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Signature Style-Five Hats to Love

July 6, 2021 By kimwheeler 18 Comments

Today I’m joining up with my Signature Style compadres Cindy Hattersley and Sarah London for some chat about hats! Summer is here and this is the opportunity to add a hat to two to the repertoire and why not? Hats not only are an excellent way to save your skin, they give you instant style cred and let you stand out in a good way..

You may be one of those people who aren’t hat people. My own mother wasn’t a hat fan. She said she didn’t have a good face for hats. I don’t believe that is possible. The truth was she felt a little shy in them I think. There’s a hat for everyone and you just have to find what feels good on you. If you get used to popping one on as you leave the house, after a while you won’t even give it a second thought. I love having them by the front door- and they make cute decor too.

Hats have always held bit of romance for me. Even as a very young girl I’ve been in love with them. One of the first memories I have of someone with a hat style I wanted to emulate was Jane March in the film, The Lover. It’s a semi-autobiographical story by Marguerite Dumas about a young French expat in 1920’s in Colonial Vietnam. I recently rewatched it and honestly had forgotten how racy it was. (Well the title, no duh.) I just remember obsessing on the style of the young woman and how she wore a man’s hat as her signature at a time when women did not do that.

Jane March left in The Lover and a photo of myself around the same era trying to emulate the Jane March look, but backpacking..I was almost not going to share this, as I’m clearly pretty goofy and nothing like Jane..

Something about wearing a man’s hat is great too. They are often more roomy, made tougher and cost less, so don’t bypass them. Even better, see if you can borrow one from the men in your household, if you are so lucky to have a hat wearer in proximity.

Five Hats For Your Wardrobe

A wool felt hat will last forever and can be worn all year. My all-time favorite hat is a men’s felt hat that was bought in a hardware store in Wengen, Switzerland. I have worn this hat all over the world. A felt hat is great all year long and I wear mine in both summer and winter. Just last night, I wore it on the beach to watch fireworks.. It’s my camping hat and farmer’s market hat and for days I am exposed to more sun than usual or cold. I’ve worn it with a sundress as well as hiking gear. I particularly like it when walking in the woods to keep inadvertent things, (okay bugs) from dropping onto my hair. I keep it in my car most of the time so it’s always available. I think this hat looks cute on my husband too.

This hat by Brixton is a wool like mine, packable and comes in a pretty tan and a black. The tan looks very luxe and the black is chic and versatile..

And Madewell has this cute felt rancher hat ..

During summer I naturally gravitate to straw and woven hats and natural materials and it’s wonderful many more are online and in shops.

My latest is this straw hat I bought with my friends in Soquel. Below, Cindy Hattersley and I did a little hat shopping after lunch with friends Heidi and Mary Ann. I was trying on a Tula Garderner’s Hat from Wisteria Antiques and Garden Shop in Soquel, and Cindy has a lovely one too. Which is why you have to pop on over to her blog after this.

I’ve been wearing this ‘rancher’ hat in Tahoe this summer for biking and on the beach. I just think it’s a staple hat everyone could use. It has a little straighter feel and rises on the sides. Oh and someone called it the Bo Derek hat, so that sealed it for me. Could I just put the hat and magically be Bo?

Similar to my hat above is this Jesse Woven Rancher.

Anthropologie has this Braided Fedora

Also cute..this Lack of Color brand hat.. Love the shape, color and the leather cord. (You need this for biking and windy days.)

And then there is the Sage Hat by California company Wyeth, made with an adjustable interior sweatband so you can customize the fit and a cord. Did you know they are called stampede straps? I kind of love that and somehow it gives me visions of being like Jesse in Toy Story.

I also have worn a unisex Panama Hat by the lovely Montecristi Panama Hat Company in Napa for years. I have had three of these and adore them. If you can get to Napa, it is worth the trip to go to the fun shop and meet the lovely family that runs it. They are wonderful people who will help you fall in love with a hat that suits you. They are a very humble family, but they have big stars and celebs that always make a stop at their shop when in the Napa Valley.

