Wore my Fedora today!

**smlaz** · January 17th, 2007, 22:35

I put on my Christy's Epsom this morning for the first time in over a year. I got called sexy by a woman friend, got some great looks from women on the subway and street, and felt really sharp. What a difference a hat can make! I need to get another in brown. I might just have to spend some time at JJ's and the store on 8th and 36th.

**drrac2** · January 17th, 2007, 23:00

On an expedition to find the perfect fathers day gift I came across Bencroft (or Bencraft???) Hatters in Brooklyn. It was an excellent find as I was able to purchase several Borsolinos (spelling???) for my Dad. The prices were at least 50% less than anything on 5th Avenue.

Its a small "hole in the wall" that caters to the Hasidic community. Apparently the local Rabbi's INSIST on Borsalino??

I broke down and purchased an exquiste hand made panama to go with my Avo #3's

Definitely check this place out.

MK · January 18th, 2007, 06:16

Thanks for sharing, smlaz. Choosing the right fedora for your look will express style in a big way. It completes the look....and the ladies do notice.

Enjoy!

**LaoHu** · January 18th, 2007, 07:43

Originally Posted by drrac2

On an expedition to find the perfect fathers day gift I came across Bencroft (or Bencraft???) Hatters in Brooklyn. It was an excellent find as I was able to purchase several Borsolinos (spelling???) for my Dad. The prices were at least 50% less than anything on 5th Avenue.

Its a small "hole in the wall" that caters to the Hasidic community. Apparently the local Rabbi's INSIST on Borsalino??

I broke down and purchased an exquiste hand made panama to go with my Avo #3's

Definitely check this place out.

They have a good website: http://www.bencrafthats.com/

**Good Old Sledge** · January 18th, 2007, 07:44

Good on you hat wearers! I have a black and a brown fedora and never go to work without one or the other when the weather is below 50. With an overcoat and scarf, you can look as good outside as in.
And women do notice - and frankly, there's not much more appealing sight than the right woman taking your hat and putting it on herself...
I've been able to find a number of places from which to buy hats, but I can't find anyone around to block them. I've gotten roughly handy with a clothing brush and a tea-kettle, but my brown hat has taken some rough weather and really needs re-worked. Any ideas for those of us in the benighted mid-west?

**Rocker** · January 18th, 2007, 08:02

Here's a related article from the NY Times on fedoras:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/18/fa...=1&oref=slogin

**yachtie** · January 18th, 2007, 08:07

Outstanding!

I have to agree that a proper hat really completes the look. I think that as more of us wear them, their popularity will increase- it's just too good a thing to pass up.

**yachtie** · January 18th, 2007, 08:11

Originally Posted by Good Old Sledge

I've been able to find a number of places from which to buy hats, but I can't find anyone around to block them.. Any ideas for those of us in the benighted mid-west?

I can only speak of Chicago:

Hats Plus at Milwaukee and Cicero -they have a website (I'd Call)

Monitor Cleaners at Clark and Wilson (good job and inexpensive)

on the South side, of course Optimo.

**agnash** · January 18th, 2007, 08:31

In New Orleans we have Meyer the Hatter, where men have gone for 113 years to buy hats. Great selection, wonderful customer service, and they have a website. A family owned business currently run by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Meyer family.

http://www.meyerthehatter.com/meyer/default.asp?s_id=0&

If you are in the French Quarter, you are only a few blocks away from their sore.

**mcarthur** · January 18th, 2007, 11:42

It is wonderful news to find gentleman who wear fedoras
Today, I am wearing my buckskin fedora from Optimo Hat

**yachtie** · January 18th, 2007, 12:08

I'd like to propose a new "sticky" thread: What hat are you wearing today?

Worth & Worth grey fedora

**PJC in NoVa** · January 18th, 2007, 12:42

I am wearing my new dark-brown fedora (or maybe it's a trilby, I'm no expert) from Lock Hatters of London.

Was never much of a hat guy, but baldness/shaved head has changed all that. Hats are simply a necessity now, which lifts them out of the "gee, I'm worried that this might look like an affectation" category altogether--and also, the dreaded "hat hair" phenomenon is no longer an issue. I do get sidelong glances when wearing the hat; mostly favorable, I think.

Recently supplemented this brown hat with a similar model in dark gray I found at Syms. Its label says Fiorentino and it's made of 100% coniglio (rabbit) felt. It seems to me an amazingly nice hat for $29 ($22 at the current BASH price) even tho' it's got nonpremium aspects (sized L rather than w/ a number size, no lining, and a cloth sweatband--none of which I really mind since it fits extremely well whatever the size lable says and I don't want to be afraid to get caught in the rain while wearing it). The felt is supple and yet quite substantial.

