HAT ETIQUETTE

Hats are traditionally worn on the right hand side of the face, a cocktail hat should sit about a finger width above the right eye brow.

SPRING / SUMMER: Straw, and sinamay  hats should be worn.

AUTUMN / WINTER: Felt hats should be worn.

TRANS-SEASONAL: Fabric based hats and feather hats are considered trans-seasonal and can be worn in either summer or winter.

Hats of any material do not like to get wet so make sure you always have an umbrella with you! 

ASCOT ROYAL ENCLOSURE - hats must be worn (however, a headpiece or hatinator with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches / 10cm is acceptable), for the best guide on what to wear to the Royal enclosure - www.ascot.com

PARABUNTAL - the finest quality, lightweight straw.  Most vintage hats were made out of this, but sadly it is hard to come by these days.   

PARASISAL – a smooth fine weave straw made from sisal.

CRINOLIN - in the old days made out of horsehair, it is now a synthetic netting woven into a range of widths. 

SINAMAY - a flat woven straw like material, made in the Philippines from a native species of banana plants, can be used as the base of a hat and the trimming.  

SILK ABACAS - a slightly sheer blend of silk and abaca fibers (from a banana palm), often used in trimmings 

MILLINERY PETERSHAM RIBBON -a ribbed ribbon, made out of cotton.  The scalloped edge allows it to shrunk with steam or hot water. Used for the inside of hats as well as trimmings.

WOOL FELT - 100% sheep’s wool, cheaper, stiffer and coarser than fur felt

PEACHBLOOM FELT - 100% rabbit fur by product.

BLOCKING - the process of molding and fixing millinery material to a hat block,  through the use of steam, heat and pins to form the shape and base of a hat

HAT BLOCK – solid form in the shapes of a hat or headpiece that can be blocked, usually made from wood

COCKTAIL / PERCHER HAT - a small blocked hat, usually finished with petersham ribbon or stretch velvet on the inside

HEAD PIECE- a term widely used for smaller brimless hats, particularly those with small bases.

COUTURE MILLINERY - head wear that is made using the finest materials and involves little or no machine work.  It is hand crafted and hand sewn from start to finish with no factory components