Changing Crowns With the Seasons: When to Trade Straw for Felt in Central Texas
We’ve either asked it at one point or heard the age old question: When do you switch from straw to felt?
Some swear by tradition; Labor Day is the line in the sand. That may work if you live in the Midwest or further north. Others say it’s simply whenever the weather tells you it’s time; when it’s too hot for a felt, you move to straw, for example. And of course, there are the loyalists who stick to felt year-round, no matter the forecast.
But in Central Texas, the answer is less about a hard date and more about three things: the climate, the condition of your hat, and the circumstances.
The Rhythm of Hat Seasons
In Central Texas, the transition from felt to straw usually comes down to comfort. By late spring, the Texas heat and humidity make felt hats feel heavy. Straws are lighter, breathable, and just make more sense in increasingly warmer weather. Come fall, when the evenings finally cool, felts typically come back out, carrying a different kind of weight and presence.
Fashion, of course, can bend those rules. A crisp straw looks perfectly at home at a summer wedding, a tailgate, or a rodeo under the August sun. However, a finely crafted beaver felt adds depth and refinement to a formal gathering or holiday event, regardless of the weather outside.
The Shrinking Hat Band
You pull out last year’s hat, put it on, and suddenly it feels tight. Here’s what’s really happening: it’s usually not the felt or the straw itself that shrinks, it’s the leather sweatband. When you wear a hat every day in the heat, the sweatband absorbs moisture, and if it doesn’t have time to fully dry, it behaves like a hide that’s been tanned. Over the off-season, that leather contracts, so when you wear it for the first time, it’s going to feel snug unless you store it on a hat retainer.
Caring for Your Hat After Seasonal Storage
The good news: a snug hat usually isn’t a lost cause. Most sweatbands can be stretched back into shape. This is best done by a professional, so reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help.
If you choose to try the DIY route, invest in a hat stretcher. They can save you from an ill-fitting or misshapen crown. While you’re at it, it’s also a good idea to give your hat a seasonal cleaning. A proper hat brush or a gentle sponge helps lift dust, sweat, and buildup without damaging the felt or straw, keeping your crown looking sharp and maintaining its lifespan.
Some things to keep in mind to recondition your stored hat:
Never stretch dry. Use steam or lightly wet the sweatband to keep the leather from cracking and to achieve a smoother stretch. Leave the stretcher in for 24 hours or until completely dry.
Don’t overdo it. If you start to see marks around the crown, release the pressure right away.
Mind your head shape. Different stretchers can slightly change the oval of your hat. If you’re long oval, round oval, or somewhere in between, match your stretcher accordingly.
Pro felt tip: Brush your hat in a counterclockwise motion to follow the felt’s grain.
Your Crown, Your Style
At the end of the day, changing hat seasons isn’t about following rules. It’s about comfort, craftsmanship, and the story you want your hat to tell. Whether you switch on Labor Day, with the first real cold front in later fall, or not at all, what matters is that you feel good in whatever crown you wear.
At Crowned Hat Co, we’ll help keep your hat in shape year after year, through Texas heat, cool Hill Country nights, and every season in between.
