Find the perfect New Zealand hats for winter

New Zealanders love the summer, but what about the winter? When the cold weather comes and our heads get a little colder, where do we turn? Those train rides to work in the middle of July aren't much fun when you can't feel your ears because of the cold.

The answer lies in selecting the appropriate head wear.

What hats are best for winter?

Winter in the Southern Hemisphere is a little different to in the northern hemisphere. Here, it is genuinely less cold and not as uncomfortable.

That doesn't mean that you don't need to keep your head warm though! A good winter hat is a sound investment - particularly if it makes you look stylish as well.

The best winter hats are those which keep your head warm whilst minimising how much you sweat. Look for wool blends or, if you feel adventurous (and rich) a Marino.

Winter hats don't need to be dull

The winter months are drab but that doesn't mean you need to look dull! If you look at our friends in the northern hemisphere, you'll see that winter is the height of fashion - not the low!

Pick a Marino or wool flat cap that is stylish but practical and you can't go wrong. Don't like cheese cutter hats? Go for a woollen fedora or trilby instead.

The trick is to select a style of hat that truly works for you. If you really feel good in your winter hat, you will look good in it.

But what if you don't suit hats?

Well, I don't believe that I'm afraid. I hear it all the time, "I don't suit hats"; "it makes my ears look big" etc.

Well, with the right hat, that fits your style as well as your head, you will always look good. The reason some people don't look good wearing a hat is they are wearing the wrong hat!

The key thing is to try a few hats on and get a sense of what suits you best.
The problem with high street shops in NZ is that there isn't a large enough range of hats to choose from (or they are of the infuriating 'one size fits all' range which I hate).

If flat caps or cheese cutter hats are your thing, find a NZ hat shop that has more than two styles. If it's fedoras you like, then again, look for different shapes and sizes. There will be a hat that is right for you.

Of course, I would recommend you go to a certain online hat shop (hint hint) and avoid the high street altogether.

Buy your winter NZ hat online today

So, hop online and check out a few styles. Cheese cutter hats, fedoras, trilbies, you name it, you can find it online.

If you're thinking 'where can I buy a cool, stylish winter hat in New Zealand?', think 'online hat store.'

Happy shopping!

The Newsboy: Creating the Gatsby look

Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby,” premiered in New Zealand on the 6th June and you’re probably  thinking to yourself, “That Gatsby was a stylish fellow! I wish people still dressed like that.”

Well, the good news is the style is having a renaissance in the northern hemisphere - so why not here as well?

<Read the movie's reviews here>

The Prohibition era style

The roaring 1920s was a decadent era for Society's elite. They held opulent parties for their peers; where indulgence reigned supreme and people wanted for nothing. Basking in the rays of a pre-Depression America: the Land of the Free where the streets where paved with gold.

On the working side of the class divide, people  lived a different existence. One of varying degrees of hardship (to become decidedly harder when the Depression hit).

What brought the classes together was society's shared sense of style; of dressing for the occasion.

Dress like Jay Gatsby

The long reach of the British Empire had withered and with it, the extent of her influence. From her new found freedom, the USA found a personality that would forever more be synonymous with the Prohibition era.

1920s America borrowed much of its style of dress from Britain (due in part to the mass immigration of the time) but that's where the similarities ended.

A gentlemen always wore a suit - befitting the occasion for which it was to be worn. Tailoring was impeccable; the concept of 'off-the-rack' was yet to be invented. Colour, layering and flamboyance was in.

The hat maketh the man

Whether working class or social elite, a man would not be seen outdoors without a hat.

Every outdoor pursuit was an occasion to Don a different outfit and with it, the appropriate head wear.

It was during this period that classic hats  like the cheese cutter and modern versions of the fedora really came into their own. (The short brim trilby wouldn't appear for another four decades.)

During this time, the golf ivy came into vogue, along with the boater and of course, the Newsboy (or Gatsby).

You need Gatsby's millions to dress like him!

Finding the full set up may be a bit tricky for your average Kiwi man but there are a few places in the US of A that do specialise. But the prices are not for the faint hearted!

Throw on one $698 jacket, a pair of $598 shoes, some $298 trousers and a single $98.50 tie and you, too, can be Jay Gatsby – for just under $1,700 US old sport! (That's closer to $2100 to us Kiwis.)

1920s era options this side of the world

For most of us, the odd 1920s flourish is sufficient. Just enough to accentuate the outfit and a little bit of that 'head turning' interest I'm always talking about.

Pop online to www.indochino.com for a quality tie ($60), and a decent shirt ($200) and pick up your shoes from Scarpa ($200) and you're already on your way.

And, of course, the hat. Well, now you can satisfy your 1920s urges with a Newsboy hat for under $100.

Rather ol' sport!

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

Men's hats: 3 essential tips to selecting your hat

The hat: the fashion forward accessory

Read on for 3 essential tips to buying the right men's hats this Autumn: fit, fabric and construction. 

Men's Fashion Week in London firmly planted the urban hat on the heads of all fashion forward men.

But as the gruffer of the species we aren't always known for our love of shopping. Are we fellas?  So, how do we stay current in our look with as little fruitless shopping as possible?

1. Find the Fit

When we talk about 'fit', we mean: 'how well does it fit you'. Ask yourself questions like: does the hat pinch at the your temples? Is it snug or tight? Does the peak sit as low across your forehead as you would like?

