pachacuti is incredibly light - just what a panama should be, and the Christy is a bit heavier, but with a nice wicking sweatband. The first I don't wear much anymore, because it's quite hot and the sweatband seems to encourage persperation rather than whisking it away.

 

[mingoslim]

You have some great straws . . .

Ok fellas, lets show what ya got. All straws are welcome and appreciated.

These first two are my vintage straws, a Lee panama and a Adam milan.

But the Adam Milan looks great on you . . . I think it is your personal best.

 

[Undertow]

Here are my straws starting from finest and ending in...well, most easily worn:

The one on the left is a Montecristi fino, on the right is a Cuencas something...not sure. It's a moderate hat, but looks nice with a few suits!

On the left is a straw golfing hat I picked up from a friend, it's from Australia but I don't have many details on it and on the left is a HatBiz 50x, good work hat for the yard and out on the fields.

Last are my club hats, both are the same, just different color. You can see I've pinched the tan one because I tend to wear it more often and I prefer the pinched look on it. I wear these when I'm out and about, or running errands, etc. In other words, I wear these while I'm dressed down. Both are very comfortable.

 

[Panamabob]

The one on the left is a Montecristi fino, on the right is a Cuencas something

The one on the left is a Cuenca. The one on the right looks Montecristi in color, but kind of far away to tell for sure.

 

[Undertow]

Haha, good catch, sorry! I had written those down on a little slip of paper and must have gotten them backwards. :eusa_doh:

 

[HungaryTom]

My Commissioned hat from Panama Hatworks of Montecristi has arrived.

As promised a while ago I thank PanamaBob and Art Fawcett for their work in the Panama Canal.
The hat has 14 vueltas, I really could not find out the weavecount it is so fine: 40+ weaves counted horizontally and vertically.
The hat was worth the money, the wait, the trust.

Robert and Art,

Thank you very much.

Regards:


Tom

 

[Panamabob]

I think I remember counting 18 or 19 vueltas (I can see at least 16 in the photo) and the hat is over 1600 weaves per square inch.

 

[rcinlv]

My turn to jump in.

I guess I'm like most members, much more comfortable lurking in the shadows. But here is my Panama- a Montecristi from PanamaBob, 700+ WPI. It is more than I could have asked for!

This hat has served me well all summer, from the baking heat of Las Vegas to the cool mists of Pismo Beach. Quite a "Beach Hat" don't you think!

Cheers,

RC

 

[HungaryTom]

RC - Nice Optimo

Very nice panama hat.

Bob always surpasses in the weave-count. At least I did not expect 1600+ wpsi. The Optimo on your head is convincing me to also try an Optimo one day.

I can not count really well since I am not an expert - I just followed the advice - "PUT YOUR MONEY IN THE WEAVE" - © by Sharpetoys.
The hat looks like skin, silk NOT straw. The texture is very fine. - I have never seen anything like that before in real life. Even the Panama Hat book photos are not really showing the colors - the photographs turned out more yellow.
I will take a magnifying glass - the bare eye can not really see those small knots.
Bob just a question - who was the weaver doing this miracle?
The commissioned hat is superbly fine - I did wear it yesterday.

Blocking and dressing: Art is really a magician: the Bogey block is really good - fitting my statue and heavy face. Better go one size up: I have RTW hats with 59/60 cm.
The 61 cm fits my head perfectly - I heard that hats tend to shrink.
Also I think Art has true size blocks - since they are vintage: not the one size fits all modern blocks, so it is better to go up one size.
Just like I did with my Ready to wear Vass shoes.
The navy ribbon is really exquisite. The brim of the hat snaps to the head shape.

Comment to the photos: as said before it is the hat that is the closest to perfection -not my head. Other: the real life color is not that ghostly white - it has nice ivory color - photos kill the true beauty. The natural straw colors can be seen the best in the photo with the vueltas.

The hat has no stiffener - unlike my Cuenca (not from PHM!), but funny that it is not necessary at all.
It fits perfectly - I did not notice almost that I have one hat on my head.

Thanks once again.

 

[geckoheart]

The other end of the spectrum

Beautiful hat HungaryTom

Here is my Montecristi Beach Hat from PB. I re-bashed it. I am heading to Myrtle Beach on Monday morning and figured it needed a change.
From the front

From the side


From the front top- close up


Not quite the quality of HungaryTom's, but will keep me happy at the beach all week.

 

[RedPop4]

And keep the sun off of you, as well.