What is the average hat size for men?

The average men's hat size in the UK is 59 cm, typically a size Large. Measuring your head ensures the most accurate fit.

How do I measure my head for a hat?

Use a soft tape measure and measure around your head just above the ears and across the forehead. Keep the tape level and snug to determine your size in centimetres.

A flat cap is a rounded cap with a small stiff brim at the front, traditionally associated with British heritage style.

What is the difference between a fedora and a trilby?

A fedora typically has a wider brim and softer shape, while a trilby features a shorter brim and a taller crown, offering a sleeker silhouette.

Can a felt hat get wet?

Felt hats are naturally water-resistant but should not be exposed to heavy rain for extended periods. Allow them to dry naturally at room temperature.

Do you offer in-store collection?

Yes, orders can be collected from our London, Cambridge, or Oxford stores within 3-5 working days.

5 Long-term Storage Methods for Panama Hats, Bakerboy and Flat Caps

April 8, 2026

Whether you favour a Panama hat for summer shade, a bakerboy cap for smart-casual occasions, or the classic flat cap, hats can lose shape and substance more swiftly than many anticipate. Sun, moisture and body oils, together with improper storage, will crease crowns, flatten brims and weaken straw or felt, leaving a once-proud hat looking tired.

This guide explains how to care for hats: assessing construction and vulnerable points; removing stains and conditioning straw, felt and fabric; supporting crowns and brims with internal stuffing and gentle reshaping; choosing breathable storage while managing humidity, light and pests; and packing for travel or long-term stowage with regular inspection. Follow these practical, time-tested techniques to preserve shape and materials so your caps and hats, from a bakerboy cap or flat cap to a fedora, remain wearable and ready season after season.

The image shows a close-up portrait of a man looking to his right. He is wearing a light gray flat cap and a dark brown collared jacket over a white shirt. The background is mostly a bright, out-of-focus light source with a vertical black frame and a hint of a brick wall on the far right edge.

1. Assess materials, millinery construction and likely points of wear

Begin with a careful examination of materials and construction. Note the straw type and weave on Panama hats, the fibre and nap of felt, and the fabric and lining used in bakerboy caps and flat caps. Check the composition of brims, whether canvas, buckram or wired, and inspect sweatbands for leather or fabric, and whether seams are hand-sewn or glued. Inspect common failure points methodically. Look for salt staining and flaking on sweatbands, fraying or exposed wire at brim edges, loose stitches in seams, and thinning or crushed padding in crowns. Photograph and annotate each area to create a record for future comparison. Carry out non-destructive handling checks with a light, practiced touch. Gently lift the crown, flex the brim, press any lining pockets and smell for mustiness to reveal brittleness, delamination, hidden tears or retained moisture. Avoid wetting, aggressive pulling or any action that could cause further damage. Use these observations to determine support and padding requirements, humidity control measures and appropriate handling protocols.

Record material-specific vulnerabilities, noting straw that becomes brittle or soft in humid conditions, felt that pills or develops mildew, wool that sheds loose fibres and leather trims that dry out or become greasy. Use these observations to set relative humidity targets, pest-management measures and appropriate internal supports. Compile a concise condition report with photographs from multiple angles, measurements of brim width and crown height, and an itemised list of stains, repairs and provenance, flagging pieces that require urgent conservation. Match each hat, whether a flat cap, bakerboy cap or bowler, to a suitable support, isolation method and monitoring schedule so shape and materials are preserved for the long term.

Brush gently to restore and protect felt nap.

The image shows a man in a tan or light brown jacket and a light-colored baseball cap, viewed from the side. He is indoors, likely in a workshop or storage area, with industrial-looking orange metal shelves in the background holding various items, including other hats mounted on stands. The man appears to be handling or inspecting a dark-colored cap. Steam or smoke rises near the man, suggesting some processing or manufacturing activity happening. The setting is softly lit with warm tones, and the camera angle is at eye level capturing a medium shot of the man and surrounding environment.

2. Remove stains and restore straw, felt and fabric

Begin by identifying each hat's material: inspect the weave, feel the nap and check inner labels to distinguish toquilla straw, wool felt and woven fabrics. Before treating any visible area, perform a patch test on an inconspicuous seam or the underside to check for colour run, shrinkage or fibre distortion. That test will indicate which cleaners and techniques are safe and help avoid irreversible harm to the crown, brim or lining of a Panama, bakerboy cap or flat cap. A material-led approach ensures you choose the gentlest effective method.

To lift grease and sweat stains, begin with a dry powder such as talc or cornflour, pressing gently with a soft brush or cloth and repeating until no residue transfers, since powders absorb oil without resorting to harsh solvents that can discolour straw or felt. Use controlled moisture or gentle steam to relax the fibres of wool felt and straw, then reshape the crown and brim on a hat block, a rolled towel or your hand so the softened fibres set without stretching. Spot-clean with solutions suited to the material: dilute white vinegar for felt to neutralise mould and odours, a mild detergent for woven fabrics, and an alcohol-based solvent for ink only after testing an inconspicuous area. Always blot rather than rub to avoid spreading stains or raising the nap. Finish by cleaning sweatbands and trims with a soft cloth, treating leather bands with a pH-balanced cleaner and a light conditioner to maintain suppleness, and removing moisture from fabric bands by blotting rather than wringing to preserve shape.

Maintain felt nap with a gentle, one-direction brush.

