Sewn braid fedoras are sometimes striped, but this tri-color fedora (in black, grain and paglina) can't just be called "striped": it's grand! It's a marvel! And, yes, okay, it's striped. But I tell you now, you've never seen fedoras in raffia or sea grass that look as good as these Makins creations or that come in such brilliant colors. I sure wasn't expecting to see the rippling golden hue that makes The Wheat Sisal Porkpie so outstanding, but now that I have, there's no going back!

You'll need to wait for your hand-blocked fedora, but when you see it in burnt with wheat, gray, praline and pampa stripes, try on your brown cotton tweed for the first time, or examine the intricacy of the fancy ramie weave, you'll know how very worthwhile the wait was. You'll have to be patient, too, for your porkpies: no matter if it's the bright 'n beautiful basketweave porkpie or the crisscross panama in dijon (with a most excellent striped leather hat band) or even one of those exciting confetti lids, you'll be biding some time before it arrives. Same deal with the gray tweed panama porkpie, the brown zipper topper and that classic, the porkpie in plaid. And don't start thinking they'll rush that Gold Ramie Porkpie, with its Moroccan dyno stitched leather band. (I asked.) Answer was the same for The Natural, the ramie trilby (in natural, naturally) all dolled up with a striped braid trim. I was on bended knee (quite a feat, I'll have you know) for added speed on The Mist Sisal Porkpie, to no avail, and when I dropped to the other knee for faster delivery on The Lead Sisal Porkpie, it got ugly.

The refrain? Top quality hand-blocking takes time! Plus, these hats are so unique. I mean, have you ever even heard of a white bu fedora? Or one made from paribuntl? One look at the Sand Panama Porkpie or The Natural Panama Porkpie (both with generous black ribbons) and you'll have little tears of admiration in your eyes too. I don't know if you can stand it, but there's another hat in natural with a sharp black band: this time it's The Natural Sisal Fedora. And the elegant simplicity of The Flax Panama Porkpie may do you in altogether.

The inventiveness of Makins hat designs continues: one superior hat that springs to mind is the burnt/black/pampa ramie fedora. Another has got to be that dark brown porkpie accented with a Navajo stitched leather band. And just look at The Copper Ramie fedora with its striped ribbon/paglina trim. Love the pleated pugaree hatband on this Moss Porkpie too (also done up in caramel) -- and if the kiwi starbrite stripe band on the Black Ramie Fedora doesn't do you in, then I may be forced to eat my hat, which at this moment is The Mist Fedora in ramie, with stand-out striped grosgrain trim and textured rio edging.

Remember, good hats come to those who wait.