The Fit Guide
A hat shaped to your face
Brim and crown are the two lines that frame a face. The proportion between them is what makes a hat look as if it was made for you. Take two minutes with a mirror and a soft tape, and this guide will tell you where to begin.
Read your face
Tie your hair back and stand in front of a mirror. Take these four measurements and note which one is the largest.
1 · Forehead
Across the forehead, from the peak of one eyebrow arch to the other.
2 · Cheekbones
Across the upper cheeks, from just below the outer corner of one eye to the other.
3 · Jaw
Across the jaw at its widest point, a little below the ears.
4 · Length
From the centre of your hairline down to the tip of your chin.
Choose your shape
Most faces sit between two shapes. Pick the closest one and read it as a starting point.
Your shape
Oval
Your face is longer than it is wide, the forehead a little wider than the jaw, and the jawline curves softly.
Keep the balance you already have.
Brim
6 – 9 cm
Brim width in cm, as you select it on each hat.
Almost any width sits well. As a reference, let the brim reach your cheekbones or sit just beyond them.
Crown
Any shape, medium height
Pinched, creased or rounded all work. Choose by character rather than correction.
How to wear it
Level and straight, or tilted. This shape carries both.
What to skip
Only extremes of scale. A brim that runs well past the line of your shoulders will wear you.
Your shape
Round
Length and cheekbone width are close to equal. Forehead and jaw are a little narrower, and the jaw is soft rather than angular.
Add height and a few clean lines.
Brim
6 – 8 cm
Brim width in cm, as you select it on each hat.
A medium brim, worn flat. It frames the face without adding more width than height.
Crown
Medium to tall, with a defined crease
A centre dent, a teardrop or a pinched front brings in angles and lifts the eye upward.
How to wear it
Set it slightly back, or at a gentle angle. Both lengthen the face.
What to skip
Low, rounded crowns. They repeat the curve of the face instead of answering it.
Your shape
Square
Forehead, cheekbones, jaw and length all measure close to each other, and the jaw has a strong, defined angle.
Soften the angles.
Brim
8 – 10 cm
Brim width in cm, as you select it on each hat.
A wider brim with a soft curve. Movement in the brim rounds the line of the jaw.
Crown
Medium height, rounded
An open or gently rounded crown balances a strong jaw better than a sharp crease.
How to wear it
Let the brim dip a little at the front or the sides, so its line is not perfectly straight.
What to skip
Flat tops and hard, angular brims. They echo the squareness.
Your shape
Long
Length is clearly your largest measurement. Forehead, cheekbones and jaw are similar in width.
Bring in width, hold back height.
Brim
8 – 10 cm
Brim width in cm, as you select it on each hat.
A wide brim draws a strong horizontal line and visually shortens the face.
Crown
Low to medium
Keep the height restrained. The shape of the crease is yours to choose.
How to wear it
Wear it forward, low on the forehead. It shortens the face further.
What to skip
Tall crowns with narrow brims. Together they add length.
Your shape
Heart
The forehead is your widest measurement, then the cheekbones. The face narrows to a slim, often pointed chin.
Calm the forehead, balance the chin.
Brim
6 – 7 cm
Brim width in cm, as you select it on each hat.
A medium brim that cuts cleanly across the forehead without adding width above it.
Crown
Medium height
Keep it moderate, so the brim line carries the look rather than the crown.
How to wear it
Level across the forehead, with a slight tilt to one side. The slanted line adds width toward the chin.
What to skip
The widest brims. They broaden the forehead and sharpen the chin.
Your shape
Diamond
The cheekbones are your widest point. Forehead and jaw are both narrower, and the chin is often defined.
Balance the cheekbones.
Brim
7 – 9 cm
Brim width in cm, as you select it on each hat.
Medium to wide. The brim should clear your cheekbones, so they sit inside its line.
Crown
Low to medium
A lower crown keeps the proportions even above strong cheekbones.
How to wear it
Placement matters as much as shape. Try it level, then slightly back, and see which opens the forehead.
What to skip
Tall crowns with slim brims. They narrow the forehead further.
Find your size
Measure around your head with a soft tape, about 2 cm above your eyebrows and ears. This is usually the widest point. If you fall between two sizes, choose the larger one for a more comfortable fit.
No tape measure? A piece of string works too. Measure it against a ruler afterward.
A guide, not a rule
If it feels like you, it is the right hat
These proportions are where I begin, not where you have to end. For anything in between, we can design it together, in the studio in Vic or from wherever you are.