Can my hat be cleaned?
What are your store hours?
Driving Directions
Do you make the hats you sell?
Do you sell gift certificates?
What size hat do I wear?
What is your policy on returns/exchanges?
How much is shipping?
Do you ship internationally?
Has my order shipped yet?
Where can I request a catalog?
I'm just getting into hats; how do I know what is the best style for me?
Are there rules about which hats are suitable for which occasions?
What is the best way to care for my hat when I'm not wearing it?
How long has Levine Hat Co. been in business?
What accessories do I need to properly care for and maintain my hats?

Can my hat be cleaned?

We do not clean hats. Having said that, we can usually do something to improve the status of your fur felt hat in most circumstances. As long as your hat is not severely soiled, a brush, steam and block will usually do the trick and knock it back into shape. If the brim has lost its snap, a press on the flanges can flatten it and bring it back to life. Sew-on hat bands can be replaced, as can leather sweat bands and linings. For prices and more information, contact the store at 1-800-875-1428.

What are your store hours?

Monday - Saturday, 9:30am - 6pm CST
Closed Sundays

Do you make the hats you sell?

Although we are technically called Levine Hat Manufacturing Co, Inc., we do not produce hats on the mass scale that we used to manufacture. Instead, our business is primarily involved in retail sales and distribution of fine quality headwear, clothing, and accessories made in all parts of the world.

We are not capable of producing some of the finest quality men's felt hats to be found. When hats require additional attention and customization, or you are looking for something difficult to find, we have all the capabilities to make you a specialty hat the old world way.

Do you sell gift certificates?

Levine Hat Co. Gift Certificates are available in all denominations. Order Gift Certificates Online or call the store at 1-800-875-1428.

What size hat do I wear?

What is your policy on returns?

Returns are hassle-free; that's the way it should be.

Returns are accepted up to 30 days after you receive your items.

Just box up your unworn items and send them back to us, including a short note or a copy of your receipt, so we know what we're getting back. Your refund should show up within 1 or 2 days after we get back your items.

How much is shipping?

U.S. orders over $50 ship FREE UPS Ground shipping in the lower 48 states.  Orders less than $50 or using faster delivery will charge actual UPS rates, and these will be shown during checkout.

Do you ship internationally?

We normally ship in the U.S.

We can make exceptions, but you must call the store to make shipping arrangements. Call us at 1-800-875-1428

Has my order shipped yet?

Your order should ship same day if you place it before Noon (CST). We will send an email to verify as soon as your order ships. The email should contain a UPS Tracking number so that you can monitor when your packages will arrive.

You can also check your order and shipping details inside your account on www.levinehat.com if you are a registered customer.

Where can I request a catalog?

If you don't have an account on www.levinehat.com, register for one. After registering, you can edit your postal mail and email preferences in "Account".

I'm just getting into hats; how do I know what is the best style for me?

Personal preference is always the most important factor, but here are a few rules of thumb.

Taller men tend to prefer wider brims.
The shape of many people's preference in hats is related to the shape of their faces.
Men with rounder faces will like taller hats, such as homburg shapes or high crown fedoras.
If your jaw is more squared or triangular, you might look good in a hat with a shorter crown, such as a porkpie or telescope crown.
Stick with your style. If you tend to be conservative, the classics never go out of style.
Give the outfit a purpose. The hat can be as versatile as you make it. It can be an accent or a centerpiece.

Are there rules about which hats are suitable for which occasions?

Historically, different hats have been suited for different affairs. Nowadays, many men will choose a style that suits them, and build a collection of colors in that style so that they can match a variety of outfits.

What is the best way to care for my hat when I'm not wearing it?

General Hat Care and Maintenance

Clean your felt hats regularly using a soft bristle brush or a hat sponge. Chemically treated hat sponges are available, and work especially well for fine-grain felts. Brush counter clockwise with the nap, starting at the bow.

The steaming of fur felt hats temporarily loosens the fibers to allow the removal of surface dirt and dust. The steam softens the fibers to allow for blocking, reshaping and even smoothing any wrinkles in the hat band. To steam your hat, simply hold the hat over a steady stream (a steamer or tea kettle will work fine) and gently brush the hat with a clean, soft-bristle brush. Most friendly neighborhood hatters are glad to steam their customer's hats, even if for a nominal fee, with proper storage and care, one good steaming to "knock the dust off" at the end of each season is recommended.

Never apply direct heat to any material hat as this is certain to lead to undesirable results.

Regarding straw hats, they can be lightly brushed in the same manner as felts, but should never be steamed unless by a professional. Too much steam can ruin straw hats.

Use sticky tape to remove lint and dust from fur-felt hats. 2" masking tape wrapped around your palm (with the sticky side out) works well for this.

Leather hats can be cleaned using any commercial leather cleaner. There are several good brands available that work very well. Suede hats need a suede cleaner, not a leather cleaner. Also suede hats will benefit from an application of Scotchguard or a silicone based waterproofing spray to help repel water and dirt.

Handling your Hat

Always handle your hats by the brim.  Picking your hat up by the crown will hurt its shape, and may even damage the felt. As with felt hats, handling your straw hat by the pinch will eventually cause it to crack.

Never rest your hat on its brim. Always turn it upside down and set it on the crown, so that the brim doesn't flatten out. Even better is to store your hat in its proper box.

If you get caught in the rain, turn the leather sweatband inside out and let the hat stand on it so that it dries evenly.

Try not to get your straw hat wet! This will cause the straw to swell and lose it's shape.

Natural oils from your fingers can soil the crown of straw and felt hats, so you should try to handle your hats by the brim (it's hard, we know)

Storing your Hat

Always store your hat in a hat box to help keep it clean and looking new.
Do not rest the hat on its brim to prevent the brim from flattening out.

How long has Levine's been in business?

Over 100 years. Our current location is downtown at 1416 Washington Avenue a three-story, 30,000 sq/ft showroom and warehouse facility where a small team of workers are responsible for a variety of tasks. Genuine interest in our customers embodies who we are and what we do here, and it even won us an award in the Riverfront Times for Best Retail Experience. We are technically called Levine Hat Manufacturing Co, Inc., although we do not produce hats on the mass scale that we used to manufacture. Instead, our business is primarily involved in retail sales and distribution of fine quality headwear, clothing, and accessories made in all parts of the world. That is not to say that we are not capable of producing some of the finest quality men's felt hats to be found. Another veteran of our store, Mr. James "Pete" Peterson, is something of a magician when it comes to hats. With over 30 years of tips and tricks up his sleeve, our customers and employees are continually amazed at his craftsmanship when hats require additional attention and customization.

What accessories do I need to properly care for and maintain my hats?

A proper hatter's brush is good for an occasional dusting. We sell inexpensive chemical sponges that are treated so that dust particles stick to them (these work well on wool caps).