Have you ever come across a dusty, crumpled vintage hat that you knew had potential? Now you can persuade them to get in shape. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve used to care for my own vintage hats. Try them on your own vintage embellishments to refresh and renew, but use common sense and be careful when working with any vintage clothing.

Dusty hats often turn up as a prized find at a flea market or sale. Clean them with a baby-bristled brush or an old shaving brush. The bristles are soft and there is less chance of damaging the hat. Brush in a circular motion, or if the hat has nap (a nap fabric is one that has nap or a rough surface) brush in the direction of the nap. You can also use masking tape or a slightly damp towel to gently lift any dust or lint from the surface. And don’t forget that hat boxes were invented for a reason: Storing your hats in a box lined with tissue paper will help keep them in good shape for you to enjoy.

Do you know how to fill withered flowers or ribbons? A little steam will liven up the sad flowers or fabric ribbons. Use long tongs to hold the hat in the steam from a kettle or a pot of boiling water on the stove. Be sure to keep your hands out of the steam as you carefully rotate the hat so that the steam rises over the flower and it will “wilt” before your eyes. Keep the hat in the steam long enough to do the job, but not so it gets wet.

Every once in a while a vintage hat loses its shape. If it’s a cloth hat, you can try briefly steaming it over a pot of boiling water to make it foldable. You can also put the hat on an ironing board and use a steam iron. Don’t iron the hat; simply hold the steam iron over the hat so that the steam spreads over the fabric. Then fill the hat with white tissue paper in whatever shape you like and let it dry or cool. You can also shape it over an inverted plastic container if you can find one of the right size. A large flat plate can help shape a felt cap or beret.

Feeling mysterious enough to wear a hat with a veil but your veil isn’t cooperating? Here’s an old trick my mother taught me that helps shape or smooth a wrinkled veil. First take a white paper towel and place it on an ironing board. Then place a piece of waxed paper on top of the paper towel. Then position the veil carefully smoothed to the desired shape. The last layer is a white cotton towel. Set the iron to low heat and iron the layers for a few seconds. Work slowly in small sections at a time, moving the veil to a new spot as you finish each section. This helps to soften and stiffen the veil. You will have to experiment to find the best heat setting and time to iron the layers safely. Err on the side of caution and use very low heat at first.

From simple berets to flowery finery, take care of your vintage hats and you’ll enjoy them for years to come. Remember, a good hat beats a great outfit.

“If a woman rebels against high-heeled shoes, she must take care not to do so with a fancy hat…” George Bernard Shaw