The Ulimate Guide To Hat Styles And Materials
aungcrown
Aung Crown
2021-04-23 12:58:00
Why is this hat guide needed?
As hats have become more popular again, words like fedora, bowler, gambler, safari and others are becoming better known. The problem is that people are not always sure which style is which and we often have people thinking they want one style when they’re really talking about another. Consider this your guide into the world of hat styles, crown shapes, and hat materials for both men & women so you can be assured you know what you’re talking about!
Before we begin:
It is important to note that in the world of fashion, styles are crossed and new things are tried all the time. There are very minor differences between certain styles and terms like trilby and fedora that are nowadays pretty interchangeable where they used to be distinctive brim sizes. Not everyone has the same opinion on a style, even our manufacturers mix certain style names like the ones just mentioned. Additionally, there are literally hundreds of styles of hats when you include the specifics like a bellhop cap or Napoleon’s famous bicorn. We are not diving this deep here, as you will rarely see these types of hats nowadays. With this guide however, you will be able to distinguish pretty much anything you will see when you’re out and about. The styles listed below are the broad, popular categories that have been established over time and are ones that any respectable hat merchant will know.
How to find the perfect hat style and material:
Every part of a hat has its purpose. Whether it's to offer comfort, provide shade or simply add aesthetic appeal, the different sections of a hat contribute to the wearer's overall experience. Before you determine which type of hat best suits the style and function you're looking for, it's helpful to be familiar with common hat terms and shapes, the most common hat materials and the different styles out there. These details can help you draw a distinction between similar hats, like the fedora and trilby, to determine which one is best for your needs. We've broken down the anatomy of a hat and supplied helpful information on different hat materials and terms you'll encounter when choosing your ideal style.
As hats have become more popular again, words like fedora, bowler, gambler, safari and others are becoming better known. The problem is that people are not always sure which style is which and we often have people thinking they want one style when they’re really talking about another. Consider this your guide into the world of hat styles, crown shapes, and hat materials for both men & women so you can be assured you know what you’re talking about!
Before we begin:
It is important to note that in the world of fashion, styles are crossed and new things are tried all the time. There are very minor differences between certain styles and terms like trilby and fedora that are nowadays pretty interchangeable where they used to be distinctive brim sizes. Not everyone has the same opinion on a style, even our manufacturers mix certain style names like the ones just mentioned. Additionally, there are literally hundreds of styles of hats when you include the specifics like a bellhop cap or Napoleon’s famous bicorn. We are not diving this deep here, as you will rarely see these types of hats nowadays. With this guide however, you will be able to distinguish pretty much anything you will see when you’re out and about. The styles listed below are the broad, popular categories that have been established over time and are ones that any respectable hat merchant will know.
How to find the perfect hat style and material:
Every part of a hat has its purpose. Whether it's to offer comfort, provide shade or simply add aesthetic appeal, the different sections of a hat contribute to the wearer's overall experience. Before you determine which type of hat best suits the style and function you're looking for, it's helpful to be familiar with common hat terms and shapes, the most common hat materials and the different styles out there. These details can help you draw a distinction between similar hats, like the fedora and trilby, to determine which one is best for your needs. We've broken down the anatomy of a hat and supplied helpful information on different hat materials and terms you'll encounter when choosing your ideal style.
Most common materials
Whether you're a passionate hat collector or merely want to learn more about the different hat styles out there, you should know that there are numerous fabrics for hats.
Knowing your cap's fabric is essential — it's a prime indicator of how you should care for your hat. There are even certain techniques you can employ to stretch your cap based on its material. Not every stretching technique will work well for every hat style, so it's important to choose the right approach. Otherwise, you could harm or damage the cap's material.
Cotton
Cotton hats are usually quite durable and often packable and crushable. They come in a wide variety of colors and are usually softer.
Wool Felt
Felt is crated by rolling and pressing wool and applying moisture and heat making the fibers mat/interlock together and creating the felt fabric. It is soft and can come in just about any color.
Straw
There are a great many varieties of straw used to make hats. They vary in strength, fineness, durability, and color. Raffia is a straw used to make many packable and crushable hats, and straw from the toquila palm is used for Panama hats. Most any straw can be woven into a hat but the best ones are hand picked for evenness of color, texture and pattern. Paper/Toyo – Made from Twisted, woven paper creating a fiber that is surprisingly strong, cost effective, and light. Not good to get wet or used in rain. Wool Felt – Felt is created by rolling and pressing wool and applying moisture and heat making the fibers mat/interlock together and creating the felt fabric. It is soft and can come in just about any color.
Whether you're a passionate hat collector or merely want to learn more about the different hat styles out there, you should know that there are numerous fabrics for hats.
Knowing your cap's fabric is essential — it's a prime indicator of how you should care for your hat. There are even certain techniques you can employ to stretch your cap based on its material. Not every stretching technique will work well for every hat style, so it's important to choose the right approach. Otherwise, you could harm or damage the cap's material.
Cotton
Cotton hats are usually quite durable and often packable and crushable. They come in a wide variety of colors and are usually softer.
Wool Felt
Felt is crated by rolling and pressing wool and applying moisture and heat making the fibers mat/interlock together and creating the felt fabric. It is soft and can come in just about any color.
Straw
There are a great many varieties of straw used to make hats. They vary in strength, fineness, durability, and color. Raffia is a straw used to make many packable and crushable hats, and straw from the toquila palm is used for Panama hats. Most any straw can be woven into a hat but the best ones are hand picked for evenness of color, texture and pattern. Paper/Toyo – Made from Twisted, woven paper creating a fiber that is surprisingly strong, cost effective, and light. Not good to get wet or used in rain. Wool Felt – Felt is created by rolling and pressing wool and applying moisture and heat making the fibers mat/interlock together and creating the felt fabric. It is soft and can come in just about any color.
Fur Felt
Fur felt is created in the same manner as wool felt but from finer and softer materials. Most fur felt hats are created from rabbit, beaver and hare pelts. Fur felt is incredibly soft and when you hold/touch one you can feel the difference in quality from wool felt.
Polyester
I have rarely seen hats made of 100% polyester, they are usually combined with cotton. These hats tend to be very durable, though they do not breathe as well as other fabrics.
Toyo / Paper Braid
Toyo or paper-braid hats are constructed of finely woven paper material. The paper is woven into strands just like straw and then formed into the desired style. They have been increasing in popularity due to their reduced cost and reasonable durability. While this material can withstand quite a bit, it is still not as strong as straw or raffia and also is more difficult to steam back into shape once crushed. This is certainly a material to keep away from water.
Whether you have a particular hat style in mind or you want to try something new, Hats Unlimited has plenty of options to choose from.
Fur felt is created in the same manner as wool felt but from finer and softer materials. Most fur felt hats are created from rabbit, beaver and hare pelts. Fur felt is incredibly soft and when you hold/touch one you can feel the difference in quality from wool felt.
Polyester
I have rarely seen hats made of 100% polyester, they are usually combined with cotton. These hats tend to be very durable, though they do not breathe as well as other fabrics.
Toyo / Paper Braid
Toyo or paper-braid hats are constructed of finely woven paper material. The paper is woven into strands just like straw and then formed into the desired style. They have been increasing in popularity due to their reduced cost and reasonable durability. While this material can withstand quite a bit, it is still not as strong as straw or raffia and also is more difficult to steam back into shape once crushed. This is certainly a material to keep away from water.
Whether you have a particular hat style in mind or you want to try something new, Hats Unlimited has plenty of options to choose from.