Should I cut the brim on this?

[indycop]

I was wondering if the brim on my black federation is too wide? I mainly plan to wear it for more dressy stuff as I like my PB for everything else until I get my Camptown. Also I really like the brim dimensions on my PB. So If you guys could give me your opinion as to whether I should or not, and if I should then I will need to know how to. Thanks in advance!

And a pic of my PB for comparison.

 

[RBH]

I think it fits your features well.
But I believe ****CatBob trimed one of his hats and it did look even better after the trim.
This my friend may be something thats hard to decide on!

 

[Colby Jack]

Keep 'em wide....

Hey Indycop
I'm a wide brim fan...so I say keep it the way it is...Great looking hat!...and the model's not that bad considering you're in Jax!lol

 

[fatwoul]

Finally a smile!

I can't criticise. I never smile in photos.

As for the brim, yes, it is clearly wider than your PB. This gives your PB more of a "town" look, and your federation more that of a "country" hat, in my mind at least. This seems a little contradictory with the colours, since I would associate a black hat more with a town environment, and the PB's brown would seem more at home in the country, if one had to attribute each hat in such a way.

Personally, I think both brims suit you, although I think perhaps you're right that the smaller brim of your PB looks a fraction better. There really isn't much in it, and of course the jet black of your Federation in the photograph creates the illusion of that hat being a touch bigger altogether.

Based on my own experience, I would say leave the brim alone for a couple of weeks and resist the urge to cut it. You haven't had the hat all that long, so just wear it and see if you get used to it. If, after that, you really don't want the brim that big, then go ahead and try cutting it.

I marked mine up with a tailor's chalk and cut it with scissors (anti-clockwise, same as brushing, but I don't know if that's correct for cutting). My brim has a rather...unique quality now. You could maybe call it a Swales brim, in that it's ragged as anything. Nobody else would notice (well, Art, Steve, and all the hatters would, but not the people around me). I know the inconsistencies are there, but they don't bother me anymore.

Also, do it in 1/8 inch at the greatest. Don't go hacking off a quarter inch before you see how it looks. Gradually reduce the brim.

Keep your cuts in line with the edge of the brim - most of the inconsistencies in my brim are from the scissors drifting away from the vertical.

Apparently, Fed brims vary in size quite a bit, but if your brim is the same size as the one on my Dlx, cutting off an 1/8th causes the snap to become unstable, and presumably cutting off more than this causes the snap to disappear altogether. So, keep that in mind.

Hope that helps, but really, don't touch it until you're absolutely sure, because you can change the ribbon and the bash, but the brim size is something you can't put back if you don't like it. Ultimately it's you who has to wear it and be happy with it, so asking everyone else really comes second to what you think.

EDIT: Also, don't forget your Camptown will have a bigger brim on it (unless you've asked for a cut down as well as a dimensional cut), so you'll still have a wider brim if you decide to cut this one down. This was the fact that helped me decide to take the chance with my Dlx.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I wouldn't. But, then I'm not the guy under your hat. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Vermifuge]

Hey Indycop
I'm a wide brim fan...so I say keep it the way it is...Great looking hat!...and the model's not that bad considering you're in Jax!lol

i like them wide myself and would have to agree. now how do people feel about taking the bound edge off of a hat? just my own curiosity. not to distract from the topic at hand.

 

[fatwoul]

i like them wide myself and would have to agree. now how do people feel about taking the bound edge off of a hat? just my own curiosity. not to distract from the topic at hand.

I am considering buying a Bushman next, and if I do, I will be removing the bound brim, because I don't like them. They suit some hats great, but personally I just prefer the edge raw. I like a simpler look, I guess.

I also reckon I erroneously associate them with a different era of hats to those that I like. I know it's not true, but I associate brim bindings with 50s hats, and raw-edges to pre-war.

Anyway, back to Indycops's brim...

 

[fedoralover]

I'd keep it wide, it fits your face just fine. Variety is good anyway.

fedoralover

 

[indycop]

I will give it a few more weeks and then see. I guess maybe some of it is the fact that it is just different than my PB. And to me it really stands out being black, I feel more formal or something. With the brown I feel comfortable no matter what.
As for the camptown I'm thinking that the grey will tone down the brim width. From the way everybody talks about the camptowns I'm expecting it to be my favorite go to hat.

 

[fatwoul]

...As for the camptown I'm thinking that the grey will tone down the brim width. From the way everybody talks about the camptowns I'm expecting it to be my favorite go to hat.

Ah of course I forgot you were waiting for a Metro. I am definitely expecting my Fieldmaster to be my go-to hat. I was going to say I had reservations because I don't want to wear out such a nice hat, but then I remembered I was talking about a Camptown and realised that wearing it out is not a possibility.

