Borsalino Fedora: Is It Worth It? (Definitive Review)

#borsalino #fedorahat #notsponsored

SHOP THE VIDEO:

GUIDES YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS:

VIDEO CREDITS:
→ Script: Tyler Domecq, Sven Raphael Schneider & Preston Schlueter
→ Camera: Chris Dummer
→ Editing: Jonathan Oster
→ Warner Bros.
→ Paramount Pictures
→ Great Big Story
→ Bearbrand

VINATGE HATS & ADDITIONAL INFO:
→ Steve Heck

IMAGE CREDITS:
→ Steve Heck
→ Dorado Magazine

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Gentleman's Gazette

00:00 Borsalino Fedora Review Introduction

Dress hats have certainly had their ups and downs over the past several decades in menswear, going from something that would be worn by most men almost every day to something that’s only worn today by true menswear enthusiasts. Some hat brands maintained their prestige today, and one of them is the Italian hat maker Borsalino.

02:39 The History of Borsalino

08:34 Hallmarks of a Quality Hat: Felt & Straw
12:01 Quality of Sweatband Leather
12:52 Styling of Hats Offered

We ordered two new hats from Borsalino to examine for today’s review, and both were made in Italy.
14:30 New Hats: 1. Francesco in grey
15:26 2. Beaver fur felt hat in dark brown

15:55 Detailed Analysis of Workmanship
** Fit: True To Size - Both fit in Preston's head relatively well, so, fit-wise, we’d call them true to size.
** Brim: Raw, Unfinished Edge - Both feature a plain or raw edge to their brim rather than being trimmed in fabric or sewn. While this look is fairly typical among modern hats and even some vintage hats and is perfectly unassuming, Preston personally finds it to look a bit rustic or unfinished in appearance.
** Ribbon: Gold Branding - Both hats have grosgrain ribbons, black on the charcoal hat and brown on the dark brown hat; Borsalino is stamped onto the bow.
** Wind Cord: A Vintage Detail - The beaver fur hat also features a wind cord, which is a somewhat obscure vintage detail.

17:59 Our Overall Thoughts
The overall workmanship on both hats is solid. The stitching is even and tidy with no obvious defects. The lining and leather also seem to be of good quality, and the felt strikes a good balance between softness and durability.

19:10 Borsalino Hats: Then vs. Now

20:44 Are Borsalino Hats Worth It or Not?
It comes down to your own personal criteria. Whatever route you choose, just be sure to pace yourself & consider all your options, taking in mind the advice we laid out here.

23:45 Outfit Rundown

[mikro]

I am not gonna lie, this channel helping the society. The information is free and accessible. Thank you for helping me to change my lifestyle and perspective on life.

[ordoabchao]

I got a Borsalino Panama Hat and absolutely love it. Fine weave and perfect shape with medium width snap brim.

[PilotVolunteer]

I'm pleased that you mentioned Akubra, as I gift myself a new and different Akubra hat with each visit to Australia. I now have to extend my hat shelf!

[vasilijevukcimesa]

I am a huge lover of all clasic hats, but fedora has special place in my heart. Thank you for another great video that presents and explains this topic perfectly!
Also congratiolations on getting more and more close to a million subscribers!

[MrFagedaboudit]

As an observant Jew I wear a hat daily for most of the day (it's a sign of respect for us). I've been wearing black Fedoras and Trilby's for many decades. The high quality rabbit pelt used by Borsalino holds up well over many years and shapes itself to the head comfortably over time. All that's needed is a shoebrush, and a new band every so often together with a steam clean. I also have 2 black Bailey's Trilby's from 1972, which are like new.
Yes, quality materials and workmanship are worth it!

[thcenturyboy]

EXCELLENT Video. Many guys who wear a hat do not realize that a cheap hat does tend to make one look cheap. Borsalino is still the brand with the best Classic Style and Top Quality. Remember, Life is All About the Details.

[Azrael]

I own two Fedoras from Stetson made from wool and rabbit felt.
Overall I'm very happy with them (a wind cord would be nice though sometimes) and I even thought twice about the rabbit felt one costing about 150 €.
Most important for me was to go to a local hat shop, one of the few we still have, let myself been guided and being able to examine the quality.

[kevstacey]

Thank you for mentioning Akubra, I swear by them myself, I own several. And to this day their dressier hats are made with all the hallmarks of the classic dress hat that you mention, including the ones missing from new Borsalinos, and for a fraction of the price, e.g. as of June 2021 the Stylemaster is $200 Australian ($153 US) and the Bogart is $215 Australian ($165 US).

I also own an Akubra RM (made by Akubra for RM Williams) which pairs just as well with a suit as it does with jeans and more casual shirts, and even after drying off after a torrential downpour you could still wear it to a wedding (it might look more countrified, but hey, you can take the boy out of the country...).

[nuciubrzezinski]

Just got one from Borsalino, Fedora folar large brim model.
Finally absolutely happy and perfect fit.
After many fail purchases this is the right one and will never go elsewhere to buy a hat eventhough it wasn't the cheapest, £500

[Lensmaster]

I have several fedoras. My very first, and one I still wear frequently, is a 1960s Borsalino. It has a 2 1/8 inch brim, the smallest I would wear, with a Cavanagh edge. It is very nice.

[БелорусскийРусскийБостон]

Greetings from Boston! I recently bought two Sterkowski Mosca hats in Black and Beige originally $92 and free shipping from Poland. They also had Christmas Sale 20% off. I’m very very happy with my purchase

[elliottlewandowski]

I love my Borsalino “Bogart” hat, easily my favorite hat. Great style, great feel.

[steveheck]

Great job! Thanks for the mentions. -Steve Heck

[flhxri]

I got one in 1997 for 20 bucks and it still looks great!

[Audiojack_]

I think that Francesco suits you very well, love the outfit. I do really like vintage hats, which are also a good match for my vintage sized head!

[stefanh]

Great review! I have four Borsalino hats still in my hold, in the late 80's I had at most nine different models. Most of my Borsalino's were made in the 80's but two of the one's I have left are made in the late 70's and I sort of feel the difference in quality. All in all I love these hats although there's not as many occasions I feel on point to wear them. I tend to wear bucket hats and caps more often.

[stevefg]

A long neck beard and the addition of a fedora gets me compliments from all the madams….

[claytonbrock]

Thanks for the info ! You just helped me decide!

[sushibar]

I have a Borsalino homburg style hat in buff or light olive. It was purchased in Naples in 1951 or 1952 (the name and address of the shop that sold it is on the liner), along with the original box. It was bought by my father when based in Italy with the military. It probably cost him less than US$20. He did not wear it much at all, and it is a beautiful hat in near mint condition. Not sure what it's worth, but as it's not for sale, that hardly matters. 🕵️‍♂️

[Aggnog]

I wanted one of these when I started out, but saw the akubra stylemaster on Kevin from JJ hats channel and it looks like a more robust buy for starting out. Hat maintenance is important as well as resistance to rain and weather, and most of these things are rarely mentioned. What I'd like to see is a comparison of different hats and how their construction affects longevity, things like material stiffness, the material used and how they keep their shape over time.