When you don a hat that fits well, it shows. Whether you're wearing a fedora or a cheese cutter hat, finding a hat that complements the shape of your face and head is a must.

Our hat size chart will give you some pointers on measuring up your noggin for the perfect fit.

2. Select your Fabric

There are two key things to think about here: the kind of fabric and the quality of the fabric.

Firstly, the type of fabric. The range of hat fabrics available is pretty mind boggling. Look for cottons, wools, twills, tweed and polyester blends. It's not the case that viscose and lycra are bad (they are often used for those little design finishes) but they ought to be small proportions of the overall material mix.

Think about when you are going to wear the hat. Consider the season, whether you'll be indoors or outdoors and whether you'll be wearing it during the day or night.

Generally speaking, wool, merino and wool/polyester blends are good winter options. Light cottons and linens lend themselves best to warmer months. Note: don't ignore the linings as they make a big difference.

However, regardless of its kind, material quality is key.

Feel (with your fingers) the softness of the material - there shouldn't be any rough edges or friction when you put the hat on. (If there is, the material quality is low or the fit is wrong). Is there any bobbling or fraying (suggests the item does not wash well).

And finally...

3. Inspect the Construction

How well put together is the hat? Does it feel sturdy and firm?

Pay close attention to the peak and each individual panel . All the seams should be double stitched with no loose threads or material separation. Give the hat a gentle tug at the seams to check.

Even a light hat (eg made from linen) should be sturdy and substantive.

Again, don't forget about the inside linings. Cheaper, less well-constructed hats usually skimp on these details. (That's if they even have an inside lining!)

The perfect hat

So there you have it. A hat that fits well, is made from quality fabrics and is well constructed will look good, feel good and will stand the test of time if looked after.

'Till next time hat lovers.

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

How is a cheese cutter different from a duck bill flat cap?

How is a cheese cutter different from a duck bill flat cap?

The cheese cutter classic shape

The cheese cutter hat has a wide brow and a peak which starts right at the top of the hat and protrudes out significantly. If you look at its profile, you'll see it has a 'wedge' appearance which is possibly linked to the origin of the name 'cheese cutter' (history is a little vague on that one).

The origin of the cheese cutter

The cheese cutter shape is synonymous with flat cap hats and can be traced back to the 14th century in Northern England and parts of Southern Italy. There it  was more likely to be called a "bonnet", which term was replaced by "cap" sometime before about 1700.

 

Flat caps were almost universally worn in the 19th century by working class men throughout Britain and Ireland. However, versions in finer cloth were considered to be suitable casual countryside wear for upper-class English men (hence the contemporary alternative name golf cap). 

The Duckbill flat cap

The duckbill (called an 'Ivy' in the USA) has quite a different shape to a cheese cutter.

Its origins are from when Irish and English immigrants arrived in the United States, bringing the flat cap with them. 

However, the origins of the duck bill shape is less clear. It is certainly a derivative of the original flat cap (with the same long peak) but it has been influenced heavily by the more modern hat shapes that came out of the States from the 1990s onwards.

Which fits better - a cheese cutter or duckbill flat cap?

Well, this really comes down to the shape of your head (or, to be more exact, your face).

Cheese cutters have a wide brow so have the effect of shortening your face. Whereas duckbills are ideal for people with a square face as their shallower peak and less roomy brow hugs your head more giving the hat a rounder appearance, softening your chin line. 

The best thing to do is try a few on a see what you prefer! Check out my blog '3 tips for choosing the right hat' as well as our 'hat size chart' for help on how to find the right hat for you.

Shop online for the best deals

Prohibition Hats NZ has the best range of cheese cutters and duck bill flat caps at the lowest prices in New Zealand.

We have a huge range of duck bill hats, traditional cheese cutter hats and loads more. Whatever your style, you'll find it here.

So, for the most stylish flat caps in NZ, shop online at www.prohibitionhats.co.nz/category/cheese-cutter-hats

Make a statement with your hat NZ!

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

Winter hats: essential fashion for the urban Kiwi

Winter hats: essential fashion for the urban Kiwi

Hat fashion trends for 2013

Wide brim hats like fedoras are hugely in the at the moment. The classic shape is timeless. Walk down Queen Street and you'll see an abundance of guys (and girls) sporting Indiana Jones' hallmark. Tip - add a design flourish like a textured satin band or a feather to give it a lift. Choose wool and felt materials for winter hats as they offer the most maximum warmth. They're also super stylish: great for office attire.

Beanies are also a great winter hat option as they go with practically anything and come in wide range of shapes and materials. But if you want to keep the ears warm, there's nothing better than a bear trapper or wool bucket hat. Materials abound but wool, cashmere and acrylics are name of the game but keep those ears nice and cosy.

Shop online for great hat deals

As Autumn finally gives way to Winter, you're probably going to start thinking about where to shop for Winter hats. It isn't all that fun getting a head freeze on the walk to the train station, so a few warm hats is an essential part of your  winter wardrobe.

There are some great styles to choose from when you shop in the right boutique Stores. Most good stores will have a few wool or felt fedoras, typically in black or brown which are the most versatile tones. And it isn't hard to pick up a good beanie or knit hat (but make sure you don't go for the el cheapo option or it will fall apart way before Spring). The key thing is to make sure that your winter hats are well constructed, fit your head, your personality and your wallet.

Be kind to your head with a stylish winter hat from Prohibition Hats NZ

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