Club Obi Wan

Rundquist posted this before the great lost posts debacle, so I'm bringing it back up. Optimo has a new color coming out next month that they're calling "Indy Brown". Kevin has told me that it's supposed to be in between the Chocolate and Maple colors that they ran this past year, and a such, it may be more screen-accurate.
Is anybody around here planning on getting an Optimo in this new color?
I'm just trying to find out who will be the first to take the plunge. I have a Phantom Blue one in the works, but getting one in Indy Brown is not out of the question, as I am tickled pink with the Milan straw I just got from them yesterday, and am in the mood for more Optimos.

I'll be getting one of these in the Fall or maybe for Christmas. Hopefully, my Girlfriend is reading this.

P.S. Honey, I wear a size 3 7/8ths.

Wow, and I thought my head was small at a 6 3/4 . . .

I think he meant 7 3/8.

I will order one in the new color. My hat buying days are over, except that I will treat myself to one Optimo each year, depending on the colors offered. Well, they won't be completely over. If HJ starts using the original manufacturer once again, I may buy one of those. And if I like that Montecristi that should be here anyday, I may buy another one of those. And I was thinking about diversifying and trying out a couple different traditional Akubras. On second thought disregard what I said above about the hat buying days being over. A question. Can a hat wearer such as myself, ever have too many hats? Seriously. I guess that is like asking if one can have too much love, too many friends, or too much money. Of course my wife has enrolled me in some sort of 12 Step Program. She says that I will like the place. Full of coffee drinkers and smokers. The coffee if free she says. Real social place. Everyone stands up and says his or her name, and what they are. I assume I would just stand up and say, " name's Fedora and I am a retired cabinetmaker." When I asked her what the 12 steps were all about, she just says I would have to climb 12 steps to reach the front door. No problem as we live in a 2 story house, and I climb more than that each night at bedtime. Such an odd name for a social gathering of coffee drinkers and smokers. Course, I don't smoke much, just a cigar on special occassions, and I got this huge Briar pipe from Denmark that I used to puff on years ago. I might pull it out, buy some pipe tobacco and take it with me so I won't feel too out of place. My wife is such a dear. She says I won't even have to drive. She will drop me off herself tomorrow night. Man, I can't wait. I am thinking about wearing my Pecan Optimo. regards, Fedora

I have plans for getting one of the Indy brown Optimos. Of course I'll have a look at the samples first, but I'm willing to buy one that is a little more in direction of the pecan - which Rundquist said the new one will be.

Regards,

Marc

Fedora wrote:"...and I am a retired cabinetmaker."

This is great! Now I can show this to my wife. "See, Mrs. Cabinetman, all this Indy stuff, this obsessive craze...it's okay."

Thanks for coming out the woodwork, so to speak, on that one, Fedora.

Cab

Actually the first guy in line for the new color is our very own Sergei. He ordered a Chocolate brown months ago only to be told that they were out of that color in his size. He’s paid for. He’s first . Cheers

The first 'gut' in line? I'm sure Sergei will appreciate THAT! (grins) Regards. Michaelson

Excellent! I can't wait for him to get it, because I know there will be many pictures of it posted here.
BTW, I should receive my Phantom Blue Indy next week

I ask as though I am ready to buy, but I am curious...

What's the turn around time on an Optimo (assume your size and color selection in stock)?

Cab

Michaelson wrote:The first 'gut' in line? I'm sure Sergei will appreciate THAT! (grins) Regards. Michaelson

Oops. Thanks for the correction.

Cabinetman wrote:I ask as though I am ready to buy, but I am curious...

What's the turn around time on an Optimo (assume your size and color selection in stock)?

Cab

They usually quote a waiting period of about two weeks for new customers. Cheers

thanks

Optimo’s turnaround depends on how busy they are. Remember they are in Chicago, one of the coldest cities in the U.S. Optimo is very busy from early fall through year end when all their winter orders come in. I would be surprised if you get anywhere near two week turn around then. Also when this new color comes in they will be busier filling all the new orders for it.

