December 14, 2004

3:34 PM

I have a large head. I love hats. I've only ever found one hat that fit my head and didn't look goofy as all get out. One size fits all never does! So... a: Hat store recommendations in NYC? b: Hat styles that don't look ridiculous in x-large?
posted by 4easypayments to (15 comments total)

Are we talking men's or women's hats here?

If it's men's hats, we're talking about, there are some hat shops in Brooklyn that cater to Orthodox Jews, a lot of whom wear hats. They'd probably have a wide variety of sizes, although perhaps not many different styles as you might like. Bencraft is pretty popular.
posted by greatgefilte at 4:01 PM on December 14, 2004

I share your pain, it's immensely hard for me to find a decent hat - even baseball caps tend to be small with the adjusting tab all the way out. My melon like cranium is more than two feet around.

I recently paid about $90.00 (Australian dollars) for a fedora style hat, which was handmade locally from quality rabbit felt. It's extremely comfortable and quite stylish, and I feel it was well worth the money. By pure luck he had had the right size available.

The best advice I can give, not knowing NYC at all, is that it may not be a bad idea to find a milliner who can make you the sort of hat you like, in an appropriate size. The extra money will surely be worth it. Plus, no more `tight hat headaches'!.
posted by tomble at 4:02 PM on December 14, 2004

i have a really small head -- so i have to wear children's caps. sometimes it works out. i guess the other way isn't too easy.

you could always go with a beanie/toque/skullcap, or stuff that's similar. (they make 'em with brims too).
posted by fishfucker at 4:18 PM on December 14, 2004

I have a neat knitted hat that I got a streetfair, if you know anyone who knits you could see if they could make you something cool. Look up pictures of bass guitar legend Jaco Pastorius and you will inevitably see the sort of hat I'm talking about.

Apart from that, despite knowing many people with large heads (a female friend of mine couldn't get a large enough helmet for marching band! She was very Dutch, though, and Dutch people have big heads), I don't know NYC well enough to help you.
posted by dagnyscott at 4:32 PM on December 14, 2004

say no to fedoras
posted by noisia at 5:22 PM on December 14, 2004

I have a smaller head than the standard hat size calls for, but if you're looking for women's hats, The Hat Shop in Soho can custom fit any of the hats they offer. I've been wearing a cloche from there for 3 winters and it has never failed to insulate my head well. If you purchase a hat there, they will also reblock it for free when needed.
posted by shinyj at 5:37 PM on December 14, 2004

There's a men's hat store on Park or Fifth, in midtown--I can't recall the name, offhand, but it's on one of the major avenues running uptown from 42nd in that area. (I haven't been there in like 10 years.)

They have a wide range of hats, in different sizes, and they were great about service--they told me, when I bought the hat there, that even 10-20 years later, I could bring it in, and they would re-steam and re-block it for free. I'm sure they'd be a great place to help you out. (If I could just remember their name.)
posted by LairBob at 6:45 PM on December 14, 2004

_{As long as you're looking for guys' hats...}
posted by LairBob at 6:46 PM on December 14, 2004

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!
(forgot to mention, it's men's hats I'd be looking for)
posted by 4easypayments at 7:29 PM on December 14, 2004

Speaking as another large-headed individual...

...I bought a hat once from Brooks Brothers in my area (not NYC). Their main digs might have a selection.

I've had some minor luck at vintage clothing stores as well.
posted by gimonca at 7:39 PM on December 14, 2004

I know of a few online sources that look promising. Dave Brown Hats (in Rochester) has sizes up to 8 (my medium size noggin is 7 1/4). The Village Hat Shop has up to size 8 as well. I also found a place called the Hat Shop in NYC but the address I found is different - 101 W. 55th Street. On second look, they're called "Worth & Worth" - HatShop is their web site name.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 7:44 PM on December 14, 2004

Man, how is languagehat not all over this like a cheap suit? Anyway, he's praised Worth & Worth in the past.
posted by kenko at 7:48 PM on December 14, 2004

The W&W name sounds familiar, actually, but I'm not sure that's them--this place is definitely on an avenue, not a street (although that sometimes happens with the addresses), but I'm also pretty sure it's a little further downtown, like 45th-50th. (I could swear I just walked by it heading out of Grand Central the other day, and my client's on 49th Street.)
posted by LairBob at 9:56 PM on December 14, 2004

Yeah, I always went to Worth & Worth when I was in the city. Can't help you with the big-head thing, though -- I take a 7 1/8.
posted by languagehat at 8:27 AM on December 15, 2004

LairBob: The hat store you are thinking of might be JJ Hat Center. It is on 5th avenue between 31st and 32nd street. The store is fantastic, i've bought 4 or 5 hats from them over the years and have always had a great time in the store. The staff is really helpful and are really good in helping you find something that looks sharp on you.

And after you buy your hat you can bring it in for the rest of your life to get it steamed for free. I can't say too many good things about them.
posted by lips at 9:21 AM on December 15, 2004