At Lock & Co., the perfect fit begins with precision. Whether you're selecting a traditional felt top hat or an antique silk piece, accurate sizing is essential for comfort, balance, and elegance.
Here's how to measure your head correctly, and why it matters.
We recommend using a flexible dressmaker’s tape to measure your head.
Not sure how it should feel? Read our guide: How Should a Top Hat Fit →
Explore a few of our Top Hats:
With several hats in each size, Lock & Co. will help you find the best top hat for you. Buy a luxury top hat that blends timeless elegance with expert craftsmanship – perfect for formal occasions and distinguished style.
Take the larger measurement if there's a discrepency.
The hat should feel secure but never restrictive.
This is when your head is likely to be at its largest due to natural swelling.
If you’re between sizes, our team can advise on discreet padding options or arrange for a bespoke adjustment using a conformateur for a precision fit.
Visiting our shop offers a more tailored experience. During a fitting:
We use a conformateur, a traditional French head-shaping device, to map the precise shape of your head.
This allows us to reshape or reblock top hats, especially vintage silk models, to your unique measurements.
You'll also receive advice on proportion, balance, and which crown height and brim width suit your face and stature.
When sized and shaped correctly, a top hat should feel secure but light, balanced, and unobtrusive.
Top hats should never:
Our clients often remark how effortlessly wearable a properly fitted top hat can be - especially those custom-shaped in our shop.
How to Care for and Clean a Top Hat?
How to Wear and Style a Top Hat?
How to Find the Perfect Top Hat for Royal Ascot, Weddings & Formal Events?
Have a scroll and discover some of our other articles, from press coverage to style guides and informational pieces.
Celebrate the season with timeless Christmas gifts from Lock & Co. Hatters. Explore our heritage inspired collection of hats, scarves, and accessories, crafted with care and designed to last.
Having joined the team only a few weeks ago, our milliner Isabel has already brought her remarkable embroidery expertise to life with a very special creation for Remembrance Day 2025.
To keep your Panama hat looking as stylish as the day you purchased it. We provide suggestions on how to take care of your Panama hat.
The right fit is essential for both comfort and style. A well-fitting flat cap should feel secure without being tight, sit correctly on your head, and complement your face shape.
A flat cap is a rounded, soft-crowned hat with a short, stiff brim at the front. First appearing in Northern England in the 14th century, flat caps became embedded in British and Irish life after a 1571 law encouraged their wear among men of the working classes. By the late 19th and early 20th century, they were worn by everyone from labourers and farmers to gentlemen at leisure. Today, the flat cap retains its heritage charm while being embraced as a versatile style in both town and country.
A flat cap is one of the most versatile hats you can own. Whether you are dressing for a weekend walk, a day in the city, or a smart country wedding, the flat cap adds effortless polish while remaining comfortable and practical. Here is everything you need to know about wearing one with confidence.
Flat caps are designed to last for years, but proper care is key to maintaining their shape, colour, and quality. Different materials -wool, tweed, linen, leather - require slightly different cleaning approaches.
Flat caps are travel-friendly by design, but a little care goes a long way in keeping them looking sharp - whether you are storing them at home or packing them for a trip.
Getting the right size is the key to a perfect fit. Here’s how to measure your head accurately and choose the right flat cap size.
