Men's Wool Felt Derby Hat

I'm a 7 3/8" and the large fits. My head is oval shaped and the hat is a bit more rounded shape so that there is a little bit of a gap at the temples. This makes the fit at the forehead a little tight but some steaming and wearing the hat transfers the extra room at the temples to the fore and aft dimensions. I have the same Scala Derby, model 506 in black, from another source and the hats are identical. I also have a Scala Bowler, model 507 in black. The 507 has a slightly lower crown than the 506 Derby but the brims and remaining shape of the hats are the same. In addition, the 507 wool felt is not as heavy or stiff as the 506 Derby. The Bowler is still a solid hat but I prefer the robustness of the Derby over the Bowler. That being said, the Bowler is lighter in weight and feel and more immediately conforms to your head. If you're looking at this hat you're probably looking at other brands as well. I had a Bollman 1890 Bowler that I sent back. The hat was twice as expensive and the felt was not as heavy as the Scala Derby or Bowler. In addition the shape of the hat was round and the brim was not as wide and had a constant upturn. I prefer the Scala and how the brim is upturned on the sides and shallows to the front and rear. I also prefer the "rocker" ( my term ) of the Scala where there is a noticeable dip to the front and rear of the hats brim. I also have a Jaxson Derby decorated with beads. The Jaxson crown is stiff like the Scala but the brim is slightly less so. This might be due to the handling while the hat was beaded. The Jaxson shape is very similar to the Scala Derby. I'll try to post pics later.

I have liked the look of bowler hats for quite a while, but I was unconvinced how good i would look in one. The pics, favorable reviews and inexpensive price convinced me to take a chance. Quick delivery, isn't that why we shop Amazon? I ordered on Thursday afternoon and hat arrived on Monday. Would have been sooner if I had not waiting to order until late in the week. Hat came in the correct sized rugged cardboard box and was undamaged. Quality of hat appears to exceed expectations. The outside is very attractive and of quality. The inside has a nice inner band and equally nice lining. Due to nature of bowler hats, the off the shelf, inner shape is very round, so unless you have a melon shaped like a soccer ball, look at investing in a hat stretcher. I ordered a large, which out of the box was tight on my forehead and back of the head, with gaps on the sides. I little steam and a little stretching will solve this issue. Small note: I was somewhat disappointed that the accent feather was not attached. I was on the fence anyway if I would wear with feather or not. An email to the seller was returned in 15 minutes, advising they would mail a feather to me directly. Good customer service!

I have a sizeable melon on my shoulders - buying hats is always a chore, and doing it online is downright scary. However, as I needed a derby hat in a hurry I ordered this one and crossed my fingers. It arrived swiftly, it was really well packaged, and in immaculate condition. The materials are all of excellent grade - wool felt has a splendid texture as well as good thickness and firmness; the inside lining is white satin with a very comfy leather headband, and all the other bits and pieces of construction feel well made and solid. The construction is likewise really well executed - the hat feels firm and sturdy, without being uncomfortably rigid. The inside headband provides enough room to tuck in strips of padding if the hat should be too big, and the proportions and overall look of the hat are just right. All in all, I bought it for a specific occasion as an emergency solution, only to find myself with a new favorite hat. It's perhaps a bit too warm for the Colorado summer, but I foresee it seeing a lot of use in the colder winter months.

When I decided I wanted a bowler, or derby as it is so listed, I discovered there isn't much to choose from that isn't for costume dress-up. I chose this hat because it looked nice and had good reviews. After measuring my head I discovered I was in between a medium and a large. I chose to go with the medium because a hat that is a little tight still looks better than a hat that is obviously too large. The hat arrived quickly, and was packed as if it were the Crown Jewels! Upon trying it on it was a little snug as was to be expected, but this can be overcome with a little haircut. The hat is beautiful, my only disappointment, and the reason for a four star and not a five star rating, is the fact that this bowler is almost too nice. Let me clarify. I was looking for a bowler for everyday wear, but this bowler is obviously meant for dress occasions. I knew this buy the band and feather arrangement indicated in the pictures, what I was not aware of was the additional height a dress bowler would have. This hat is just short of a top hat. While you can remove the feathers and possibly the band if you were so inclined, you should be aware of this fact. Realistically it is tall enough to make it look a bit awkward and out of place for everyday wear. I probably would have returned it had my wife not bought it as a gift. It is as previously stated however, a VERY nice hat, and I'm sure I will grow to love it despite it not being quite what I was looking for.

Perfect fit, completes my Murdoch Mysteries Victorian look.

My dad loves it. The large was just right

It's my fault that's it's too large, great hat otherwise

Fits great, looks nice, I was able to use it for a costume and its holding up well.

I return back