I don’t know if you can already tell, but I’m a huge fan of straw hats in the summer. It started with a thrifted one (originally from Zara) that’s like a Panama hat (hanging on the wall on the bottom). Since I wore that hat pretty consistently last summer, I decided to get this Eric Javits hat from the RealReal after seeing it in person at Bloomingdales. (My other summer hat hanging on the wall is from Gigi Pip, which I’ll review next!).
I had never heard of Eric Javits before doing some browsing at Bloomingdales. But a quick look at their website, tells me that he’s been in the hat business since the 1980’s. They don’t talk about their ethics nor their values so I can’t really recommend the brand based on that. However, I do recommend purchasing their hats secondhand on the RealReal since secondhand is better than new, and it’s cheaper to purchase used. Brand new these hats retail around $200 (like this one here from Nordstrom), but I got mine from the RealReal for $75 (and I used credit to purchase it).
Originally I wasn’t planning to review this hat (I’ve had it since November of last year). But I’ve been wearing it almost daily (for walks or yard work) and it’s a fantastic hat. In fact it’s my favorite straw hat. The straw material is flexible but thick so it holds it shape and doesn’t get bent out of shape. The brim is wide enough so that it provides shade up to my collarbone. And the elastic band on the inside is stretchy enough to fit my head but also helps the hat stay on snugly (even on the windiest days). This is a great quality hat (which makes me understand why they charge so much, but at the same time I don’t think I would pay $200+ for a hat).
I’ve tried Janessa Leone straw hats in the past (and returned, also via the RealReal), and I had the Cuyana straw hat (reviewed here, which got bent out of shape and I eventually donated after 2 years). And by far this one is my favorite and IMO, the best made. If you’re interested, you might be able to find a good deal on Eric Javits hats on the RealReal here. There’s also quite a few for a decent price on ebay here.
Anyone else try their hats and what do you think?
P.S. While writing this post, I learned that this kind of hat (the kind you can squish) it made from mostly plastic (95% polypropylene and 5% polyester). So I definitely recommend buying this used instead of new (I do not advocate the purchase of new items made of plastic). If you’re iffy about purchasing used hats, I would recommend doing a thorough check of the item and even a quick wash with cold water and soap (especially if the hat is made of plastic like this one). I’ve been buying used hats for awhile now and haven’t had any issues.