When working on costumes for your next production don't overlook the headgear. While, fashion wise, hats are a fringe element these days in the past it has been considered impolite to leave the house without one! Here are a few tips for finding, choosing and caring for hats.
1.Where do I find hats? Baseball caps and sunhats abound but where can you get really good hats? If you have the budget new hats can be had in most communities especially in boutique clothing retailers. Check out your yellow pages for men's shops or even hat shops. Many costume shops also rent or sell hats. Thrift stores and garage sales are always a good source of almost anything theatrical!
2. How do I know which hat goes on who? It is hard to become an expert in the whole history of fashion but a few good reference books will help tremendously. Many times fashions repeat themselves so keep your eye open for similar hats that might work as is or be customized to make sense in the period your working with. Also keep in mind that hats can signify things such as social rank or profession!
3. Once I have the hats what's the best way to store them? My personal collection has grown to over four hundred caps, helmets and bonnets included. We have tried many things to keep our good friends safe and make sure they are easily accessible and the best solution we came up with was a dual purpose one.
The hallways of my theatre are lined with a row of hats on pegs (I use drywall screws because I'm cheap) they provide a colorful, decorative border, they are safer than in boxes, take up less space and all that is necessary to find the right one is to simply cruise the hall! The same thing can be done on a large wall in your costume shop.
For those deemed too delicate for this approach, first of all beware putting the onstage, secondly hat boxes come in all shapes and sizes and can be had for $10 or less.
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