Recommendations for a Modern Fedora

[AABCDS]

I'm not much of a hat person. I only have two baseball caps.

I was looking for a modern looking hat, possibly a fedora to wear around in casual settings while wearing jeans and maybe to work with a polo shirt and dress slacks or a shirt and tie. I found the following at Zappos.com. It's made by the San Diego Hat Company; I've never heard of them before but the price is good, only $29.99.

What do you guys think? Any recommendations?

 

[Beerhunter]

The first one is a Golden Gate St Louis, the second is a golden gate blues bro type hat (this was my first hat)
I have grown to loath the baseball hat yes I have worn them for years. I have been wearing fedoras in the last 10 years lots of variety styles and looks. And believe it or not I get lots of complements and smiles when I wear mine. Enjoy browsing around
http://www.villagehatshop.com/fedoras.html

 

[jkingrph]

At that price it's a cheap wool model and will not hold up.

Go to davidmorgan.com and look at the Akubra hats. One of their hats in the standard, Imperial grade will run about $150, and will outlast several of those cheap hats if properly cared for. My first, a Banjo Patterson model, in a higher grade felt is starting its 6th year and still looks new.

Akubra hats are made in Australia from rabbit or hare fur and are very tough, handling bad weather/ rain well. You can spent 4 times the price of an Akubra and up for a beaver fur felt hat, which is the best fur available , usually in a custom made model and not have a more serviceable hat. Akubra's are the best value for hats out there, offering far better quality for the price than Stetson or Dobbs currently.

Anyway whatever you choose, try for a fur felt, not a wool felt.

 

[tm3]

I concur on the Akubra recommendation. Great hats.

However having dealt with both I would certainly recommend hatsdirect over david Morgan.

 

[jkingrph]

I have done business with hatsdirect, an Australia company but just looked and their standard shipping to the us is about $40.00, so I generally only order items from them that are available only from them, otherwise the US dealers are sometimes more economical. I always shop around and compare for best delivered price.

 

[Isaac]

I would say..but a quality one from Art Fawcett. It will be custom made to your head, and last you many any years IMHO

 

[P Funk]

Goorin Bros has a good variety and are fairly well priced. They have a long history of hat making. Alas, I'm sure one of the reason that the prices are reasonable is b/c many of the hats are now made off-shore. But quality is very good, selection is excellent. I have several including a few fedoras and are very happy with them. They have several stores but I don't believe any are near the Atlanta.

http://www.goorin.com/

 

[AABCDS]

Thank you for the additional information, gentlemen. I'll be sure to check out Akubra and Art Fawcett hats.

 

[Beerhunter]

Goorin Bros has a good variety and are fairly well priced. They have a long history of hat making. Alas, I'm sure one of the reason that the prices are reasonable is b/c many of the hats are now made off-shore. But quality is very good, selection is excellent. I have several including a few fedoras and are very happy with them. They have several stores but I don't believe any are near the Atlanta.

http://www.goorin.com/

And thank you sir for the goorin bros tip.

 

[Reckoner]

Goorin Bros

I'm a big Breaking Bad fan, so I got a kick out of seeing the Official Heisenberg Porkpie on their website.

 

[jkingrph]

I did not mention Art Fawcett, mainly because of the price. I have several from him and all are excellent. He will send a "conformer" or hat fitting device which you put around your head to get the exact shape and size. His are custom made, and of highest quality beaver felt.

I cannot recommend him highely enough, a real gentleman. He will take a description and make it to suit you. On my second order, he took the order, and sent the hat before I ever paid him, totally trusting me to pay him, which is highly unusual today.

Since AABCDS started by saying he was not much of a hat person, I still recommend Akubra as a starting point. That's what I did, and now have a small collection of Akubra hats as well as several custom made hats, and some much older Stetson's that were my fathers.

 

[Isaac]

I say...if your going to spend at least $100 on a hat...might as well go for a better quality. Especially since it will be made for his head.

 

[AABCDS]

I just took a look at Art Fawcett's website; he makes some beautiful hats.

 

[jkingrph]

I forgot to mention, if you want to learn a lot about hats go to the fedoralounge.com forum.

 

[Talltexan]

I am looking for my first fedora to wear. I would like something stylish, lightweight to accommodate the humid Texas summers and a hat with a low crown and wide brim. Like the fedora Indiana jones wore something that will go with grey, khaki, and black slacks as well as a navy blazer. I would appreciate any help you can offer.


Best,
Jerry

 

[jkingrph]

I am looking for my first fedora to wear. I would like something stylish, lightweight to accommodate the humid Texas summers and a hat with a low crown and wide brim. Like the fedora Indiana jones wore something that will go with grey, khaki, and black slacks as well as a navy blazer. I would appreciate any help you can offer

Living in E Texas and knowing about the heat and humidity I use a nice Panama (straw) hat, a natural light cream color with a black hatband, and wear it with everything. For a nice semi western type, I also have a Stetson Open Road in Panama straw, woven in Ecuador. The Stetson is available at http://www.meyerthehatter.com/ in New Orleans, the various styles of Panama hats can be found at http://panamas.biz/, also know as Panama Bob a respected on line vendor

 

[cb91710]

Ditto.

Panama for warmer weather, wool for cooler weather.

I have 4 Panamas... a Stetson, a Belfry, and two cheaper "stingy" brim styles, one is a very open weave that I got at the mall for $30 and it probably gets more wear than the other 3 combined.

I only have three wool... a $29 cheapie "Panama Jack" that I picked up to see if I liked the look (don't wear it anymore), a black "Frankie" and a gray "Gangster" both from Belfry.

One difference between the $30 and $70 hats is the liner and band. The cheapie has no liner and I would be concerned about sweat stains after a while.

 

[tm3]

I just took a look at Art Fawcett's website; he makes some beautiful hats.

My experience with AF may have been atypical, nevertheless, I certainly would suggest starting with an Akubra and reserving a custom for if/when you know that you want something that is not mainstream.

IMO the AF hats are nowhere close to being worth the premium over the Akubras.