|
|
♦Find
cap racks here. But if you own
hats, such as a Stetson cowboy hat, a cheap floppy straw hat or even a more
expensive Panama hat, then you'll need something beyond just a cap holder. You
want your hats to maintain shape and if possible, be dust-free. Hence the hat
box.
♦While you can store a lot of
goodies in a cylindrical shaped hat box, they are originally for hat storage. If
you don't wear your special hats daily, you'll definitely want to store them in
hat boxes, which often come in fashionable patterns and colors. ♦Take a photo of each
hat and tape it to the outside of the hat
box so you'll know what hat is in each box. Or hang it on the box with a string
or piece of yarn pulled through a hole you punch in the photo or label. Then stack the boxes on your top
closet shelf. You'll immediately know by the photos which box you need when you
need it. A small stepstool should help you get to it easily without pulling all
of the hat boxes onto your head, literally.
♦If you're looking for more hat boxes, try the
Container Store . They used to sell a "clear hat box" that you can see the
contents through, which I don't see any more. But they also sell typical classic
hat boxes made from recycled fiberboard. The last time I looked they sold a set
of three round ones with lids with ribbon ties (Classic Hat Boxes - Set of 3) made of
recycled fiberboard and some cheaper square white hat boxes with string handles
made of recycled paper. Things change and I can't keep up with retailer
inventory but that store is one place to start your search for hat storage
boxes.
♦Of course,
if possible keep the original hat box that comes with your new hat. But if you
bought a vintage hat secondhand, you may understandably not have the original
hat box.
♦Even though it saves space, refrain from stacking nice hats onto each other,
especially if they're unique expensive hats (however, if you have five less
important and identical floppy straw hats from the drugstore, by all means
stack away).
♦And don't store hats on their brims if you want to maintain their
original shape. Store a hat on its crown.
♦Stores sell more expensive hat boxes, even ones you can pack your hats into for
travel, especially stores that specialize in hats. For instance, look at the
"hat accessories" sections here:
http://www.millerhats.com.
♦Also, when you buy a nice hat, try to learn about its proper care. You may need
to pick your hat up by a certain part, not expose it to excessive sun (such as
by leaving it for long periods on the car seat exposed to the sun) or follow
other care tips. It really depends on the material that comprises the hat and
also how important the hat is to you. If it's a favorite and unique hat that you
want forever, research its proper care, handling and storage. If it's just a $5
ordinary straw hat style that you wear to garden, it's easily replaced every
couple of years and sold by many stores. In fact, some floppy straw hats are
sold in a material that you can crumple and stuff into a beach bag. They easily
pop back open for wearing and are still in the shape they're supposed to be in.
♦And if you're really frugal but still need a proper hat box, consider making one
from a sturdy and deep used rectangular or square box. You can dress up the
outside of the box with contact paper from the dollar store. Thread some
makeshift yarn or fabric handles through neat holes you make in the box or by
gluing a piece of an old leather belt strap to the outside. Don't forget to add
some moth protection. You don't want your hat box to end up in better shape than
you hat! And don't store other boxes on top of your hat box -- unless it's
sturdy enough to hold the weight. Keep it at the top
of the pile of heavier boxes.
|
|
|
