FAQ
select a question below
Where are your Optimo Hat shop locations?
Chicago Downtown - 320 S. Dearborn St. Chicago IL 60604. 312 922 2999 Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm CST, closed Sundays and holidays. Chicago Southside - 10215 S. Western Ave. Chicago IL 60643. 773 238 2999 Monday-Saturday, 10 am-6 pm CST, closed Sundays and holidays.
What are your store hours?
Optimo Southside is open Monday-Saturday, 10 am-6 pm CST, closed Sundays and major holidays. Optimo Downtown is open Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm CST, closed Sundays and major holidays.
How much do your hats cost?
Our Milan straw hats are $395 and our felt hats start at $650. Our Montecristi Panama hats are priced from $500 to several thousand dollars, depending on the weave quality/weave count. Our Optimo 1000 felt line is $1,000. Satin finished hats, $750. Melusine (long-hair beaver) finish, $795.
Are your custom-made hats the same price as your in-stock hats!?
Yes. All of our hats are hand-made in our factory. For now, we still offer our custom-made hats for the same price.
How long does a custom-made hat take to make?
Production time runs from two and a half weeks to six weeks. November and December normally have the longest wait time.
How much deposit do you need to make a custom hat?
50% upon ordering, 50% upon reception, whether shipped or picked up in store.
What are your felt hats made of?
We use wild furs to make our felt hats, usually beaver, hare and/or nutria. Wild furs are the tightest felting and make the best hats. Depending on the weight, color and finish of our hats, different types of furs are used. Our most exclusive felts, used to make the Optimo 1000, are either pure belly beaver fur, or a special blend of beaver and mink.
How can I get more information on your hats?
Please read our newsletters: From the Hatter’s Bench
Will someone there be able to help me find a hat which looks good on me?
Absolutely. Even if you are not able to visit our store in person, we are very good at finding the right style for you when we conduct our phone fittings.
How can I order a hat without visiting the store?
Simply phone our store and we'll conduct a “phone fitting.” It is helpful to download this pdf first, and we'll go over all of these details.
Do I need to make an appointment to order a hat in the store?
No, feel free to visit our store anytime we are open. You can phone beforehand, and we can let you know how busy we are. Sometimes, you'll need to wait a few minutes if we are working with other customers. Normally, this time is well spent though, as customers often see more hats they like as they hang around our store!
How long does it take to clean and block a hat?
Generally, wait time for our hat services (renovation, clean and block, etc.) is one to two weeks.
Do you make caps?
No. Optimo only manufactures hats.
Who designed and built your website?
The fine gents at WeCantStopThinking.com