Fancy hats have bowlered him over

Nigel Barton had so many compliments while wearing a hat he decided to sell them. Photo / Doug Sherring

The world's most expensive hat is set to hit the New Zealand market.

A $9000 Panama hat from Ecuador - believed to be the world's priciest head fashion statement - will be among an estimated 1200 makes, models and sizes of hats to feature on the shelves of Hatitude, a hat-only store opening in the Auckland suburb of Parnell on Thursday.

The specialty store will also stock the world's finest fedoras, trilbys, Panamas and Stetsons, as well as one-off cheesecutters in antique fabrics.

As well as selling New Zealand-made hats, it will offer some of the finest headwear from the likes of America, South America, Italy, America, Australia, France and Greece.

Nigel Barton, who co-owns the new store with his partner Sharon McCavana, certainly has "Hatitude".

Barton, whose love of hats increased after a skin cancer scare, believes a man is not fully dressed without a hat.

"A hat can change a look and finish an outfit, even by the way it is worn - whether it's down low on the forehead or tipped back."

He and McCavana decided to import hats after struggling to find a replacement for the worn-out brown suede trilby he inherited from his hat-wearing father.

"I finally found a new hat on holiday in San Francisco and Sharon and I were amazed with the number of compliments I received," Barton said.

"One day I had four compliments and I said 'Bugger it, we are going to sell hats'."

The store will also sell hats online but Barton said, just like glasses, hats need to be tried on to ensure the perfect fit and style.

"There are definite rules with hats and what suits a certain face shape," Barton said. "But, then there are also people who break all the rules and still look great."

Although several internet-based hat outlets operate in New Zealand, it is believed Hatitude is the only physical hat store in the country.