How is an online hat shop different to a high street shop?

New Zealanders aren't necessarily noted for their love of hat fashion. Or are they? Our experience at Prohibition Hats NZ is that Kiwis who are looking for a good hat, are a pretty discerning bunch.  At least when it comes to buying hats online.

Why wear a baseball cap when you're really looking for a cheese cutter hat or fedora? And for that matter, beanies are great but from the Warehouse?!

The unfortunate truth is however that many affordable high street stores in NZ have a rather 'safe' collection of hats and an even safer range of sizes.

So, what makes an online hat store different to your run of the mill high street retailer? Well, allow us to enlighten you.

An online hat store has lots of hats to choose from

This sounds obvious but the bottom line is, if you're serious about buying a certain kind of hat, you're going to need a decent range to choose from.

Now I'm not talking 100s of hats to buy online (necessarily) just a broad enough selection of hats so that you get some choice. You see, we figure that if you're actually taking the time to search online to buy a hat, the likelihood is you'd prefer to find a proper online hat store.

That's why we have a plethora of cheese cutter hats and fedoras ranging from tweed to leather to corduroy. Plus great brands like Kangol Hats and Goorin Brothers.

We also stock all sizes (none of this one size fits all rubbish). So you get to make an informed choice about the kind of hat you think looks good on your noggin.

But 'high street retailers let me try the hat on in store'. Right? Well yes, but so do we. In a manner of speaking.

How can I try a hat on if I buy it online?

Well, you can't exactly try the hat on before you buy it so we offer the next best thing. We offer a no hassle return policy which means that if you change your mind or the hat doesn't fit, we'll swap it or offer a full refund. (There are a few tees and cees but not many - honestly!)

It's really easy to shop online with Prohibition Hats NZ. All you have to do is measure up your head (using our easy online guide) read our suggestions for the mind of head this hat best suits (and attire) and then place your order.

Your lovely new hat will arrive in your post box within a few days and you can give it a try. Relax, if it doesn't look like a million dollars, just send it back. We want you to be happy after all.

A Specialist hat store for specialist hats

It's worth pointing out that we love hats. LOVE them. That's why we're an online hat shop rather than say a handbag shop. Or mobile phone shop.

And when you love hats as much as we do, you find it important to be a specialist. Knowing hats inside and out, helping our customers to find the right flat cap or trilby for them, is what gets us out of bed every morning!

That's why when you email us, we will always do our best to advise you of the best hat options for you or point you in the direction of another hat store if we can't help you out.

What make us hat specialists? Well, for a start we know about the different kinds of hat materials available, the way that different hat shapes affect the perceived shape of your face (honestly!), the many different and subtle styles of flat caps and cheese cutter hats available and the importance of quality construction.

Sound like a lot? Well it is but we think you're worth it.

Northern hemisphere hat fashion

Hat fashion in the northern hemisphere is perhaps a little more leading than down south. Mostly because our northern hemisphere cousins tend to have more pronounced autumn and winter seasons than us and therefore wear more winter hats.

So how does this compare to the typical New Zealander? It generally results in a wider variety of clothes and a more varied annual wardrobe (us Kiwis tend to like to stick to our shorts/jeans jandals/trainers combinations right?).

And when it comes to hats, we don't tend to wear that many varieties. But, head over to London and walk down Oxford street on a Saturday afternoon in January and you'll see a medley of hats and scarves in all shapes, sizes and colours.

So, how can we take advantage of this hat renaissance in UK, Europe and USA?

Take a plunge and buy your winter hat online

If you think you need a hat and aren't sure where to look, take a punt and shop online. Hop into Google and search for the type of hat you think you want to buy and take a look at a couple of online hat shops.

Shop around. Try some hats on and throw that baseball cap out!

Whatever your hat aspirations, remember to wear something which suits your style and makes you look and feel great.

Be kind to your head.


Laurie
Founder
Prohibition Hats NZ

Cheese Cutter Hat

The traditional cheese cutter hat is making a comeback (Photo: www.prohibitionhats.co.nz)

The Cheese Cutter Hat is arguably the most well known of all retro head wear. And, if you're like me, you love a good quality Cheese Cutter, you'll be glad to hear that this ubiquitous of hats has now been given a streetwise and funky new look.

The Cheese Cutter Comeback

Yes, the Cheese Cutter Hat is definitely making (or has already made?) a comeback. The Cheese Cutter, once considered the accessory of people like your Dad (or perhaps a farmer) is now cool. But not shouty, "oi listen to me!", cool. The ol' Cheese Cutter is a more subdued, restrained cool.

