All Hats

Hats have served human beings for at least five thousand years — the earliest known hat appears on a Bronze Age rock carving in Valcamonica, Italy, dated to approximately 3000 BCE. They were designed before writing was standardised, before the wheel was widely adopted, before organised agriculture dominated the ancient world. The reason is practical: the human head is among the most exposed and most thermally significant parts of the body. In cold, an uncovered head loses a disproportionate amount of body heat. In sun, an uncovered head and face receive the full force of UV radiation. A hat — any hat — addresses both problems simultaneously.

What the hat category encompassed over those five millennia is extraordinary in its diversity. The cloche of 1920s Paris. The tricorne of 18th-century naval Europe. The pith helmet of Victorian imperialism. The fedora of American film noir. The top hat of the Industrial Revolution. The porkpie of 1950s jazz. The beanie of 20th-century winter sport. Each silhouette was shaped by specific climate, culture, technology and social meaning — and each has survived into the present in some form, because a good hat solves its problem so completely that it requires no replacement.

Hatloom's full hat collection brings together every major brimmed hat category — fedoras, trilbies, panama hats, cowboy hats, sun hats, porkpie hats, bowler hats, cloche hats, bucket hats, beanies, trapper hats, straw hats and more — for men and women who understand that the right hat is not an accessory. It is the punctuation of an outfit.

Hat Styles by Season and Use

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right hat for my face shape?

Oval faces suit most hat silhouettes — they are proportionally balanced and complement the widest range of brims and crowns. Round faces benefit from hats with height in the crown (fedoras, trilby hats) and moderate brim width — adding vertical proportion to a circular face. Square faces suit softer, more rounded crowns — fedoras and bucket hats — rather than angular structured brims. Long or narrow faces benefit from wider brims that add horizontal width: wide-brim fedoras, sun hats and panama hats with full brims work well.

What is the difference between a hat and a cap?

A hat has a crown that rises noticeably above the head and typically a brim extending all the way around the circumference. A cap has a low, close-fitting crown with a brim or peak at the front only. The distinction is not absolute — bucket hats and beanies blur the boundary — but in general: hats are more formal and more structurally complex; caps are more casual and close-fitting. Both categories serve the same primary functions: sun protection, thermal insulation and social signalling.

How do you store hats properly?

Store hats on a hat stand, hat hook or in a hat box — never resting on the brim (which causes permanent deformation) or stacked under other items. Felt hats benefit from a hat box to protect the brim from dust and being bent. Straw hats should be stored in a cool, dry place away from moisture. Leather hats should be kept away from direct sunlight, which dries and fades the hide. Beanies and knit hats can be folded and stored flat. The single most important rule: never rest a brimmed hat face-down on the brim.

What hat is best for rain?

For rain protection, wool felt fedoras and cowboy hats perform well — dense wool felt naturally repels light to moderate rain and maintains its shape when wet. Waxed cotton bucket hats and packable nylon rain hats offer full waterproofing for sustained rain. Straw hats should be kept dry — prolonged moisture weakens toquilla and palm fibre weaves. Leather hats are rain-resistant with proper conditioning but should not be exposed to heavy or sustained rain. For everyday UK or Northern European weather, a quality wool felt fedora or waterproofed cotton bucket hat are the most practical choices.

What hat is best for cold weather?

For cold weather, the warmest hat options are: trapper hats (shearling earflap coverage, rated to −30°C), beanies in merino or thick wool (versatile, very warm for their weight), and fur-felt fedoras or wool-felt cowboy hats (structured warmth with brim wind protection). The cold-weather hat that provides the best combination of warmth and style is typically a high-quality wool or merino knit beanie paired with a wool-felt brimmed hat for outdoor use. Trapper hats provide unmatched warmth for sustained extreme cold above all other hat options.

How do you measure your hat size?

Measure the circumference of your head approximately 1 cm above your ears and eyebrows — the widest part of the skull. This measurement in centimetres is your head circumference. Convert to hat size: 54 cm = size 6 3/4, 56 cm = size 7, 58 cm = size 7 1/4, 60 cm = size 7 1/2, 62 cm = size 7 3/4. When between sizes, choose the smaller size for felt hats (wool felt stretches slightly with wear) and the larger size for straw hats (straw does not stretch). Adjustable hats accommodate a range of approximately 2–3 cm.