Calling all Australians (or New Zealanders or S Africans)

[PrettyCandles]

Or anyone else who lives in a sunny and ozone-depleted country.

I need a BIG hat. I mean really big. All the sunhats I can find over here in UK are designed to shade people's eyes, or maybe also their necks, so the brims are never more than about 10cm max. But I need a hat thta will shade my whole face, right down to my chin, so the brim needs to be about 15cm min.

You must surely have hats like this?

The only hats I can find this big are wear-to-a-wedding type hats that never survive a wet, windy British summer, let alone a trip to the beach.

Can anyone point me to a url, or give me some names to research - hopefully someone will ship to UK for a reasonable price?

TIA

Thanks for those links, SueW. I've had hats like them, and the problem is that the straw-type ones don't survive any moisture at all. The fabric ones are better, but with a floppy brim it's like wearing blinkers when I cross the road or in a gust of wind.

I want something with a bit of rigidity - not Crocodile Dundee, but more like these - fabric, but squashable/foldable/rollable.

www.tilleyuk.com/hat_thumbnail.asp?catId=1&gender=&extractBy=CategoryId&id=1&hat_catId=3

Sorry, was unclear. The Tilley hats have brims that are too narrow, otherwise they'd be perfect.

I've looked at Akubra hats, but they're also narrower-brimmed than I want, plus they're not malleable.

But thanks for the other link, and the google suggestions. I shall explore further.

cancer council hats are fab... I have something similar to the rami linen thing and it is great. Unfortunately bought mine at markets in Sydney or else I would find a website for you.

You lot must all be gorgeous. I could never get away with wearing something like that. I'd look like my Nan!

what about a roll-up Panama style hat?
here for example

Those Panamas look gorgeous thanks! I wonder whether I can go to their shop and actually try them on? Shall contact them.

Please, post more urls! Still hunting for a fabric hat.

There is a company called Simon Charles that I got a beige/ pale khaki linen one from - www.simoncharles.co.uk (sorry about lack of link) but if you look for a hat in the "shop" section called Fleur (pictured in pink) that is the one I'm talking about - There is also a customer help number if you get stuck.
The problem with a 15cm brim is that, unless it is wired, it is always going to collapse - so 10cm is more than good for complete shade - if you do want to try for a widebrimmed, cloth hat with a wired rim, then, if you can get to Fenwicks, their summer hats always have some beach hats that are ideal for that - but they do cost a bit more - the one I got from Simon Charles I use to go flyfishing - couldn't possible fish in a beach hat !!!!! -
HTH - am South African BTW so have a vast selection of sun hats and this one is pretty good

xxxxx