Where do summer hats go when the weather turns nippy? Do they fly south with the birds and butterflies or do they go to ground and nap until spring, dreaming of horse races and teas? For the visual alone, I’d like to believe that hats are migratory; however, if my pretty summer hats don’t rise and fly this fall, I want to be prepared to tuck them away myself. So, I consulted a conservator, an expert in the art of preserving vintage clothing. Here’s what I found out about the proper way to store hats.
1) First inspect your hat for dirt or makeup stains. If you have just worn the hat, make sure it is no longer damp from sweat or weather. Hats should be both clean and dry before storing. Each of our hats arrives with a hat care tip sheet. If you have questions on cleaning your hat, your please feel free to contact us at polly@hatsandveils.net. Also, see blog entitled “Hold on to your Hat” for general guidelines on hat care.
2) Rule number 1: Store your hat in a box, preferably the box that it came in. If your hat is a Polly Singer design it will have come in a perfect box. Because our hats travel all over the world, hat box design and construction is something that Polly refuses to skimp on. We have our boxes custom made with strength and durability as the main considerations. If you have lost or damaged your hat’s original box, contact us about ordering a replacement.
3) Organise your collection. Allow adequate space for the storage of each hat and do not stack them on top of one another. Polly Singer boxes are made in a variety of sizes so that every hat goes out in the perfect sized container. If a box is too small, the hat may be permanently bent or crumpled, too large and the hat may move around too much. The too large hat box also invites the unwise attempt to pack more than one hat to a box.
4) Store with support. Make a simple support for storing hats from acid-free tissue fashioned into sausages and wads and used to pad out and support the shape of the hat. Hats should not be stored resting solely on their brim, as in time the crown will sink and become distorted down under its own weight or that of the trimmings.
Often, especially when Derby weather predictions are dire, we pack plastic bags in the bottom of our hat boxes. They’re meant to be tucked in your handbag or pocket on inclement days as emergency hat protection and are not intended to house the hat long term. Plastic (polyethylene sheets or bags) should never be used for long term storage, as it attracts dust and can trap insects, mould and dampness around the object. Instead use acid free materials (storage boxes and tissue).
Good storage conditions and adequate support for fragile and weak items will help ensure the stability of an object and will slow down its degradation. Store these items in the dark, and try to maintain a stable, non-fluctuating environment with even temperature and humidity not too damp or dry.
Our hats are made of the finest materials and all the trim is sewn on by hand because we believe a Polly Singer hat is an investment in your wardrobe and is meant to last for many, many seasons.