Just a warning, I could be wrong. Ether way they are worth the wait.

Bill Walton

Honey, I wear a size 3 7/8ths

No, that optimo was for my cat. Oops! I meant 7 3/8ths. Can you imagine if she read this and presented me with a tiny Optimo on Christmas morning?

Oh, they're preparing for the onslaught of orders for the color, too. I think they have something like 3 times as many in Indy Brown than they normally order for a color.

I'd wait for a look at the felt samples first before ordering.

IF I was a "screen-accurate" freak that is.

That's a big chunk of money to be laying down and possibly being disappointed later.

Don't forget that "Indy Brown" is THEIR idea of what the color is and not necessarily what the anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsive masses think it is.

Dr._J wrote:

Honey, I wear a size 3 7/8ths

No, that optimo was for my cat. Oops! I meant 7 3/8ths. Can you imagine if she read this and presented me with a tiny Optimo on Christmas morning?

LOL! That's the best laugh I've had all week. Thanks, Dr. J!

Good observations, Chamorro. We don't want a bunch of gear collectors upset with the folks up there because the color isn't "quite" right.

What if you walk into Optimo's shop off the street? Does anyone know if they can set you up on the spot, or do you pick your color and they ship it to you when it's ready?
PBG

That all depends on how busy they are and what's in stock. I'd call them before you show up.

What if you walk into Optimo's shop off the street? Does anyone know if they can set you up on the spot, or do you pick your color and they ship it to you when it's ready?
PBG

For a fedora, they will take your info and let you choose the color, which is cool because you can see it on other hats in the shop. After that visit they'll ship it to you, unless you live close enough that you can just walk in .

Illinois

Has there ever been a color that everybody's been satisfied with? It'll never happen. At least they're giving you your choice of two Indy-esque browns. Last year they didn't run any Indy browns. We contacted Optimo just after they had run their colors for the entire year. What we were using (Pecan & Chocolate) were from the year before's colors. That's one of the reasons that they ran out so soon. At least this year there shouldn't be any fans that are disappointed that they can't get their hats.
Cheers

Optimo's new colors are in. The "Indy Brown" is the color that is very similar to their old Pecan. Chestnut is their alternative Indy color. It has some red in it. The new felts have an extra silky finish this year in part do to the nutria fur in them. They have also had some extra dark brown ribbon made for the Indy hats, which should be arriving any day. Happy hunting fellas. Cheers

zohar wrote:Excellent.

Are you going to get one of the new "luxury finish" hats in another color? Kevin said it's sort of a middle ground between the short hair and long hair beavers.

I sure am, in a "Davenport" style.

Cool man. I shall probably be joining you in a Park Avenue luxury. Color is yet to be decided.

I am lucky to have bought the old stock. I love the chocolate brown, and the Pecan ain't bad either. I will say it once again, these Optimo hats are very special. They are indeed the highest quality hats that I have ever owned. As far as quality, there is Optimo, and then everything else. If you are a hat wearer like me, sooner or later you will want an Optimo.Inevitable, just like death and taxes. Fedora

Oh, we want 'em, Fedora....most of us just can't AFFORD 'em. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Oh, we want 'em, Fedora....most of us just can't AFFORD 'em. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

I hear you, Michaelson. It took me a whole year of saving $25 a week to get the two I have, and one I have coming! I guess it's better than blowing my money on something silly like food

Sorry. I'm at that age where I really enjoy my meals. (grins) Don't get me wrong, I'm tickled to death for EVERYONE who gets one.....I'm just among the many who DON'T have one. Keep those reports coming, though. Sounds to me like they're pulling out all the stops in supplying just about anything a body wants in colors and styles now. Regards. Michaelson

I had a little talk with Marlene yesterday and I asked her how she likes the new felt. Answer "Oh my God, it's................................ I can't tell how fantastic it is. The Indy brown is dead on accurate, you'll love it." When Marlene - who is used to see their fine felt every single day - is speechless, than what will we be?!

Regards,

Marc