Storing hats

[Jeff M]

Was reading up on storing hats in their boxes. Came across recommendations to use tissue paper in the crown, and one site that noted to "remove creases from hat before storing".

Why the tissue paper? To maintain the crown shape? If so, I take it enough is used to fill the crown fairly well?

And anybody here remove the crease from their hats if storing them in hat boxes (long term I would assume)?

 

[jlee562]

I always assumed the tissue paper was more for "padding" between the crown and the box itself, rather than as something to maintain shape.

 

[danofarlington]

Was reading up on storing hats in their boxes. Came across recommendations to use tissue paper in the crown, and one site that noted to "remove creases from hat before storing".

Why the tissue paper? To maintain the crown shape? If so, I take it enough is used to fill the crown fairly well?

And anybody here remove the crease from their hats if storing them in hat boxes (long term I would assume)?

I don't really know if that's necessary--I don't keep my hats in boxes because I have many and boxes would force me into inordinate space for them--but I can tell you one use of tissue paper: On dark colored hats, if you keep them out in rooms with a lot of use, they get coated with a layer of white dust that dulls the luster. I guess you can brush it off, which I haven't done yet, but this became clear to me buying a new chocolate brown Borsalino recently and comparing it to an older one I have of the same color, which has a layer of white dust and compared to the new one looks really dusty. Rooms that are used a lot catch dust, which apparently comes from skin cells of people. Anyway from now on I'm putting Saran wrap or tissue paper or something over the dark-colored hats every time.

 

[Aureliano]

I keep mine in boxes, tissue paper at the bottom so the crown doen't rest directly on the cardboard.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Filling the crown with tissue paper, especially an open crown, will help maintain the crown shape if the box get squeezed or jolted during storage. But this mentality also reflects an expectation of a long storage period (such as for an entire season) without being checked.

Taking out a crease for storage is not necessary at all, unless you like changing the crease often. The longer it sits in a specific crease, the harder it is to alter. I have one hat right now that I uncrease between wearings simply because I'm not sure how I want it yet. If you think your tastes might change while the hat is storage, that's a good reason to pop it out.

I store my hats in boxes even between wearings, and in off-seasons I take them out to inspect from time to time (especially if they get bumped or fall over). I check for signs of moths and excessive moisture at least once a month, so no hat goes unattended for very long.

 

[danofarlington]

I check for signs of moths and excessive moisture at least once a month, so no hat goes unattended for very long.

Are moths a real concern with hats? I have a number of hats but am unaware of any moth damage. I thought fur felt would be impervious to such bugs.

 

[zetwal]

Are moths a real concern with hats? I thought fur felt would be impervious to such bugs.

Moths do love fur felt hats and will damage them in the right conditions.

 

[Jeff M]

Thanks all for the information.

 

[danofarlington]

Moths do love fur felt hats and will damage them in the right conditions.

What do you do about it?

 

[Not-Bogart13]

A good way to fend them off is to put a couple of cedar balls in the box with the hat. That will also help fend off that musty "storage odor" that off-season clothing often gets.

Look very closely at you hats. If you see any little pock marks or divets, it may be a moth nibble.

 

[fluteplayer07]

Majorly fftopic: , but I just realized what your username spells! Dan of Arlington! Wow--took me long enough... Back to your guys' regular programing.

 

[danofarlington]

A good way to fend them off is to put a couple of cedar balls in the box with the hat. That will also help fend off that musty "storage odor" that off-season clothing often gets.

Look very closely at you hats. If you see any little pock marks or divets, it may be a moth nibble.

You keep every hat in a separate box?

 

[jlee562]

You keep every hat in a separate box?

It's not really wise to "stack" hats, as this can affect the ribbon.

 

[fluteplayer07]

Yeah, the oils from the sweatbands can stain the felt and ribbon of the next hat.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

You keep every hat in a separate box?

Absolutely. Stacking hats is not good, especially for long periods of time. I treat hats like suits - every suit gets it's own hanger and bag, so every hat gets it's own box.

My collection has grown since this was taken, and it does not include my straws...

 

[danofarlington]

Absolutely. Stacking hats is not good, especially for long periods of time. I treat hats like suits - every suit gets it's own hanger and bag, so every hat gets it's own box.

My collection has grown since this was taken, and it does not include my straws...

Wow, that's a lot of space occupied. I have never done that. But I might now--just bought a dark brown Borsalino and the difference in color between it and the ones I've had for years is great. The new one really glows in comparison, the color is so much better. I guess dust is the enemy, which I had not counted on. Also, had I done that with my $900 Borsalino Panama fedora from Village Hat Shop before the dog or one of my children would not have stepped on it that time, and I wouldn't have had to get it reblocked. I guess I'll have to find a place for a lot of boxes, easily accessible.

 

[JimWagner]

I use an acid free tissue paper in my hat boxes. It helps cut down on discoloration (yellowing) of the fabrics and felts. For my better lighter colored hats I also use acid free boxes for the same reason.

 

[danofarlington]

I use an acid free tissue paper in my hat boxes. It helps cut down on discoloration (yellowing) of the fabrics and felts. For my better lighter colored hats I also use acid free boxes for the same reason.

You mean you put every hat in tissue, inside the hat box, or where do you place the tissue paper? That seems like a lot of protection. But if I cave in and do that, where do you buy acid free tissue paper, and acid free boxes? And are your boxes hat boxes with that hole in the middle shelf, or do you just use regular boxes, and it doesn't matter?

 

[JimWagner]

You mean you put every hat in tissue, inside the hat box, or where do you place the tissue paper? That seems like a lot of protection. But if I cave in and do that, where do you buy acid free tissue paper, and acid free boxes? And are your boxes hat boxes with that hole in the middle shelf, or do you just use regular boxes, and it doesn't matter?

My acid free boxes and tissue came from http://www.shopbrodart.com/shop/cb/p...aspx?pgid=3099

Not cheap by any means. I don't have inserts in them. I only have 4 of those boxes and use them for my most expensive hats only. Ones I don't wear every day and want to keep in pristine condition.

Depending on the hats in question I can place a couple of hats in each of those boxes. When I do that I place tissue around each hat and in the crowns and make sure nothing is crushed or deformed.

Even in regular hat boxes I'll use that acid free tissue to prevent direct contact between the hat and any cardboard. I don't know if that helps or not with preventing acid staining in those boxes, but it can't hurt.

As as been pointed out, boxes take up a lot of room.

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

I have alot of vintage hats. What I do is store them in hat boxes, some hats can be stored 2 or even 3 in a box. I put acid-free tissue paper between them, and I stack the boxes in a portable closet, as can be seen here:

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/movingShippingStorage/homeStorage?Ntt=closet&productId=10023924

I have alot of 30s and 40s pancake/tilt/cartwheel hats so I can store about 5-8 of those in 1 box.