How to Buy and Wear a Hat

Fashion designers consider hats to be among the most stylish and versatile accessories that one can wear. Hats add a polished look to your outfit and are a wardrobe essential for every woman.

Here's a quick guide on how to choose a hat and how to wear one.

Matching hats with facial shape

Hats should balance out the shape of your face. Choose a hat that softens the shape of your face. If you have a round face, your hat should not have a round crown but a square one. Oval faces look best in hats with exaggerated brims. For square faces, hats with round crowns and asymmetrical brims are most flattering. Finally, if you have a heart-shaped face, wear a small hat and make a statement with interesting brims.

Hat colours and skin tone

If you have a pale complexion, a golden undertone, blonde/straw coloured hair and blue/green eyes, you will look best with hats in bright colours such as coral, turquoise, yellow, bright blue and bright green. Avoid dark and dull colours. If you have pinkish skin, blue undertones, and blonde/brunette hair, choose a hat in pastel colours like baby blue and pink, rosy brown, and mauve. Avoid orange. If you have golden undertones, brown hair, and golden brown eyes, go for hats in earthy colours like brown, olive, and camel. Avoid pinks and dark blues. If you have a honey bronze or dark complexion, brown hair and dark eyes, your hats should be in shades of ivory, white, dark grey, rich navy, emerald, bright red and wine. Avoid orange

Body type and hats

Larger women should wear hats with wide brims to attain a proportionate look. Shorter women should wear hats with high crowns and narrow brims (or no brims) to add the illusion of height. Tall women should opt for hats with a flat crown.

Women's hat styles

Right now, the latest hat trends are to wear wide-brimmed hats and felt hats with ribbon details, classic trilby hats with floral details, fedoras in pinstripes and plaid, and suede hats with feather trims.

Tips on how to stylishly wear a hat

Don't match your hat to your outfit. Go for contrast, be it in terms of colour or material. Go for hats with a slightly dipped front brim for a sophisticated and chic look. Try wearing masculine hats with a very feminine outfit and makeup for an edgy look.

Hats add definition to a look and complete an outfit beautifully. It is worth it to invest in a good quality hat and mix and match it with different outfits for a unique look.