"Camptowns: Wear them out all you like, but you'll never wear them out."

Ken - you can use that one if you want!

 

[indycop]

Finally a smile!

I can't criticise. I never smile in photos.

As for the brim, yes, it is clearly wider than your PB. This gives your PB more of a "town" look, and your federation more that of a "country" hat, in my mind at least. This seems a little contradictory with the colours, since I would associate a black hat more with a town environment, and the PB's brown would seem more at home in the country, if one had to attribute each hat in such a way.

Personally, I think both brims suit you, although I think perhaps you're right that the smaller brim of your PB looks a fraction better. There really isn't much in it, and of course the jet black of your Federation in the photograph creates the illusion of that hat being a touch bigger altogether.

Based on my own experience, I would say leave the brim alone for a couple of weeks and resist the urge to cut it. You haven't had the hat all that long, so just wear it and see if you get used to it. If, after that, you really don't want the brim that big, then go ahead and try cutting it.

I marked mine up with a tailor's chalk and cut it with scissors (anti-clockwise, same as brushing, but I don't know if that's correct for cutting). My brim has a rather...unique quality now. You could maybe call it a Swales brim, in that it's ragged as anything. Nobody else would notice (well, Art, Steve, and all the hatters would, but not the people around me). I know the inconsistencies are there, but they don't bother me anymore.

Also, do it in 1/8 inch at the greatest. Don't go hacking off a quarter inch before you see how it looks. Gradually reduce the brim.

Keep your cuts in line with the edge of the brim - most of the inconsistencies in my brim are from the scissors drifting away from the vertical.

Apparently, Fed brims vary in size quite a bit, but if your brim is the same size as the one on my Dlx, cutting off an 1/8th causes the snap to become unstable, and presumably cutting off more than this causes the snap to disappear altogether. So, keep that in mind.

Hope that helps, but really, don't touch it until you're absolutely sure, because you can change the ribbon and the bash, but the brim size is something you can't put back if you don't like it. Ultimately it's you who has to wear it and be happy with it, so asking everyone else really comes second to what you think.

EDIT: Also, don't forget your Camptown will have a bigger brim on it (unless you've asked for a cut down as well as a dimensional cut), so you'll still have a wider brim if you decide to cut this one down. This was the fact that helped me decide to take the chance with my Dlx.

I didn't ask ken to cut it down but I did send him an email yesterday. I asked if he hasn't done my hat yet if he could leave it open crown. I was also trying to get him to consider offering a bogie style! So I guess I will see when he gets back from vacation!

 

[fatwoul]

I didn't ask ken to cut it down but I did send him an email yesterday. I asked if he hasn't done my hat yet if he could leave it open crown. I was also trying to get him to consider doing a bogie style! So I guess I will see when he gets back from vacation!

You mean you hadn't already asked for open crown?!? The bash is half the fun. I actually felt a bit mean asking Ken for open crown for that very reason.

I reckon Ken could have a new signature bash, though; the Lil Jersey. He could just get his boy to sit on the hat, and there you go - job done!

 

[apipeguy]

Indycop! hat looks great....In my opinion, no cutting is necessary.

 

[indycop]

Fatwoul, I ordered my camptown before the federation so I had never bashed a hat myself. I asked him for a metro in an indy bash.

I do think with the mention Ken's hats get around here that he would have an instant hit with a bogie style.

 

[indycop]

Thank for the input guys! I will leave it alone. I should have a panama soon to play with anyway.

 

[Empyrium]

Edit: Deleted by me.

 

[fatwoul]

...I should have a panama soon to play with anyway.

You'll definitely have a ragged edge if you cut the brim on that one! lol

 

[deanglen]

In my experience, brim width should be wider than you think it should be. Why? Because with any hat, the look of it is not just the result of one feature, crown, brim, ribbon, etc., but the interplay of each of these as a complete picture, so to speak. I beleive Fatwoul, with his photographic composition skill knows what I mean. I have trimmed brims, and wished I hadn't later. Many times the problem is not the brim, it's the bash. The crown in the two pictures varies, and I'm sure that the wider brim in the first picture is competing with the crown. Then again, it might just be how they photographed, either way find a harmonious crown bash to brim relationship before you reach for the scissors. If you decide to trim, always trim a lot less than you think you want to...everytime you do. Both hats, for what it's worth, look fine on you, Indycop.

dean

 

[LEUII]

I wouldn't touch it. They both look good on you. They are different hats and have a different 'personality', but that look good. Variety in style can be a great thing.

Lawrence