Hats in the Belfry New Tammany Bowler Black, Grey, Navy, Brown, Pearl

I read all the reviews and comments and, frankly, I was scared I would receive a damaged/crushed hat that would be either too small or too large, especially since my hatsize was right on the edge of a large. I couldn't resist the fantastic price on this hat and decided to take a chance. I am so glad I did! I wear a size 7 3/8 hat (with shaved head) which is right on the limit of a Large according to their chart. I was tempted to buy an XL in anticipation of it not fitting but decided to listen to the chart and get what was recommended. I'm so happy I did. The Large fits PERFECTLY! Ok, it didn't fit perfectly out of the box as the hat is formed more round than my head, which is more oval. If I pushed in on the sides just a bit the hat fit perfectly. So I boiled some water and held the front and back of the hat over the steam for a few minutes and put it on and wore it until dry. It now conforms perfectly to my head as if an expensive hat maker tailor made it just for me. It's so comfortable that I forget I'm even wearing it. As to the concerns of getting a crushed hat from shipping, those fears were unfounded. The hat arrived in a box that was 3 or 4 inches taller than it needed to be and came with a dense foam ring around the outside of the hat to protect the brim and feather from getting crushed. THe hat was then placed in a clear bag to keep it clean and protected from moisture then sealed. A sheet of airbags were placed over the hat to take up all the remaining space in the box. Not a dent or scratch to be found anywhere on the hat. The feather is easily removed if you don't like it. Mine was ok...it's a feather and looks like a feather. I ordered the gray w/black band and I'm glad I did. It is darker than what you see in the photos and is a nice dark gray but still noticeably different from the pure black ribbon band. The inside sweatband is not leather as some claimed. It looks real from the face but if you fold it out to see the back it's just fake leather. Would have been nice if it was genuine leather as it would absorb some sweat that the plastic band tends to produce. As it is it lives up to the name "sweatband" as it does indeed make your head sweat. The liner is a nice black satin that doesn't bleed when you sweat in it. The "Hats in the Belfry" logo in the center is pretty sweet as well. The liner is just tacked to the hat behind the sweatband using glue. The body of the hat is nice and hard, as it should be and the brim is just perfectly sized and very sturdy with a perfect shape. One thing that really thrilled me with this hat is the profile. I've been looking at bowler/derby hats for one that wasn't flat on the bottom when viewed from the side. I'm a fan of Penny Dreadful and wanted a bowler that fit like the one worn by the character "Ethan" (played by Josh Hartnett). His has a sweet curve to the base when viewed from the side with the center being higher than the front and back. This bowler is just like the one he wears and I'm loving it. So much character to this hat. If you are thinking of getting this hat just do it! Follow the sizing chart and order the size accordingly. It seems they figured out how to properly package these beautiful hats without damaging them.

Was perfect for playing Hercule Poirot. (It came with a feather in the band, but I pulled it out easily.) The hat is solid and held up well to rehearsals and 4 performances. I will hang onto it for future plays or cosplays. Looked great!

The Bowler arrived in perfect condition. As some other reviews have stated, the hat is sized a little large. I used 4 sizing tapes and have a perfect fit! Great quality! I would definitely recommend "Hats in the Belfry" as a source for any hat purchase!

Good hat. Arrived exactly as described and I enjoy wearing it.

Fits well and cute

This Derby Hat from Belfry is a really great hat that will definitely bring out your inner John Watson. WHAT YOU GET -------------------------| The box it came in was relatively bigger then the hat. when I opened it, I found the hat placed upside down. The top of the hat was supported by a soft ring of packing foam. It's size to cradle the hat. Other then that I also received a letter from the seller and some paper to protect the hat from moisture. The hat was in perfect condition so they packaged it right. Pros ------------| + The hat is sturdy. It's not made from cheap material. This thing will last if you take care of it. + The feather being removable is a great feature, because as soon as I received it I promptly discarded it. + The price point is reasonable, all things considering. This isn't a generic product, if you're buying this you know this falls into more of a specialty item. Cons ------------| - The price point is a little scary for normal buyers. At that amount, I imagine most normal folks applying a chin strap to the hat to protect it from being stolen or wind blowing it away. - Because of the material it's made from, it's relatively easy to get dirty. Pro Tips -----------| > This hat is made from a felt wool, so wearing it in the rain, snow, or wet like conditions is a big no-no. It can potentially ruin the hat. > This hat is difficult to wear while driving or sitting in chair with a high back, make sure you take it off before riding in a car or bus to avoid crushing the rim of the hat. > I haven't gotten to cleaning the hat, but I imagine a very slightly damp cloth touch up here or there should resolve any sort of soil that might occur.

Love. Love. Love this hat!! Finally a hat that fits! 7 5/8 Very well made...ordered a bunch of different feathers to use with it too.

I like the hats a lot, however some were shipped in boxes and some in envelopes. The ones in envelopes were quite squashed, I was able to put them back in shape, but hats should never be sent in envelopes. Great hats though!

me quedo justo a la medida y se ve excelente, el sombrero llego bien empaquetado

Muy bonito pero un poco grande

Very nice hat...thank you

se ve bien y quedo perfecto