Stetson Andover Straw Hat Review

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Very nice hat. I get lots of compliments. I wish it had the hat pin as pictured but I am very happy with it. Arrived before it was supposed to so that was a plus.

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Wow, I love this hat. Very high quality and a perfect fit. This is my 3rd Stetson,6th hat and the best in my collection. I had no idea what a quality piece this would be for the money. I'm more than satified with this purchase.

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It's a very nice hat, but it isn't made from Milan straw as advertised. Milan (pronounced "mylan") straw until the 1960s was a wheat straw, grown in China and braided by local villagers. The braid was then sewn into the distinctive spiral shape and formed into hats by several manufacturers. By the 1970s, the cost of the original straw was prohibitive, and manufacturers switched to cotton, hemp, paper, or even plastic as the base material to save money.

Several years ago, the Optimo Hat Company of Chicago contracted with several villages in China to start growing and braiding the traditional wheat straw again. They are the only source for a new, genuine Milan straw hat, which will run you about $400. If you're patient, it's still possible to find vintage Milan straw hats on eBay, often in excellent condition, from $30 to $90, about the same price as a new fake Milan hat.

I don't mean to dissuade anyone from getting this Stetson if you like it, by all means, buy it. But you should know what you're getting. There is nothing like genuine Milan straw the look and feel are unique. I have a 50 year old Dobbs that still has a trace of that fresh bread smell that real Milan is known for this is the first thing you notice when you open a box with a new Optimo Milan hat. The braid on my Dobbs is also finer than any new hat other than the Optimo. So the question is whether you want something distinctive, or just another mass produced item.

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THIS IS THE BIG HAT I ORDERED, FORGOT THE SIZE BECAUSE I SHITCAN ALL THE LABELS, BUT WILL FIND OUT SO I CAN ORDER A NEWHALL MILAN LARGER. THIS ANDOVER IS MUCH MORE MADE BETTER!!!

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I have about ten Stetson hats including four straw hats, and this one is perfect.

bit wider brim than the Whitehall, and wonderful colors for a different coat or shirt. A bit more pail than the Latte. Very nice contrast with the band and crown, but not too much. Lots of compliments

wearing this hat.