How do you keep your hats

[Katydid]

Kepping old hats

I recently acquired about 12 hats from my grandmother's house but some of them are all squished in or slighly bent. I'm not really sure of the period either so some websites with lots of pictures of different period hats might be helpful. What's the best way to straighten them out and then store them?

 

[Vanessa]

Well, depending on the level of squished-ness, you can steam them a bit using a househould iron or clothes steamer. That's what I do with mine and then very in-expertly I reshape them and pin them to a headform until they dry.
However, if they are in really bad shape, I'd suggest taking them to a professional. But not to the one Mr. Deckard recently took his hat to. (Who's story will be posted as soon as he returns home, I'm sure.)

 

[jitterbugdoll]

It's always fun to get new hats

Here are some helpful pics of hats from the 1930s-40s:

http://www.fashion-era.com/hats-hair/hats_hair_8a_hairstyles_history_1930_1940.htm
http://www.fashion-era.com/hats-hair/hats_hair_9_hairstyles_history_1940_1945.htm
http://www.return2style.de/amihutef.htm

As for storing, I keep my hats in vintage hat boxes. The more delicate hats can be gently wrapped and stuffed with acid-free paper to help them keep their shape (once you have reshaped them, of course.)

 

[mysterygal]

However, if they are in really bad shape, I'd suggest taking them to a professional. But not to the one Mr. Deckard recently took his hat to. (Who's story will be posted as soon as he returns home, I'm sure.)

So did this hat incident happen in New York then?

 

[Katydid]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to invest in a few head forms when I get a few extra bucks. And yes, it's deliciously fun to get new hats. I think these are from the late forties into the sixties so nothing good for a war-time impression but great hats nonetheless.

 

[katiemakeup]

Thanks for the suggestion, Vanessa... I too have a hat from my grandmother- the lone survivor of all of them. It's beige (not sure of the material) with a large brim with brown downy feathers along the edge. So pretty.

 

[NicolettaRose]

Lately I have been aquireing a lot of hats....way to many hats...its sort of like they are breeding in my closet at night...Anyway, what do you gals with a lot of hats do? How do you store them? Right now they are all just sitting on the top shelf of my closet, does anyone use hat boxes?

 

[BonnieJean]

I use several hatboxes and some of my favorites are hanging on hooks on my wall. I found some vintage-looking hatboxes at a Gordman's (its kind of a high end outlet store) and found some others at a dollar store. I've even seen some reasonably priced vintage ones at thrift and antique shops. And hatboxes look so pretty stacked. I've even taken a hatbox with my vintage luggage on trips. Makes quite an impression when checking into a motel.

 

[NicolettaRose]

I don't have any hat boxes, but I do have a Antique Louis Vuitton Traincase, do you think I could store them in here?

Also, which are better to protect the hats, new hat boxes or vintage ones?

 

[BonnieJean]

Depends on the size of the hats and the traincase. You don't want to squish your hats. I don't know if there's a difference between vintage and new hatboxes. I would think as long as they're large enough so that your hats don't get mishapen in the box, then either would work. Perhaps someone who is more knowledgeable about this will reply.

 

[pigeon toe]

I only have three hats, only one of which I actually like. I also have a vintage 1930's/40's hat mannequin (with the face and molded hair and everything, just gorgeous!) that my dad gave me, so I put my good hat on that, and keep the others in my closet.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

I don't have any hat boxes, but I do have a Antique Louis Vuitton Traincase, do you think I could store them in here?

Also, which are better to protect the hats, new hat boxes or vintage ones?

Being that we don't know the dimensions of the train case, we really wouldn't know if you're hats will fit in it.
Did you put them in the train case? Did they fit? Well then, there you go! The train case that I have is only big enough for one hat. It sounds like you need more than a train case. It really doesn't matter what type of box you put your hat's in, vintage or new, size or shape. As long as the box is dry, doesn't smell and doesn't smush the hat, you're all set.
Hat boxes are a dime a dozen......

 

[Miss Neecerie]

I use...

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stor...96*15776&storeId=12&catalogId=10103&langId=-1

The round ones come in two sizes....and the oblong ones also work for one or more band type hats....

they stack nicely etc....

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

fftopic: LOVE the new avatar Miss Neecerie!!!!!

 

[Lauren]

Ditto on loving the avitar!!

I store mine in hat boxes or old suitcases- whatever's handy. Ideally you'd want to get museam quality acid free hatboxes and stuff them with acid free tissue paper to keep the shape. I'd like to do that someday.

Right now mine are in hatboxes from Burlington Coat Factory or Ross.
*taken from my room thread*
Here's how mine are stored right now:

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

Boxes are the answer!

Dust and over exposure to sunlight are enemies of your chapeaux.

I use a whole bunch of boxes, because I have a whole bunch of hats! Small round boxes for berets and other soft hats and flowers - all stacked together.

Large, roomy boxes for larger or more delicate hats - as many have mentioned, don't smush your hats!!! And by the way - white tissue paper is your friend - keep them nice in the box and they will look nice on you

Any lightweight boxes will work, and if they aren't very pretty, try whimsical or vintage inspired wrapping paper to cover them!

Here are a few of mine:

 

[Caledonia]

Love the hat storage ladies! I've got most of mine in a steamer trunk that I managed to find that still had the inner tray so I get two shelves. I've also got a couple of hat boxes, and my latest acquisition was the round box that Italian panetone cake comes in. Ate the cake, put in the hat. It now smells wonderful!

 

[Etienne]

Hi, Caledonia! I was thinking of something similar the other day... using clear, round boxes for my hats. Does anyone know where they could be purchased! I'm going to scour the internet for them because my hubby just built a new shelf in our closet for me and I used it to store all of my handbags. I bought a whole lot of clear plastic and made envelope style bags for each of my purses and then lined them up on the shelf. SO much easier to see each of them and select one! Now I have a whole new shelf for my hats and I want to protect them from dust, etc. and thought that clear boxes would be wonderful. Anyone know of a source?