Stetson's Rick LaPorte visits Hats Plus with next fall's hat samples. He's wearing the all new Stetson Emmett, which will likely be one of our most popular new hats of the autumn. It is a fur felt fedora with an especially handsome braided leather hat band.

As the snow melts, the songbirds return and the buds start forming on the trees, it can mean only one thing. It is time to think about next winter.

Well, only in the hat business. Hatters are always manufacturing in the opposite season. That means we get a sneak peek at this coming autumn’s hottest new hats!

So far this week we’ve had visits from Kangol, Bailey, Dobbs and Stetson. There’s nothing that stirs a hat lover’s soul with anticipation like seeing those big, black tubes of hat samples coming through the door.

Today’s visit by Stetson’s Rick LaPorte showcased many intriguing new models of fedoras and headwear innovations.

“We’ve come out with a new wool-fur felt blend hat line,” LaPorte said. “It has exciting colors and band treatments, which are made in our Garland, Texas, hat facility.”

What are some of the advantages of a blended wool and fur felt? It is much softer than a wool hat and holds its color better, too. It is more affordable than a fur felt hat, and it is a little more water repellent.

We got a preview of the Stetson Belfast, which was one of their most appealing wool-fur felt fedoras. Thick, soft and warm, it offers a more popular short snap brim with a lower profile crown. The two-tone hat band uses a primary self band with a gently contrasting grosgrain band peeking out from below it.

One of this fall’s potentially biggest winners will be the fur felt Stetson Emmett. It has a teardrop crown accentuated by a braided leather hat band. The soft brim snaps up or down according to your preference. It will come in classic black and a handsome walnut.

Wanna sneak peek of your own. Rick’s wearing one in the photo.

Stay tuned and we’ll bring you more updates about next season’s hats as we learn more!