Have you ever found a dusty and wrinkled 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 yourself, but use common sense and caution when working with any vintage garment.

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

Do you know how to fill withered flowers or ribbons? A little steam will liven up sad flowers or fabric ribbons. Use long tongs to hold the hat in steam from a kettle or 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 steamer long enough to do the job, but not to get it wet.

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

Feeling mysterious enough to wear a veiled hat but your veil isn’t cooperating? Here’s an old trick my mom 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 wax paper on top of the paper towel. Next, place 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. Slowly work in small sections at a time, moving the veil to a new spot as you finish each section. This helps soften and stiffen the veil. You’ll need to experiment to find the best heat setting and time to iron your 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 should beware of doing it with a fancy hat…” George Bernard Shaw