Hat store

Today the virtue of the hat has been lost. Once upon a time, every red blooded American had a hat. Men, rich or poor, always had at least one. Women had hats for every occasion. Big wide brimmed floppy hats, mini-top hats, hats made of velvet, ones made of feathers, hats with little nets on them, others with massive flower adornments two feet tall. The hat was said to make the man and to distinguish the woman. Respectability often meant, among other attributes, the possession of a hat.

Then, no Main Street was without a hat store. The milliner was considered both a craftsman and an artist and the store was a place to display that artistry. Today, you won't find a hat store on Main Street nor at the mall. You'll have to look off the main shopping strips or in some small tourist town where nostalgia is the main attraction.

While you're not likely to find a hat store in your own community, this is not always true for those who live in places in the United States where the western style is still in vogue. Cowboy hats, Stetsons and similar styles still entrance the western wear devotee, such that public demand justifies a specialty hat store. Here you'll find a wide variety of cowboy style hats like those seen in western movies or on western politicians and cattle ranchers. Don't expect to find a fedora in such a store or one with feathers and bows.

When you do find a hat store with variety, you'll find a little treasure trove of delights, a place of possibilities for self-expression and personal distinction. Like the milliners of past years, you'll find limited but distinctive selections, unlike the department store mass market offerings.

When you enter the store, the first thing you'll see are head manikins with hats. Mirrors and flattering lighting brighten the displays, the better for you to view yourself and your choices of hats. The hat store usually has knowledgeable salespeople willing to help, but not the pushy types. They'll be able to help you with fitting, hat pins, hat boxes and the like.

Remember, things like face shape, hair length and style play into how a particular hat looks on you. Don't hesitate to ask the sales person how it appears on you. The store is anxious to sell you a hat, but will also want you to be pleased with your choice so that you'll return.

Today, a hat store that emulates the hat stores of yesterday is a place where the love of style and individuality have survived, where the old-fashioned standards of quality and craftsmanship are still valued. These are the qualities that characterize those who never stopped loving hats. As long as hat lovers exist, we can expect hat stores to exist as well. Let us hope so at least.

When you find your dream hat, don't hesitate to make your purchase. A well-chosen hat is a fine thing indeed!

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