L'ENTRETIEN DU CHAPEAU

From daily maintenance to restoring your hats
Hats are precious objects, which hold a very special place in our wardrobe and also in our hearts. Whether it is a fashion accessory (timeless), a theatrical accessory (necessarily magical), or a heirloom (always moving), each hat carries a story and connects us to a heritage, that of fashion, that of the imagination, that of our ancestors. Here are some practical tips to help you take care of this special object and make it almost eternal.
Daily maintenance of the hat.
First of all, where to store your hat when it's not on your head?
To prevent your hat from deforming, Geneviève Parois advises you to hang it on a coat rack or on the wall, which will also give style to your home. Some recommend putting your hat on its crown, that is to say turned over rather than laying it flat as we would tend to do. If you have space, it is best to place it in a hatbox, placed upside down on its cap, all wrapped in tissue paper.

Caring for felt hats

 

 

 The indispensable

soft bristle brush

makeup sponge

talcum powder or cornstarch

tissue paper felt hat waterproofing spray

Absolute prohibitions

machine washing

liquid cleansers

 

Interview n 1. The basee

Get a soft-bristled brush. Starting from the top of the crown and in the circular direction of the hat, make a counter-clockwise movement. If you don't have a brush, you can also use a moistened sponge, to be used gently so as not to crush the fibers of the hat. To renew as necessary.

Interview n2. Taskss

In the event of greasy stains or traces of foundation, dust the stain lightly with talcum powder or corn starch, then brush gently with your soft-bristled brush, always counterclockwise. 'a watch. For the inside of the hat, to prevent the "grosgrain", i.e. the finishing strip placed at the entrance to the head, from getting dirty with use, Geneviève Parois recommends sewing a " tacking", another strip of coarse grain over about twenty centimeters. It will be enough to change this band when it is dirty and your hat is thus always intact.

Interview n3. The raine

If you've taken a lot of rain, first shake your hat to get rid of the water, then stuff it with tissue paper to restore its shape. Let it get a makeover in the ambient air (avoid drying with a hair dryer, for example). Once dry, dampen it with a burst of steam from your steam iron (steam iron recommended), then gently brush it back to its former glory.

Interview n4. Deformed or dented capé

The water vapor softens your hat and gives it a new look. It will then be easy to reform it by hand. Place it 2 to 3 minutes above a kettle. Let your felt hat sit for 30 seconds and then begin to gently reshape it. If you do not feel like embarking on this manipulation, Geneviève Parois offers this service.

The different qualities of a felt hat.
Under the name "felt hat", we find distinct materials and various qualities. Here are some elements to help you find your way around and above all not to be disappointed. of your purchase. An informed buyer is worth two.
The choice of materials.
Wool felt or fur felt (we call that a "taupé" in our jargon), ... what a difference?
Wool felt is a textile made from wool fibers, it is a non-woven fabric, born from the friction of wool with hot water, it does not fray and has a lifespan. relatively long. It holds up well to wear and keeps its colors. If you are looking for a high quality hat, turn instead to a fur felt, the taupé. The manufacturing process is the same as that of wool felt, it is largely the quality of the pile that will make the difference. Rabbit hair offers lightweight hats that are very resistant to deformation and withstand the rain very well. Beaver hair felts are even more quality and light. The price will be a little less, necessarily, but your hat will accompany you throughout your life.
The quality of a felt hat is distinguished by the density of the felt itself. The tighter the fibers and the shinier the appearance of the hat, the less it will deform and the less susceptible it will be to stains and rain.

The maintenance of straw hats

 

 

The indispensable

soft bristle brush

clean cloth

silk paper

 The absolute prohibitions

machine washing

liquid cleansers

 

Straw or any vegetable matter are sensitive materials, which require a little consideration. The first rule is to remember to dust your hat regularly with a soft-bristled brush. Next, remember that your hat needs moisture. Without this, the straw while drying may break. This is particularly true for Panama hats, which are not used to our continental climate. To do this, place your straw hat in a humid room such as a bathroom and/or spray it with water using a clothes steamer or iron, or even a steamer. thermal water diffuser.

In case of stain on your straw hat, you can use a clean cloth - which you have previously moistened - and rub gently. Be careful not to insist too much if the stain is tough, you risk irreparably damaging your straw hat. You got caught in a summer storm No worries. Just shake your hat to remove excess water and let it air dry. Above all, do not use too intense a heat source such as a hair dryer..