First of all, you need to choose whether you prefer a top hat with a taller crown or a more modern, sportive shape that is less tall and more straight. Then you need to measure your exact head size.
Traditionally, top hats are worn much higher than most other hats.
To achieve an elegant and sophisticated look, a topper ideally sits dead straight around one inch (2-3 centimetres) above your ear, but can be worn lower or higher according to your personal preference. The hat’s brim should never touch the ear, however.
To determine the proper size for your new top hat, snugly measure with a flexible tape around your head around (one inch) 2-3 centimetres above your ear. Be careful to keep the tape straight. Typically, your top hat size is around one size smaller than your standard hat size. If you prefer an even higher position, you can go down up to two sizes, but a well-conformed hat is an absolute must in this case.
The perfect fit for your new top hat can be achieved by proper conforming it to your personal head shape with an antique conformator. This can be done by a professional hatter of your choice such as Patey Hats London.
Any hat with the right size can usually be conformed to your head shape – the procedure does not take a lot of time and can be done while you wait.
All of our top hats come in a perfectly polished condition in either the original box or a complimentary new hat box, packed carefully so they arrive exactly in the state they were sent.