Samuel’s Hats

Profile

Owner Samuel Castro assembles a remarkably diverse collection of hats in his one-room shop. Some of the headwear might seem more like art than apparel but, as Castro can attest, there's a head for every hat. The towering, jewel-bedecked church hats, for instance, are a big hit among ministers' wives, while the straw Panama hats come into vogue around derby time. Other items have more practical uses: woven beach hats with brims as wide as umbrellas; knit cold-weather caps; fedora-like rain hats; and Crocodile Dundee–style leather numbers, for even more rugged climes. Much of Castro's stock is imported from Europe and Russia, which explains Continental classics like the retro pillbox hats that hang toward the back of the store. Shoppers will also see a smattering of hatboxes, clutches, and perfumes, as well as Castro's most faithful employee: his white-haired fox terrier, Pancho. — Alex Littlefield