Two crowns cover most of the year, and the choice between them comes down to the weather and the occasion. Here is the short version, the way we would tell it across the counter.
Straw, for summer
Straw is the summer hat. It is woven to breathe, light on the head, and built to throw shade without holding heat. The finer and tighter the weave, the dressier the hat, and the more care it asks in return.
- Woven to breathe in the heat
- Lightest on the head
- Keep it dry, and store it on the crown
Felt, for the rest of the year
Felt is the cooler-weather crown, and for many it is the year-round one. Quality is measured in the fur and the finish, and a good felt is an investment that rewards the seasons.
- Holds a crease and a shape
- Sheds a passing shower
- Shapes to the wearer over time
Fit comes first
Fit matters more than either material. A hat should sit level, hold without pinching, and frame the face rather than swallow it. The right size is the one you forget you are wearing.
What we would suggest
For high summer in the mountains, many reach for straw by day and felt by evening. Come try both on. We will size the hat to your head and shape the brim and crease in the shop, which is the part you cannot get from a page.
