The London Lounge

Gents,

Last year I added a new old stock 1934 Borsalino Trionfo to my collection (from the well-known Bulgarian 1001pc eBay vendor). It came with a narrow (less than an inch) black ribbon that was less than elegant. I've sent it to Art Fawcett for sizing and reblocking (crown had been accordioned in shipment to me). Art has done his usual magic (the hat was otherwise in remarkable condition) and I want to replace the ribbon. My initial thought was to go with a sort of graphite gray--lower contrast than black but definite two-tone effect, something like this from an early 30s Tailor and Cutter (via etutee):



But after seeing photos of the actual hat with candidate ribbons, I'm now thinking that a lower-contrast ribbon might be more elegant and versatile, especially if wearing the hat with darker gray or navy suits or topcoats. An amount of contrast similar to that in the homburg below (1935, also thanks to etutee). I'm beginning to think the darker ribbon makes the hat look too busy and calls attention to the hat body's light color.



Following are links to the two candidate ribbons on the actual hat body (to be blocked into a standard center-dent fedora shape). I'd be grateful for your thoughts on which color you would choose and why. It's really a discussion of the rationales that interests me, rather than a poll. Thanks in advance.

http://thelondonlounge.net/gl/gallery/a ... syGraphite

http://thelondonlounge.net/gl/gallery/a ... Silver.jpg

I prefer the silver gray, for the reason you mention: more versatility. In the T&C
illustration, the dark band is picked up in two other elements - the necktie and the
shoes - so it all hangs together. Without something similar in color somewhere else
in the ensemble, I think the hat would call attention to itself.

Besides, I've always been partial to tone-on-tone combinations (just picked up a vintage Stetson along these lines, with a bound edge).

Congratulations!

I think either band would be fine, I do think the lighter band is a bit more striking but I am against it if it is almost perfect match-some contrast is needed.
I repeat that at my age, almost 60, I feel entitled to a bit more color and this summer I have had a straw hat made with a lavender band and bound in lavender-

Both you fellows have good taste, if you life in NYC and ever want to take a walk to see Orlando at worth and worth on w 57 street let me know

Thanks for responses both public and private. Art sent another snap of the lighter ribbon, in which it actually shows a little more contrast than in the one I posted, which has decided me in its favor. It's a bit dressier than the graphite (oddly enough, both ribbons are labeled "dark steel," according to Art. So much for color naming conventions). Art strongly preferred the lighter color when I asked his view, so now that I'm confident it won't look too matchy-matchy I'm happy to give it a try. I can always change it later.

Ed, Orlando did a lovely job replacing a leather and ribbon on my favorite straw casual, a snappy wide-brim, C-crown block, coiled jipi-japa made in Guatemala by Maya-Quiche Indians in the early '80s. I haven't been to the new 57th St. store, and I'd love to. I live in Philly, but next time I'm going to be in the city I'll PM you and perhaps we can take that walk. Thanks for the invitation!

Ed, thanks for the invitation. I wondered what became of Worth and Worth after their departure from Madison Avenue.

They acted as a lifesaver (well, hatsaver) one time for me. One winter, after disembarking from a cab (I had removed my hat while inside the car) and going to my hotel room, I realized I had forgotten my hat (purchased at W &W some years before) in the cab! Thank goodness for receipts - a quick call to dispatch with the medallion number and I was patched in to the owner, and then to the driver of the cab - who told me, no, the hat wasn't in the car, in was in street! Horrors!

A quick run to the intersection and there the poor thing was...well, you know the state of NYC streets in the winter, and I think it had been run over as well. A quick call to W&W and they agreed to clean it up, steam and re-block it for me right away. I hustled over and they stayed open late to complete the job - and would not accept payment for the service.

I honestly believe that no one makes a better more interesting hat then Orlando at Worth And Worth-and he uses color


He makes fantastic straw hats. He just made one for me bound in lavender.

Lets go together when we can