**smlaz** · January 21st, 2007, 12:32

I went to Lock's website but I was out of luck (it's out of commission or whatever the web-words are). That's the name I've heard next to Christy's as the hat to get. I bought the Christy's years ago at the original Worth & Worth on Madison Ave. Still have the old hatbox too. So I went to Arnold hats on 8th Ave/38th St. and picked up a fur felt teardrop crown number. They were sized only in S, M, L etc., and I was disappointed that it was China-made, but the salesguy said they're all made there, and all sized that way, otherwise they'd cost $300 (Even though the Stetsons and Baileys he carried were properly sized). That's not surprising; I see Christy's are $200 now, Borsalino's upwards of that and they're made in Chile? So, I was satisfied with my $70 hat. Because it was raining I picked up a Kangol 504 classic in black and popped that on my head. Really comfy cap, what??? Oh, and three weeks ago I bought a Hoquy beret in brown. Wore it yesterday and got lots of looks, from attractive brunettes smiling at me to an astonished black woman of a certain age who smiled and said "ooh la la!" I laughed all the way home!
Cheers,
Steve

**beatngu** · January 21st, 2007, 18:25

I love wearing my black on black fedora! but only if i have my trench coat or p-coat to go with it. The trench is a military green, marine core coat that has been issued for the past couple years. There is only a thin liner for the shoulders and a small portion of the back. It is double breasted with false pockets and a high split for a rifle. Also it has 3 false/3 real buttons for a abdomin button up.

**burnedandfrozen** · January 21st, 2007, 20:50

I'd love to get a fedora myself but I don't know what I'd wear with it. I don't wear a suit to work and I guess maybe it's because of all those classic movies where every man was in a suit and hat that I'm a little unsure. I do have a panama hat that I wear in the summer but that's easy as it's meant to be a casual hat. Fedoras, though...I don't know. They just seem to dressy for what is my typical style of dress.

**yachtie** · January 21st, 2007, 21:03

Originally Posted by burnedandfrozen

I'd love to get a fedora myself but I don't know what I'd wear with it. I don't wear a suit to work and I guess maybe it's because of all those classic movies where every man was in a suit and hat that I'm a little unsure. I do have a panama hat that I wear in the summer but that's easy as it's meant to be a casual hat. Fedoras, though...I don't know. They just seem to dressy for what is my typical style of dress.

if you get a more casual one like this:

You could wear it with much more casual clothing than a suit.

(it's a Stetson Roadmaster)

or this:

it's a Stetson "Bronco"

**smlaz** · January 21st, 2007, 21:14

Thanks for those Stetsons Yachtie... I found the James Lock website FYI: http://www.jameslock.co.uk/
I'm now committed to a 2" - 2 1/8" snap brim trilby with a teardrop (C) crown, a low crown, in a not-too-dark brown. On the hunt :-) Tomorrow's hat? The new one from Arnold Hatters. Yes, let's get a sticky for What Hat Are You Wearing Today!
Cheers,
Steve

**smlaz** · January 22nd, 2007, 20:12

The sage Stetson with the teardrop crown.

**yachtie** · January 22nd, 2007, 20:21

A tan Biltmore for me. If this goes on, I'm going to Optimo!

MK · January 22nd, 2007, 20:30

Today I wore a vintage brown Lee fedora.

**Fortinbras** · January 22nd, 2007, 20:31

Is there a reputable store in Philadelphia where one might buy a decent fedora?

**mcarthur** · January 22nd, 2007, 20:45

Originally Posted by yachtie

A tan Biltmore for me. If this goes on, I'm going to Optimo!

yachtie,
I agree with your idea! You will be very pleased

**Mattdeckard** · January 23rd, 2007, 02:04

Here's a question for some of you Londoners... could you post some pics of Locke and Herbert johnson next time you go? I'd love to see the shops and hear your opinions.

I still swear by my Optimo hats from Chicago as they take a beating and a rolling and a raining and hold their shape nearly as well as vintage hats.

**Clovis** · January 23rd, 2007, 08:23

Originally Posted by smlaz

I put on my Christy's Epsom this morning for the first time in over a year. I got called sexy by a woman friend, got some great looks from women on the subway and street, and felt really sharp. What a difference a hat can make! I need to get another in brown. I might just have to spend some time at JJ's and the store on 8th and 36th.

I am a big fan of the Christys Epsom myself, I have one in forest green that goes great with my barbours and I have owned several in sable. I have one in black that makes me feel a bit rabbinical so I usually wear it with more formal clothes. I've been hunting epray for one in blue or gray that might go well with some of my blazers. Great hat for the races.

**Mattdeckard** · June 7th, 2011, 01:54

Problem I tend to see with a lot of Christy's felt is that they shrink on one side if rained on and end up with a lopsided appearance. I think it's to do with whatever device they use to block the felt blank. Pulled on from the side, leaving it stretched and the other side not, which when rained on let's the felt relax and then contract more where it has been stretched and less where it has not.

Very uneven.