May 11, 2013 – 8:46 pm | No Comment

It isn’t summer without a Tommy Bahama hat. Check out our new crowd-pleasing straw hats today!

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Blues Fest at Hats Plus
June 15, 2013 – 10:08 pm | No Comment

Pianist Deniece Williams was in the shop during Blues Fest here in Chicago. Doesn't she look nice in a pork pie hat?

Our sweet home Chicago is world reknowned for its blues, most especially the annual summer celebration of BluesFest.

Luckily for us, Hats Plus is a popular haunt for musicians to visit. A slew of bluesmen and women were in the shop all week, and we were fortunate enough to have a few agree to pose for some photos.

Jazz and classical pianist Deniece Williams was trying on a few hats. (Not to be confused with the “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” Williams.)

Arkansas Blues Hall of Famer E.B. Davis (left) poses with Ken, our very own blues expert at Hats Plus.

Also in was E.B. Davis. Here he is posing with Ken, Hats Plus’ resident blues encyclopedia. Mr. Davis is known as “The Blues Ambassador.” He also has been inducted into the Arkansas Blues Hall of Fame. You can watch some of his performances on YouTube.

How To Choose a Summer Hat
June 1, 2013 – 10:43 pm | No Comment

If you could only choose one hat this summer, what would it be? With so many hundreds of options we try to help you narrow it down to the one that best suits your needs for the long hot summer. Come learn all about gamblers, panamas, stingy brims and much, much more.

Not All Straw Hats Created Equally
March 30, 2013 – 10:36 pm | 2 Comments

Learn about the six different types of straw used to make summer hats. Each straw offers different properties for solar protection, comfort and style. Who knew this staple of summer could be so complicated?

Kangol Hats Have a Past, Are Here to Stay
March 23, 2013 – 9:38 pm | No Comment

Kangol hats are among our most popular caps and hats for sale. However, while most people likely think of them as a trendy fashion company, which they are, they also have been around for nearly 100 years! From The Beatles to LL Cool J and today’s entire generation of stars, everyone has worn Kangol. Read all about it when you click here.

Stetson Visits Hats Plus
March 9, 2013 – 11:03 pm | No Comment

Spring might be in the air, but in the world of men’s fashion, next autumn’s hats are causing a huge buzz. Sit in on a visit by Stetson at Hats Plus when you click this link.

Think Warm Thoughts! Straw Hats Prove Spring is on Its Way
February 23, 2013 – 11:18 pm | 2 Comments

Baseball has its spring training to bolster morale with the knowledge that winter will end soon. Now Hats Plus is converting its stock from winter felt to summer straw. Get a sneak peek at the newest items to arrive!

How to Make a Steampunk Hat
February 16, 2013 – 7:25 pm | No Comment

Learn how to custom build your own steampunk hat! It is easy enough to do, and we can help you pick out the best base-model hat. Learn all about it when you click this link.

When All Men Wore Hats
February 9, 2013 – 8:42 pm | No Comment

Men wearing hats was so commonplace that even vintage posters show most men wearing hats and caps. Check out some old WPA posters and the hats the men wore in them when you click here.

Hats Plus is on the Air!
November 24, 2012 – 6:12 am | No Comment

WGN Morning News’ “Around Town” reporting team visited Hats Plus for a special early visit. Read all about what happened when you click here.

Danbury, Connecticut, a Hat Making Capitol of Yesteryear
October 6, 2012 – 10:57 pm | One Comment

Although hat making has been outsourced or moved around the country, there was a time that at least half of the millions of hats produced in this country came from Danbury, Conn. Learn a little about it when you click here.

The Top Hat: A Story of Outsourcing
August 4, 2012 – 10:39 pm | 2 Comments

You think our competition with China is a recent phenomena? Learn about the fascinating history of the top hat to see a 19th century boom and bust for the hat industry.