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

Hat Size Chart [diagram]

Hat Size Chart

Hat size Chart: see below for the most common hat sizes in metric and imperial.

Measure your head for the perfect hat size

Measuring for your head size is both an art and a science. Grab a tape measure and use a hat size chart as a guide. Grab a tape measure or a length of string (you'll need to hold it up to a tape measure to determine the length). 

Place the string or tape around your head about 1 cm above your ear, across the mid-forehead, completely circling your head. Hold the tape firmly, but not too tightly. Basically you need to measure your head exactly where the hat will sit. If your measurement falls between sizes, choose the next largest size.

Not all hat sizes are standard

All hats at www.prohibitionhats.co.nz come in four main sizes. Extra large, Large, Medium and Small. Remember hats are like other clothes in that sizes can sometimes vary from one manufacturer to another. 

Whenever one of our hats are atypical to the norm, we'll let you know via our hat style guide.

At Prohibition Hats NZ, we offer hassle free returns so that even if the hat size chart doesn't quite work for you, you can be confident in the hat your are buying.

Laurie Turnbull

Owner / Founder

Prohibition Hats NZ

www.prohibitionhats.co.nz

www.facebook.com/prohibitionhats

3 tips to really wearing a hat

3 tips to really wearing a hat

Ever heard somebody say, "I just don't look good in hats."? Yep, me too. In our humble opinion there is a hat for every head. Read on for some tips.

Even Walter White found a hat style

1.  Shop around for different hat styles

The hat you wear to work, to Ponsonby or Panama Street for a night out with friends should make a bold statement about who you are.

You've got the outfit, you're ready to go, now is not the time be timid. The high street is fine if you want to look like everybody else but if you want to make a bold statement, you need to shop at a boutique. Sure, we'd love you to buy a hat from our website but the truth is we'd be happy just to know that Kiwis are getting out there and being individual.

2. Choose the hat style that fits your head shape

We've talked a lot about getting he right hat size but what about the right hat shape? There's a hat for every head but not every hat suits every head.

Let's take me for example. I have got a fairly large head (it keeps all the brains in) particularly at the nape of my neck.

So, the best hats for me to wear are newsboy hats and cadet hats. They both have a generous amount of space at the back to cover the nape of my neck. Flat caps (or cheese cutters) and trilby hats less so as they tend to have a higher cut.

Our hat style guide on www.prohibitionhats.co.nz and detailed product information should help.

3. Accessorize people!

Don't just have one hat for every outfit. Think about how your hat will complement your look.

A baseball cap is great for an afternoon at the park but is it right for a night out? A trilby is undoubtedly cool and will make you stand out from the throng at the Viaduct  but is it doing you any favours in the cinema?

You don't wear the same shirt every day do you? Don't wear the same hat every day then.

There you have it and remember, buying the right hat for you is easy with Prohibition Hats NZ. We offer hassle free returns on all hat sales and we welcome queries for sourcing alternative styles and sizes.

Now, get out there and make a statement about your head wear!

Laurie
Prohibition Hats NZ
www.prohibitionhatsnz.co.nz

The hat compliments your work attire

What you wear to work makes you feel good! (Who would have thought?)

Justine Jamieson wrote a fantastic article about how what you wear in the workplace affects how your feel and are perceived (read the article here). She talked about the importance of accessories but what about the humble hat?!

If, like me, you are follicly challenged, wearing a hat to the offîce is a must in Summer. But I, like many city folk am in my thirties and a baseball cap is an absolute no go! So how do I make sure I look the part and keep the harsh sun off my shiny pâté?

Find a hat that suits your style

It's surprisingly easy to narrow down your selection of your preferred office head wear. 

1. What colour hat is right?

 Answer - conservative colours are usually the way to go (unless you work for an advertising company or similar then go for your life!). Look for blacks, dark greys and blues as they will most likely match your outfit. If you wear Jeans and a shirt rather than a suit, you're still on to a winner. The trick is to have a conservative colour but with a little flair of design to give it an edge. Check out there Moretti Fedora Hat: a traditional Fedora with a white gosband for a distinctive edge.

The Moretti is a traditional blue pinstripe
but the white band adds a touch of flair 

2 Flat cap, Fedora, Straw or trilby? 

This is a difficult call. The best advice I could give would be to look at yourself and pick a style that complements your personality (see my blog on how to choose a hat perfect for you. 

