Not so long ago, hats were an indispensable accessory of any wardrobe, while nowadays they are often overlooked. It's a shame, because a hat can grace a face, embellish a dress and virtually define (or redefine) a person's style. If you are considering the possibility of reviving this accessory, you are spoiled for choice. The secret is to find a hat that fits your physique, your tastes and, of course, your budget.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Model
Step 1. Determine what type of hat you need
Do you want one to wear every day? For a special occasion? Are you going to buy a hat for fashion needs? To keep you warm or to protect you from the sun? What season do you plan to wear it? Knowing these things in advance will narrow down the possibilities from the start.
Step 2. Get to know the wide range of hat styles
There are hats for all types, from casual to Kentucky Derby hats. Browse fashion magazines, catalogs or visit websites to get some ideas.
Step 3. Match the hat to your body
The first rule to keep in mind before buying a hat is that it should be proportionate to your body. The hat should balance your size rather than exaggerate it.
- High-crowned hats with an upside-down brim lengthen, while wide hats with a downturned brim make you look shorter.
- The brim of the hat should not be wider than your shoulders;
- The more robust you are, the more you can dare with the hat.
Step 4. Match the hat to your face
See the second part of the article to determine the shape of your face.
Step 5. Choose a color that looks good on you
If you are unsure about the color, pay attention to the color you wear when they compliment you or when you have a pleasant feeling looking in the mirror. Probably that is the color you are looking for.
Step 6. Think about your personality and your outfit
Your new hat will be one of the main elements of your wardrobe, so it must complement your personal style.
- Boho style: berets, hats with a wide and soft brim, fedora with a wide brim;
- Preppy style: structured hats with a wide brim, for example a wide lady's hat, a Breton hat or a boater; structured baskets, a cloche or a fedora;
- Tomboy style: classic newspaper delivery boy hat, fedora, bowler hat, boater, baseball cap and cap;
- Elegant vintage style: pillbox hat, fascinator, wide brim structured hats, wide brim cloche;
- Grunge style: baseball hat, bowler hat, beret or soft cap, wide-brimmed and rolled-up hats;
- If you have decided to buy the hat for a particular dress (for a wedding, a cocktail party, etc.), it is better not to look for a hat that automatically matches the clothing, but one that enhances it;
- Take your hairstyle into consideration. Many hats look best with the hair pulled back and behind the ears. However, if you want to keep your hair down, you need to keep this element in mind before making a decision;
- Loose hair: beret, fedora, floppy, bowler hat;
- Short hair (pixie cut, bob, etc.): cloche, wide hats, Breton hats, rolled-brimmed hats, with a wide and soft brim, some pillbox-style hats;
- Shoulder length hair: cloche, wide-brimmed hats of all kinds, fedoras, pillbox-style hats (better with curly hair), boater, bowler hat;
- With fringe: hats with an upturned brim, or with a wide brimmed downwards, like a wide-brimmed cloche.
Step 7. Establish a budget
Hats can be expensive, but good bargains can often be found at vintage or thrift stores.
If you don't have enough money for your favorite hat, make some money
Step 8. Look around and collect some ideas
Take a look at the shops in the area and search the internet to get an idea of the price and availability.
Part 2 of 3: Determine the Shape of Your Face
Step 1. Stand in front of the mirror with your hair pulled back in a ponytail or with a headband
The neck should also be visible, so avoid turtlenecks or collars.
Step 2. Use soap, lipstick, or makeup to mark the following points on the mirror:
the hairline, the widest point of the cheekbones, the temples, the jaw line and the tip of the chin.
Step 3. Measure the distance between the hairline and the chin, between the cheekbones, between the furthest points of your jaw and between the temples
Step 4. Analyze the data and determine the shape of your face
Here are the characteristics of each type of face and suitable hats:
- Oblong: long and narrow, slightly rectangular, with the most distant points on the jaw and on the hairline. Focus attention on the eyes with hats dropped to the front and with a round or square crown. A hat that pulls down to the eyebrows is also suitable for decreasing verticality. Consider cloche, tilted fedoras, or floppy hats.
- Oval: longer than wide and slightly wider on the cheekbones than on the forehead or jaw. Oval faces can wear just about anything, but if you have delicate facial features look for classic small-brimmed hats that accentuate the face. One trick is not to have the crown wider than the cheekbones.
- Round: length and width at the cheekbones are the same. Compensate for the soft shape of your face with structured, wide-brimmed, angled, cloche or fedora hats.
- Triangular / pear-shaped: the maximum extension is on the jaw line, the chin is round and the forehead is narrow. Create length with a high crown and small brim (short, straight, or turned inside out). Additional decorations on one side create an asymmetrical effect that can give the face.
- Square: the hairline is wide and flat and there is the same distance between one side and the other of the forehead and jaw; the length and width of the face are practically the same. Compensate for the sharp angles of your face with softly designed hats such as cloche, wide-brimmed, soft-brimmed hats with round or curved crowns. Avoid square styles.
- Diamond-shaped: wide cheekbones with a narrow chin and forehead. Like the oval face, the diamond face can wear different designs. The small brim and high crown accentuate the cheekbones and chin. Avoid hats with a peak or with the crown narrower than the cheekbones which can create the effect of a disproportionate profile.
- Heart: wider on the forehead and cheeks with a narrow chin; the cheekbones are prominent. Choose a hat with a medium or small brim, or a fisherman's hat, which narrows the face. The turned-up brim draws attention to the eyes and creates the illusion of length that compensates for the broad forehead. Avoid berets, baseball caps, and straight-brimmed hats.
Part 3 of 3: Finding the Right Hat
Step 1. Measure your head before you go shopping
It can help you find the right size hat.
- Use a tape measure (or a cord that you can later measure with a ruler);
- Place the tape measure around the head, about 3 mm above the ears and passing it in the middle of the forehead. This is the approximate point where the hat will rest on the head.
- The tape measure should adhere to the head loosely;
- Remove the tape measure and write down the measurement;
- Hat size varies by manufacturer, so always try on a hat and consult the size chart for more details.
Step 2. Go shopping and try on different hats
Don't be shy - ask them to try on any type of hat that strikes you. You may also receive suggestions from shop assistants to help you get new ideas. Remember, though, that the final decision is up to you.
When shopping for a hat, remember to wear clothing that is typical of your style or, if you are buying the hat for a special occasion, bring the clothes you intend to wear with you so that you can compare them with the hat
Step 3. Make sure the hat is comfortable
When you find the model you like, make sure it is comfortable to wear. It shouldn't squeeze your head or even slip off - what you want is a hat that looks great on you. If the size is wrong, even a little, you will be less inclined to wear it.
If the hat is just too big, you can try using a size reducer. This is a strap placed on the sweat band inside the hat that ensures a better fit
Step 4. Buy the hat, put it on and enjoy
Men should remember to remove their hats indoors, while women can usually wear it wherever they prefer, except at shows, where it may block the view from other spectators (except, of course, for horse racing)
Advice
- If you wear glasses, consider a hat with an upturned brim.
- Consider buying your favorite model in a couple of different colors - this way you can wear it with different outfits.
