For some time we’ve needed a larger hat box for one of Dan’s hats. It didn’t need to be anything fancy, just something to safely store his hats. At first we were certain Joann’s or Tuesday Morning would have something big enough. Wrong. Their boxes all fell short of the 16.5″ minimum diameter. We even looked at Christmas gift boxes. Finally, I found the right box! Bevin suggested Dogwood Trading Company in Dansville, NY. Please see their contact information below. They had just the right assortment of band boxes. Large. Small. Tall. Wide. Round. Oval. Square. Each one is nicely sturdy. The designs range with many reflecting the look of paper. The prices are very nice too. The bottom box, the one for Dan’s hat, is 17″ across. It is taller than the 8″ his one hat needed. So, I foresee this box holding more than one of his hats. This was only $18.99. The store has at least 4 other prints in this size. They do have a larger one in a beautiful print that looks like a woven blue blanket. Love it! I just haven’t a clue where it would go right now. At the very affordable price on it, I may have to go back for it. There are others this size too.
The top box isn’t a size or shape I was actively looking for. But, it looks like it will nicely hold a mid-century bonnet or hood. Plus, look at that paper. It had to come home. An alternative thought process was that while I previously/currently store my bonnets in totes, there isn’t as much tote storage space in this apartment. (Confession – at one point, I had a tower of bonnet totes in my front closet.) It may be time to go back to hat and band boxes for millinery. They look great and are great storage. If you need strong boxes for storage, do give Dogwood Trading Company at try. The staff were extremely nice & helpful.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 
Anna! What a wonderful resource for a designer or writer.
A question – how is the word Bavolet pronounced? is it bavolette, or bavolay?
Hello!
Thank you for the compliment. I pronounce “Bavolet” with the “t”. Now, I am not certain this is how it would have been pronounced in the mid-19th century in the United States. “Paletot”, a type of coat, is and was pronounced “pal-toe”.