Celebrities making cheese cutters cool again

For quite some time, cheese cutter hats have been considered a bit fuddy duddy. That was until a number of high profile celebrities started donning these distinctive flat caps. There have been many high profile celebs getting in on the action but the most influential is without a doubt, Mr Jackson (image below courtesy of www.bet.com) who has even gone to the extent of creating his own Signature line of Kangol hats. (If you're interested, you can find them here).

Samuel Jackson has made Cheese Cutters cool again! (http://www.bet.com)

David Beckham in a Newsboy (Photo: http://www.bbc.com/)

Brad Pitt looking quite the part in a cheese cutter (Photo: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/)

But what about New Zealand?

Sadly, I haven't been able to find any photos of Kiwi celebrities wearing cheese cutters (or anything that's not a baseball cap actually). 

But, that's okay. It's our job to change that ;-)

Laurie Turnbull
Owner/Founder
Prohibition Hats NZ
www.prohibitionhats.co.nz
www.facebook.com/prohibitionhats

www.twitter.com/prohibitionhats

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Prohibition Hats - a heap of new Cheese Cutters now in stock!

Loads of new cheese cutter hats now in stock!

Okay, I don't usually do these kind of obviously sales-promotional blogs but I just wanted to let everybody know that Prohibition Hats NZ just received an order of 200 new funky, urban cheese cutter hats.

Every kind of Cheese Cutter hat for the discerning Kiwi

So, we've been listening to our customers and they're telling us that they LOVE Jaxon Hats. Not so much the brand but the cool air of indifference they get from the understated nature of the cut. You know, subtly fashionable but not in your face.

That's why we have just taken in over 200 new Jaxon cheese cutter hats in time for the New year rush! 

A New Year Special Offer

It really wouldn't be New Year (wait, what about Xmas?!) without a special offer. So, for every order that comes in between now and January 10th, Prohibition Hats NZ will offer a 10% discount. That's right; we'll knock 10% off any order on a hat that isn't already discounted.

Just enter the promo code: NEWYEARPRO to get your discount.

Merry Christmas New Zealand!

Laurie & Gina

Prohibition Hats NZ

www.prohibitionhats.co.nz
https://plus.google.com/+LaurieTurnbullSEOGuy

Hats for the New Zealand summer

With the clocks going forward a few weeks ago, it became official: Summer's here. And not a moment too soon!

Here are a few tips on wearing the right Summer hats in the New Zealand sun.

Flat caps are still in

Flat caps (or cheese cutter hats) are a classic all year round staple and great hats for men or women. So not just for winter!

They're great because not only do they look snazzy, they also keep the harsh NZ sun out of your eyes but with a sophistication that a baseball cap simply can't muster.

Look for cotton and linen materials as they're lighter than wool and polyester. If you want super light, go for unlined interiors (but watch out for the unavoidable sweat patch).

Bring on the straw hats

This time of year, we get to don the straw hat and make like Gatsby (see more tips on how to look like the great Gatsby himself here).

Straw hats come in all shapes and sizes. This year, striped bands are in with the modern stingy brim fedora shape taking centre stage (closely followed by the more traditional
boater).

In the southern hemisphere, we're a pretty conservative bunch but try and push yourself beyond the brown straw trilby. There are plenty of colours, shapes and styles to choose from. And why stop at one? Buy a couple of straw hats and mix it up a little!

A hat fit for evening wear

In New Zealand, getting dressed up for a night out often means little more than jeans and trainers (or jandals if you're feeling super laid back).

Thats great, but where does the summer hat fit? Well, the great thing about contemporary Urban hats is that they can be dressy without being formal.

Try it out; a light brown flat cap (such as Burbank) looks the business with a pair of light jeans and trainers without being full on dressy.

Perfect for when lazy summer afternoons turn into social summer evenings (without a wardrobe break).

Caring for you summer hat

Summer tends to result in heat and that tends to mean sweat. I know, I know, it's icky but it is what it is.

The good news is that modern hats like ours are pretty darn resilient if you look after them.

The truck is to HAND wash them in a mild detergent then let them air dry. Please don't machine wash or tumble dry them.

Get the best hats from the southern hemisphere

One of the best things about selling hats in NZ (apart from my love for all things headwear) is that I get to bring all the coolest styles over from the northern hemisphere.

Watch out for our Goorin Brothers Hat classics, our favourite Jaxon Hats summer line and a new line of Kangol hats and caps.

Summer's here! Be kind to your head.

Anybody got any fab hats they'd like us to get in? Let me know.

Laurie
Prohibition Hats NZ