Some quick pictures of the hat.

[cupcake_goth]

Here are some quick phone pix of the scarlet top hat I'm going to sell. One of clovisdvlbunny's large enforcer minions is helpfully modeling it. It has a 22" band size, and is an antique. How old, I don't know, but at least 50 years old.

I really don't know what to price it at for the Steampunk Swap Meet. Suggestions?

Comments

Vintage Top Hat Pricing

[mauraanderson.livejournal.com]

With the bits of damage to the top, in an unfashionable color and with no box or particularly fine maker to ascribe to it, probably $35-$45 is actually fair. You might get more at a specialty venue if someone falls in love with it, though (and it fits them).

Re: Vintage Top Hat Pricing

[trystbat.livejournal.com]

I agree. Make sure to label it as antique (50+ years old) & wool (presuming you are sure of the material), bec. ppl who don't know can easily assume lesser quality, particularly bec. of the color.

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

Agree as well on the price point. If you list it at $45 that leaves room for if someone offers you $40. Another vendor might want to trade merchandise for it too. When I used to vend if a fellow vendor looked longingly at something they could not afford we usually worked out a trade at the end of the day. :o )

[fufaraw]

Eee~upholstery!

Um. $45 does seem fair. You might actually get a little more if you had a bit of black netting or lace to drape or wrap around the crown or brim, a red or black grosgrain ribbon to tack around the crown as a hatband, or a black fabric flower to tack to the hat or the hatband. I would not go all out trimming it as you would for your own use. But a lick of paint on the wall can sell a house much faster, and for a slightly-to-significantly higher price. So a bit of lace or netting might bring in $10-$25 more because the hat is prettier, looks better, gives a buyer ideas what they could do to it, or if they're millinery-impaired they could wear it as is.

[torreybird.livejournal.com]

Hi.

Sorry, did you say, "fire-engine red stovepipe hat such as a full-size Muppet would wear, if that Muppet were Torrey?"

HAT!

$40?

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Do you want me to bring it to writers' group tomorrow? :)

[torreybird.livejournal.com]

Yes please! I'll bring cashola. yay HAT!

Steampunk kids love feathers, add black feathers to it and you can get 100 for it.

[jaborwhalky.livejournal.com]

If you do not want to add feathers to this then,
For the first 2 hours of the event have it at a 100$ make certain on the label you mark it as "Vintage and distressed steampunk top hat "
If by 2pm it dose not sell for 100$ mark it down to 50$

Now if you add a few things to it like take a few black feathers and add some red charm type thing to it as a deco for the side, then you should be able to get 100$ for it with no issue and make certain to list it on the tag as
"Vintage distressed one of a kind steampunk top hat " and then when people pick it up tell them the feather thing on the side is hand made and that is the only top hat like it in the world .

Trust in the Evelyn, add feathers to the side and sell it for no less then 65 bucks but start the day with it at 100.

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