A fine hat asks for very little: a little attention, a few regular gestures, and it will repay you a hundredfold. Here are the habits we recommend to everyone who leaves one of our partner hatters with a new model under their arm — or rather, on their head.
The right gestures, day to day
- Always pick up your hat by the brim, never by pinching the crown: that is where materials mark most quickly.
- Brush it regularly, following the direction of the fibre, with a soft brush to remove dust.
- Let it breathe after each wear, resting upside down on its crown or hanging up, rather than shutting it away at once.
- Keep it away from direct sources of heat, which dry out the fibres and distort the brim.
Rain is no catastrophe, provided you respond well. A felt caught in a shower should dry in the open air, resting on its crown, far from any radiator. Straw, more delicate, prefers to be dabbed gently with a dry cloth before drying at room temperature. In every case, never force the drying.
Storing your hat and taking it travelling
For longer pauses, a hatbox remains the best of homes: it protects from light, dust and knocks. Slip some tissue paper into the crown to help it keep its shape, and store the box somewhere dry and temperate.
When travelling, the best solution is still to wear your hat. If you must pack it, nestle it among your things crown downwards, the hollow filled with soft clothing, and avoid placing anything on top of it. The softest materials forgive a great deal; the more structured ones deserve a little extra care.
“A hat is not so much repaired as preserved: the best care is the everyday kind.”
Finally, when in doubt — a stubborn stain, a tired shape — entrust your hat to a hatter rather than attempting an improvised remedy. A professional will know how to reblock it and restore its youth. That, too, is the pleasure of a hat in good hands.