The flat cap is the most versatile: go for a cheese cutter style and you have yourself a formal yet laid back hat. Ramp up the individuality with a newsboy hat and now we're talking baby! Get that tilt on and swagger your way to the next meeting.

Fedora or trilby hat? Again difficult and all about who you are as a person. A Trilby has a stingy brim and smaller crown than a Fedora Hat (check out my previous blog for more on the difference) so makes it a little bit more funky. The traditional Fedora is often seen to be a little bit more 'old school'. Personally, I love them - but my wife thinks they make me look old(er) so I stick to trilbys.

The Fedora is the way to for max impact

3 Where should I buy the hat?

OK, let me have one shameless plug. www.prohibitionhats.co.nz has a great range of hats each with its own distinctive style. We love hats (have you noticed?) and feel very passionately about making premium designer hats available to New Zealanders without the premium price tag. If you feel like supporting a small local business, check out our website. With your help, we can only get bigger and better.

4 How premium is premium?

Okay. Like beauty, premium quality hats and caps are in the eye of the beholder. One person's Mitchell and Ness is another's Goorin Bros. One thing to do is to take a look at the price tag. 

If the hat is a 'one-size-fits-all, made in Taiwan special' and costs $30, it's likely that it isn't going to a) fit you properly b) look particularly good and c) last as long as it should (well constructed hats and caps should hold together when you wash them). 

Take it from me, as a retailer, after you've covered manufacturing costs, freight, import tariffs and fees, distribution and marketing, you're not going to see a whole lot of profit out of your $30 RRP. (For the astute readers, this should give you a fairly good indication of the materials and per unit cost - ergo, what the hat is actually worth versus what you're paying.)

Thankfully, it actually isn't all that hard to separate the wood from the chaff. A good quality, individually designed, premium hat like the hats we sell online aren't all that expensive. In most cases, you're talking $60-$75 (often less if we're feeling generous :-) and you're getting a whole load of hat for your money.

You know what? I feel energised enough to write a blog entry dedicated to the debate: when is premium, well premium. And, more importantly, how much we think the great New Zealand public should have to pay!

Laurie Turnbull
Founder, Prohibition Hats NZ
www.ProhibitionHats.co.nz
www.facebook.com/ProhibitionHats

3 Tips for choosing the right hat

3 Tips for choosing the right Hat for you

So many hats but which to choose?

I often get asked “there are so many styles of hats; which hat is the right one for me? The truth is, finding the right hat for you is a uniquely personal experience.  There are a range of styles available from Fedora hats to Newsboy hats to Cadet hats (to name but a few) and it can feel a bit like a minefield. The good news is that there are some simple tips to follow to find the perfect hat for you.

Tip #1: Find the right hat size

In New Zealand we are, unfortunately, awash with a sea of ‘one size fits all’ hats Now, don’t get me wrong, this is all well and good for the casual hat wearer, but what if you want it to look good? That’s why you’re wearing a hat in the first place right? There are some really helpful tips on how to measure your [hat size] on our online store at http://www.prohibitionhats.co.nz/page/hat-size-guide

Tip #2: Match your hat to your outfit

The next step is to think about the kind of outfits you typically wear and then match a hat accordingly. Maybe you’re going casual, like jeans and a tshirt - so think about a cadet hat. It’s casual, funky and comfortable. Maybe you’re looking for a hat that is a bit more formal, say, to go with a shirt and trousers – so look at a Newsboy hat or Flat cap. Still room for a bit of style, not as formal as a fedora or trilby but more sophisticated than a base ball cap.

Tip #3: Look for hats that are a little bit different

The hat might maketh the outfit, but it’s the person wearing it that matters the most. Your personality should sing through the hats you wear and be as unique as you are. Try and avoid going for the ‘One Size Fits all’ high street specials (we’ve all seen the faceless pinstripe trilbys on the heads of the Ponsonby elite that never fit and all look the same). Pick out something that stands out a bit and makes people actually say “where did you get that hat?”.

I guarantee the difference in price between a well fitting, individual hat that matches your outfit and complements your style and personality and a scuzzy mid market Asian import comes down to a matter of $30!

That’s not a lot more for a hat that really works for you.

Laurie Turnbull
Founder of Prohibition Hats NZ

England is a darted panel ivy in a subtle seersucker cotton fabric. Buy this hat online today

Rope Swing is a sloped cadet in a custom grey pinstripe fabric. Buy this hat online today