How to Buy a Felt Hat Without Trying It On

A hat that fits disappears. A hat that does not fit is all you think about. Buying one online comes down to a single number.

1. Measure where the hat sits.

Wrap a soft tape around your head about a finger's width above your ears and across the middle of your forehead. Keep it snug, not tight. No soft tape? Use a string and lay it against a ruler.

2. Read it in centimeters.

Our Gigi Pip felt hats are sized by head measurement: XS is 55 cm, S/M is 57, M/L is 59, and XL is 61.

3. Between sizes? Go up.

A hat that is a little loose can be snugged up. A hat that is tight stays tight. Measure twice before you order.

4. Pick the shape.

The Lane has a brick crown and comes in cream, brown, dark brown and black. The Dean is a rancher, offered in coffee, chocolate, tan, black, vintage blue and burgundy. Both make a fine gift if you know the number. If you do not, measure around the inside band of a hat they already wear.

Measure once. Wear it for years.