Collecting

Collecting Hats and Hat related collectibles

If you are interested in history, fashion, art, antiques or just collecting, then hats is a good theme to choose. The primary drawback about collecting physical hats is the amount of space and storage boxes you’ll need to keep them in good condition.

Hat collectors are Capellophiles or Millionophiles – both are vying for the official title. Capellophile is a good general hat collector title whereas Millionophile is more suitable for millinery output.

The amount of room you’ll need depends on the kind of hat you wear and/or collect – large fedoras need lots of space whereas baseball caps need less as do flat caps and can be neatly stacked.

If you’re interested in hats but don’t have a lot of space, here are some other collectibles related to hats you might like…

Collecting Hats

You’ll need to learn about your subject to be a good collector and get the best hats for your collection. Good deals can be found at charity shops, eBay, Etsy, online auctions, auction houses, websites, yard sales, car boot sales, and other places once you’ve done your homework.

If you want to distinguish a valuable vintage hat from the mass of good but common vintage hats, you need to be familiar with the history of hats as well as the market for hat collectibles. It’s half the fun and expands your knowledge to research a hat to find out what it means, when it was made, and how much it is worth.

Tips on how to start collecting hats

A focus for your hat collection

Have a think about the focus of your collection rather than just collect random hats. This may take a bit of trial and error and may develop over time. Here’s some ideas on subjects to focus on…

  • Era (20s, Edwardian etc)
  • Style (Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Western etc)
  • Material (straw, felt, fur, feathers etc)
  • Ornamentation (beads, feathers, bows, flowers, fruit etc)
  • Milliner (Designer)
  • Manufacturer (Akubra, Lock & Co.)

Do some research, buy some books, search Google and find what type of hats interest you.

A wearable hat collection

If you are planning to wear your hat collection make sure you are sure about your hat size. To measure your hat size visit our hat sizing page. Find out what kinds of hats look best on you. Keep your size and measurements for reference when you’re shopping on line. If you’re buying on line ask for the inner circumference size since the hat may have shrunk over the years.

Collecting vintage hats

Remember vintage hats are old and you can give it a clean by wiping the inside of the hat and particularly the petersham hat band with a slightly damp sponge or cloth. Any further cleaning may require using a specialist hat cleaner but their services come at a price which may be uneconomical. Hat care and cleaning…

Hat collection storage

When you’re not wearing your hat collection store them in hat boxes if possible. Wrap them in acid-free tissue paper and store in a dark, cool but dry wardrobe. Hats stored in the open tend to fade or risk being damaged by moths. Hat storage information…