Provence 12 Packable Raffia Hat

I bought this hat after a long search for the perfect summer hat for my east coast beach vacation. The hat was great in the store and the selling point was that it was made for packing and travel. Well, after one week in SC (which I admit was very humid), the hat lost all of it's shape and is now just soft and unpleasantly floppy. I'm guessing the humidity changed the texture; but if you can't wear it in the summer humidity, than it's of no use. I don't know if I can even return it, since I already bought it and wore it. But I am extremely disappointed that a hat that cost this much lasted only one season.

Unfortunately, I bought this hat for a two week vacation and tried "rolling" it to find when I unrolled it, it didn't go back to it's original shape. I went to her website and they have specific instructions on how to "roll". It's really not rolled, but a three part fold using the string on the hat to secure it. Although it got damp not wet I really expected it to hold it's shape but it did not. It also shrunk just from getting damp! I have a small head and it became too tight. On their website they suggest steaming the hat and reshaping it by wearing it. That did help, but didn't restore the smooth shape as shown in the photo. It looks like it needs to be ironed. In the store, the brim is turned upward and looks so chic with a scarf. Now mine is floppy. On the plus side, it did a great job of protecting me from the sun, and my head didn't feel hot. I'm very disappointed for the price!

These hats are my favorite. They are the perfect hat for all occasions, dress up or casual. Lightweight and comfortable, pack easily. In humid weather or because I have had a few for 20 years or more they do tend to somewhat loose their shape, SO......... I place them upside down ln a container of some sort and spray the brim all around with Spray Starch. Let it dry and they are back to their original look.

I love my new Helen Kaminski 12" Provence raffia straw hat! First of all, I usually have a hard time finding a hat to fit me since I have a large head, but this one fits with a little room to spare, and since it has a band-string to adjust the size, it fits me to a tee! I bought the natural/aqua-multi color and choose to wear it with the brim up unless I am on the beach, when I love the brim coverage for my face and neck. I am a new Kaminski fan! :D

I purchased a Helen K hat 5 years ago and absolutely loved it. It traveled with me all around the world. After 5 years it's started looking tired so I decided to ordered a new one. Well, to say I am disappointed is an understatement. The materials used are half the thickness and quality and the one size fit's all is now smaller and too small for me. So disappointing when designers and companies cheapen their products. Sadly it looks like a $40 hat. I will return.