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Hats in the DC area

4.7K views 12 replies 10 participants last post by  Brio1  
#1 ·
So I am not a hat person, and I never have been. Despite being bald (since 23) I have never enjoyed covering my head. Even with a well fitted baseball hat, I tend to suffocate wearing hats.

However, the one exception is winter. When it gets cold, the only thing better than a hat is an over-coat, and only just.

When I'm dressing casually in winter, I usually just wear a wool knit cap. They may not be the prettiest, but they sure keep the noggin warm.

I am looking, however, for something a little nicer that I can wear when going to a meeting. Something along the lines of a trilby, fedora, etc.

Does anyone know any hat stores in the DC area? I have a rather large head, and would like to try on the article prior to buying it. I've tried the macey's, bloomies, etc approach but haven't found something appropriate.

--Me
 
#2 ·
A quick poke around The Fedora Lounge revealed a few hat stores in area. Mainstream stores have long ago abandoned the men's hat.

The Georgetown Hattery sounded pretty good.

I am a bit of a hat guy and hope you are up for spending a bit on a nice hat. Generally, a nice-ish fedora will run around $150. Ideally you want felt, not wool. The hat should be sized to your head (e.g. 7 5/8, 7 1/2)- not S M L XL

Wool is to men's dress hats what polyester is to dress shirts.
 
#3 ·
A quick poke around The Fedora Lounge revealed a few hat stores in area. Mainstream stores have long ago abandoned the men's hat.

The Georgetown Hattery sounded pretty good.

I am a bit of a hat guy and hope you are up for spending a bit on a nice hat. Generally, a nice-ish fedora will run around $150. Ideally you want felt, not wool. The hat should be sized to your head (e.g. 7 5/8, 7 1/2)- not S M L XL

Wool is to men's dress hats what polyester is to dress shirts.
Oh, I am absolutely about felt. That is the problem. I took a few ganders online but all I found was wool or cheaper. I'd like a nice hat that would last a lifetime (but wouldn't make my wife divorce me for buying it. So around $150 is just fine.

--Me
 
#4 ·
Oh, I am absolutely about felt. That is the problem. I took a few ganders online but all I found was wool or cheaper. I'd like a nice hat that would last a lifetime (but wouldn't make my wife divorce me for buying it. So around $150 is just fine.

--Me
I haven't priced them in awhile, but I believe Stetsons can be had in the $150 range. Not sure of the offerings at the Goergetown Hattery but some of the Fedora Lounge people said it was pretty good.

Aside from size, the "block" of a given hat is also important. It's good to try them on and see which "clicks" on your head. Best advice I can give is you'll know it when you see it. Might be wise to take wife with you.
 
#6 ·
I actually obtained a VERY nice all wool fedora hat in chocolate brown from Paul Fredrick. It is waterproof I think. And I got it on clearance for about $30 plus delivery. Its going on about 2 years old and still looks brand new. Best of all, its made in USA!
 
#9 ·
I found a Gore-Tex/Wool driving cap that I wear in colder weather that works well for me. It also has flaps that fold down to cover my ears in the worst weather. Got it from Sierra Trading Post. Looking for a nicer straw fedora for summer (my cheapie died on my California trip), as well as a wool/felt fedora or trilby. Don't like to have to wear hats, but sometimes the weather or sun force the issue.
 
#13 ·
Hats In The Belfry is well known and has been around at least 30 years. They closed the Georgetown store, but still have two stores in Baltimore, one in Annapolis, and one in Philadelphia. Also in Baltimore there is Hippodrome Hatters, , another well known store which according to their website has been around since 1930.
Thanks, I will visit them the next time that I'm in Baltimore.