3. Support crowns and brims with subtle interior padding and precise shaping

When storing hats, fill the crown with breathable, inert materials such as acid-free tissue, undyed cotton muslin or cotton batting to buffer acidity, help prevent yellowing in straw Panama hats and permit airflow, which reduces the risk of mould compared with sealed plastics. Use shaped internal supports sized to the headpiece, for example a lightweight millinery block or a custom-shaped foam form to preserve the crown of a Panama hat, while low-profile oval shapers maintain the shallow dome of a flat cap or bakerboy cap. Properly contoured supports distribute pressure evenly so fibres retain their original silhouette, and reversible, fabric-covered forms allow gentle adjustment during inspections. Rotate and loosen stuffing periodically to avoid permanent pressure points, and inspect the hat for early signs of fibre stress or pest activity.

Support brims and peaks with rolled or flat inserts. Tightly roll acid-free tissue along the brim edge to preserve its curve, or slide a fabric-covered stiff insert beneath the peak of a bakerboy cap to prevent curling while leaving the crown undisturbed. Pad the sweatband and panel seams with a soft tubular cloth, and tuck small fabric wedges into the panels to preserve head size, retain the bakerboy’s eight-panel silhouette and keep the central button at the correct height without creating creases. Ensure all inserts are removable and breathable; use loose tissue when reshaping or airing the hat, and rotate the stuffing in storage to maintain form and to reveal any early signs of wear.

Slip small inserts inside panels to maintain shape.

The image shows a vintage hat stretcher made of wood positioned on a round metallic surface. A blue fedora-style hat is placed on top of the stretcher. The background is a hat store with shelves filled with various hats, which are mostly out of focus and appear in monochrome. Lighting comes from overhead light fixtures that are visible in the upper portion of the image. The photo is primarily in black and white except for the blue hat, which is highlighted in color.

4. Choose breathable storage and guard against humidity, light and pests

Store hats in breathable containers and on gentle supports to preserve the shape of crown and brim. Opt for cotton hat bags, ventilated hat boxes or open shelving lined with acid-free tissue or a soft hat form. Avoid airtight plastic, which traps moisture and can crush Panama straw, and place a reusable desiccant or clay moisture absorber together with a humidity indicator inside storage to keep conditions steady rather than allowing prolonged damp or bone-dry air. Sudden swings in relative humidity can make straw brittle or swollen and may distort wool bakerboy caps and flat caps or encourage mould.

Protect hats from light without stifling their fibres by storing them out of direct sunlight and using opaque, breathable covers or a shaded cupboard to prevent UV-driven fading and fibre breakdown. Gently brush or spot-clean sweat and food residues, and keep wool caps away from unwashed garments. Place natural sachets of cedar or lavender nearby rather than in direct contact, since pests are drawn to protein and oil residues. Avoid tight stacking and heavy compression; allow gentle air circulation and rotate hats in storage so shapes do not crease and plaiting remains intact. Inspect items regularly for mould, insect activity or loss of shape so they can be reshaped or dried promptly to prevent permanent damage to millinery such as bakerboy caps, flat caps and Panama hats.

Use a gentle one-way brush to preserve hat nap.

The image shows two white cloth drawstring bags placed on a surface. A person's hands, one visible on the left and another on the right, are tying the drawstrings of one bag. The person is wearing a gray long-sleeve shirt. In the background, there is a woven basket and a glass bottle with a silver cap containing a dark liquid. The scene is well-lit with soft, natural or diffused light and is framed closely to focus on the hands and bags.

Image by Sarah Chai on Pexels

5. Pack for travel and long-term storage, inspect and rotate periodically

Before packing, gently surface-clean dust and perspiration and allow natural fibres to dry completely. Support the crown and brim with acid-free tissue or a soft cloth; a properly dried, supported crown will resist collapse and material distortion caused by trapped moisture and weight. Stuffing prevents permanent creases in Panama straw and helps maintain the puffed crown of a bakerboy cap. Choose a breathable, shaped container such as a rigid hat box, a firm-sided luggage compartment or a padded travel insert rather than sealed plastic. Line the brim with a layer of soft fabric and place rolled tissue under the crown to distribute pressure. Breathable protection reduces humidity buildup that leads to warping and mould in straw, and prevents wool felting in flat caps.

Tailor the packing technique to each hat style. Never fold or crush a Panama crown; pack the hat brim-side down with the crown gently filled to support its shape. For bakerboy caps and flat caps follow the seam lines and protect peaks with soft padding. When specialist equipment is unavailable, fill crowns with socks or lightweight garments to preserve structure during transit. Manage moisture and pests without chemicals by including neutral desiccant sachets for humidity control and cedar or lavender sachets in breathable pouches. Inspect packing after transport for any risk of condensation. Photograph each hat before stowage and check periodically for odour, staining, insect activity or deformation. Rotate positions to redistribute pressure and, when restoration is needed, re-stuff gently or apply distant, controlled steam using a millinery block or your hands. Regular checks catch problems early and gentle reshaping will often restore the original form.

Careful assessment, gentle cleaning, supportive internal shaping, breathable storage and routine inspection will help preserve the shape and materials of Panama hats, bakerboy caps and flat caps. Attending to each material's particular vulnerabilities, from delicate toquilla straw to soft wool felt, prevents brittleness, mould and set creases before minor issues become irreversible.

Treat the five headings as a simple checklist: assess, clean, support, store and pack. Apply targeted care to crowns, brims, sweatbands and trims. Photograph each hat, alternate wear and inspect periodically to spot early signs of wear, and restore shape with gentle hand reshaping so hats, from bakerboy caps to flat caps and formal styles, remain wearable and ready when required.

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