Club Obi Wan

I just bought a used fur hat on the Internet. I am not much of a hat wearer, but it is a tad too tiny for me. I have never really worn real hats before (except the one I left at Midwest whips), so... am I just stuck, or are there some time-honored proper ways to make it fit a little better? It almost feels like it could almost fit just right after wearing it a while.

The hat is a size 58 and my head measures about 23 inches around about one inch above my ears.

I know that pics might help you see how it fits, but I don't own a digital camera. I just received this hat in the mail today and it sits pretty high up on my head and leaves a bit of a mark when I take it off.

Mannie Bothans wrote:I just bought a used fur hat on the Internet. I am not much of a hat wearer, but it is a tad too tiny for me. I have never really worn real hats before (except the one I left at Midwest whips), so... am I just stuck, or are there some time-honored proper ways to make it fit a little better? It almost feels like it could almost fit just right after wearing it a while.

The hat is a size 58 and my head measures about 23 inches around about one inch above my ears.

I know that pics might help you see how it fits, but I don't own a digital camera. I just received this hat in the mail today and it sits pretty high up on my head and leaves a bit of a mark when I take it off.

Stretch it with a hat stretcher.

This thread might help a little, too.
viewtopic.php?t=32291

The hat stretcher works great. Just put it in and apply light tension to the inside of the hat, then after a day or 2 a little more tension until the hat fits the way you want.

I forgot about wetting the sweat 1st and turning it back in, then put in the stretcher...thanks Oak!!! That way it won't stress out the stitching. Do a little tension at a time, but you can go up a whole hat size.

Thanks, I didn't want to risk using a hat jack in case it was known to do bad things to the shape of the crown, brim, etc.

Advice may vary from thread to thread. Where are you? Is there any real hat store around? I have a snuggy-fit fedora that I plan to take to a hatter in NYC -- they stretch them right out back. Sounds like you're a full size larger than your hat is. Before you try anything yourself I recommend a visit to The Fedora Lounge. Regards.

If it's possible, get a haircut. My snugger hats always fit better after getting the ears lowered.

Regards,
Brian

YARVTON wrote:Advice may vary from thread to thread. Where are you? Is there any real hat store around? I have a snuggy-fit fedora that I plan to take to a hatter in NYC -- they stretch them right out back. Sounds like you're a full size larger than your hat is. Before you try anything yourself I recommend a visit to The Fedora Lounge. Regards.

Doh! Right. The Fedora Lounge. Of course.

I live in Lexington, KY and the only real hat shop we had was just displaced by a new massive development. I'll try to see if they survived the displacement.

how small would you say it is? You could turn the sweatband out , wet it without wetting the felt. Fold it back in then put in the stetcher and leave it there until completely dry.

How close is that to Cincinnati? Gus Miller makes his own fedoras and operates one of few old-fashioned hat stores remaining -- Batsakes is the name if I recall correctly.

Thanks everyone. I was just in Cincinnati last week.

Well, if all else fails, maybe something like this may help...

Call J Peterman. They (He) would know of anyone in or around Lexington.

Castor Dioscuri wrote:Well, if all else fails, maybe something like this may help...

That's perfect! My wife always said my head was too big for my own good.

Yes, your head measurement of 23 inches is a size 59 (centimeters), not a 58. Close, but one size off. Good luck with the hat stretcher.

I've put shoe stretch on the sweatband when stretching it a lot. I'm sure this kept the sweatband from splitting. Unless you use a full crown stretcher, the crown may flare out at the bottom after stretching.