Affordable hats in London?

[Emher]

I, my brother and my cousin are going to London over the weekend in about two weeks. My cousin got some tickets to The Matrix showing with the orchestra performing the score live, so we're going to see that, but we're also trying to find some hats! We've had a really tough time finding some around here, so we thought that in London of all places there must be some.

Yes, I've used google, but I'd like to see if anyone has any recommendations. What we're looking for is basically a fedora-style hat for my brother, something similar for me and maybe my cousin (maybe like a rambler or something) and a top hat for my sister. And we'd like to keep it under a hundred pounds per hat. Or rather, I doubt anyone except my brother can afford much more then that.


Any suggestions, or are we out of luck?

 

[Pingfah]

A hundred fucking quid a hat, to go see the bloody Matrix?

Christ, take out 20 quid and go to any fancy dress shop.

 

[Emher]

Um, no, the things we need to go see The Matrix are the tickets, those we already have (and they where not near a 100 pounds each). The 100 is the limit to which we want to stay under as far as the hats are concerned.

And buying a hat at a proper hat store is probably needed as far as my brother is concerned, he's got quite the large head.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Bond Street?

 

[SmoothieX]

A couple of guys are gonna blow 100 pounds each on a hat?

This doesn't look good you know...

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Not seeing the connection between hats and The Matrix. Men in the UK generally don't wear hats apart from the odd flat cap. I haven't seen bowlers worn in the City for decades. Bond Street would be the place to find a quite expensive range of hats for sale. For more affordable items, try John Lewis on Oxford Street.

http://www.johnlewis.com/Men/Men's+...hdGVnb3J5LmFzcHg1RhRbQ5JDvaei8NaYmg/OWAT6wQ==

ETA: Forget it, read Holdfast's post below. He is the expert in all things sartorial.

 

[Pingfah]

Um, no, the things we need to go see The Matrix are the tickets, those we already have (and they where not near a 100 pounds each). The 100 is the limit to which we want to stay under as far as the hats are concerned.

And buying a hat at a proper hat store is probably needed as far as my brother is concerned, he's got quite the large head.

Oh, I thought you meant you wanted the hats to go watch the Matrix in for... some reason.

 

[Holdfast]

Hats within your price range can be found at any of the major department stores, though if you want a wider range and some advice, it's worth going to a specialist hatter. Lock is one of the best, but is a little out of your price range, but several of the men's outfitters in and around Jermyn Street, Burlington Arcade and Savile Row will have hats in your range. For instance, I have a charcoal grey trilby from Ede & Ravenscroft (they have their main branch just off Savile Row) and I'm pretty sure it was under £100 (maybe around £75; can't really remember for sure). I think Hilditch & Key now have Bates (a well-known hatter) within their shop. In any event, that whole part of London has some nice mens shops to wander around, so it won't be time wasted. For a more budget hat, Marks & Spencers have been known to do a decent felt fedora (I have a chocolate brown one I got some years ago for around £30-40 IIRC).

Happy shopping!

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Here, you can borrow mine.

 

[RoJoHen]

Um, no, the things we need to go see The Matrix are the tickets, those we already have (and they where not near a 100 pounds each). The 100 is the limit to which we want to stay under as far as the hats are concerned.

And buying a hat at a proper hat store is probably needed as far as my brother is concerned, he's got quite the large head.

Oh, I thought you meant you wanted the hats to go watch the Matrix in for... some reason.

Same here. I was confused, especially the girl in the top hat. All she's going to do is piss off the people sitting behind her!

Probably could have just left the Matrix part out of the story. It would have been a lot more clear.

 

[Emher]

Well, let's just say I'm terrible at writing about my own life... >_> As for the top hat...my sis wants a top hat! She's embracing her individuality and exploring it trough fashion, and I feel that is to be supported.

Hats within your price range can be found at any of the major department stores, though if you want a wider range and some advice, it's worth going to a specialist hatter. Lock is one of the best, but is a little out of your price range, but several of the men's outfitters in and around Jermyn Street, Burlington Arcade and Savile Row will have hats in your range. For instance, I have a charcoal grey trilby from Ede & Ravenscroft (they have their main branch just off Savile Row) and I'm pretty sure it was under £100 (maybe around £75; can't really remember for sure). I think Hilditch & Key now have Bates (a well-known hatter) within their shop. In any event, that whole part of London has some nice mens shops to wander around, so it won't be time wasted. For a more budget hat, Marks & Spencers have been known to do a decent felt fedora (I have a chocolate brown one I got some years ago for around £30-40 IIRC).

Happy shopping!

Ah, the voice of God on these matters Thank you so much, this is along the line of the kind of info I was trying to get.

 

[captcalhoun]

Men in the UK generally don't wear hats apart from the odd flat cap.

lots of younger people wear baseball caps still.

i for one do.

there's also these 'cool' kids about that wear trilby hats or similar...

or maybe that's just in my town...

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Men in the UK generally don't wear hats apart from the odd flat cap.

lots of younger people wear baseball caps still.

i for one do.

there's also these 'cool' kids about that wear trilby hats or similar...

or maybe that's just in my town...

Younger people and 'cool' kids are not "men".

Yours faithfully, boring old fart.

 

[captcalhoun]

i'm 33 and i wear a baseball cap.

not boring, not old. does fart.

 

[scotpens]

Does anyone still wear a hat?

Aside from the ladies who lunch, that is.

 

[Pingfah]

I am suspicious of hats. I think they may be responsible for men going bald. I want to see some studies done before I wear one.

 

[RoJoHen]

Men in the UK generally don't wear hats apart from the odd flat cap.

lots of younger people wear baseball caps still.

i for one do.

there's also these 'cool' kids about that wear trilby hats or similar...

or maybe that's just in my town...

Younger people and 'cool' kids are not "men".

Yours faithfully, boring old fart.

Plenty of grown men still wear baseball hats. Of course, this is America. Baseball hats probably aren't as popular in other countries.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

People are not wearing enough hats.

As for me, I have at least 15 hats and other forms of headwear (off the top of my head, that is - I might have a few more).


To answer the OP's question, if you're looking to buy a top hat in London at an affordable price, do not make the same mistake as these guys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83jB3T5EZSo

 

[RoJoHen]

I would totally wear more hats if they didn't make my head itch.

 

[An Officer]

Try Camden stables market, plenty of hat shops of every kind, prices are varied, too. Some bargains to be had on genuine period hats as well.