If you can’t get to their shop Cuyana has one hand crafted in Ecuador for a good price.

These hats have gone all over with me, but they aren’t crushable so you need to do carry-on with them – aka wear on the plane!

I also love this man’s hat by Wallaroo and of course great price and so cool. I noticed a few women posted pics of themselves wearing it, so others are doing this too.

Can you just see this for with a sundress and sandals or even a white blazer and a skirt? Very Ralph Lauren to me!

Another great option is a woven Fedora Hat and it’s the other hat I bought this year. My black Banana Republic Fedora has been great and IS crushable. On the way to Hawaii recently it got loose on the TSA and was terribly smashed between two trays! My heart sank when it emerged from the X-ray machine, but came out unscathed. A great little hat! Also comes in a natural and 40% off currently, so about $34!

Lastly, a cool new hat that has come on my radar and intrigued me is a rollable hat from Anthropologie like these Woven Visor Hats. They look like a regular hat on, but are easy to throw on like visor, can accommodate a ballerina bun, as one reviewer said, and as they roll, super transportable. Your head does get some sun, but sometimes you want the air ventilation. I guess it depends on the hair and person. This comes in a black and a soft mauve too. Great idea to have rolled up in your purse and ready to go when you are unexpectedly caught out having lunch or anything in direct sun. I tried one at our local Anthropologie and they feel great and do look quite cute!

There are so many fun and chic hats out there. Don’t be afraid to start trying them and find what you like. They are wonderful for keeping your complexion less spotty here in California where we get so much more sun than we realize every day.

I’d love to hear what your thoughts are on hats. Are you a hat person or not?

Cindy Hattersley and Sarah London , my Signature Style pals both wear hats brilliantly and have so much style.. Please pop over to their blogs and see what their take on hats is. I’m sure you’ll be inspired by these ladies!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kim

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Filed Under: hats, Uncategorized Tagged With: #fedorahat, #Fivehatsforyourwardrobe, #hats, #panamahats, #signaturestyle, #signaturestylehats, #summerhats

ON MY RADAR...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah London says

    July 6, 2021 at 1:35 pm

    Such a wonderful collection of hats you have Kim! Thanks for sharing them and your faves from others.. and you never look goofy 😉

    • kimwheeler says

      July 6, 2021 at 9:57 pm

      Hi Sarah, It’s been fun doing this with you. I loved your choices for cooler weather. I kind of can’t wait to wear hats in fall too. xo

    • Lorma says

      July 8, 2021 at 11:26 am

      You have a lovely hat collection and they look good on you. My mum too says she doesn’t have a face for hats but she thinks they suit me. I’m just too shy to wear them anywhere except to the beach. But I do wear beanies all winter. Do they count as hats?

      • kimwheeler says

        July 10, 2021 at 7:23 pm

        Hi Lorna, I bet you look great in them and for the beach is smart. I need a beanie. Yes they count!

  2. Wren says

    July 6, 2021 at 3:48 pm

    I love your selections, Kim. You look great in all of them including as a young girl (you don’t seem to have changed much!).
    I am a sucker for hats! I have one that I had custom-made in New Orleans, an animal print, that I’ve only worn once since it makes me feel like I stand out too much. I have a fedora from Ecuador that I’ve had for about 10 years but some of the fibers have dried out and broken at the crown where the crease pinches together. I wonder if there was something I could have done to prevent that? I have 2 Tula hats with very wide brims and built-in SPF 50 so that’s an added plus. With my pixie cut, I don’t think hats look as good on me. Having some hair showing is better and more feminine, I think.
    I learned years ago from a Western store specializing in “cowboy” attire, not to store your hats brim down but rest them on the crown. Seems unintuitive but is better for the brim so it doesn’t change the shape.
    Thanks for the fun post and the one from Cindy too.

    • kimwheeler says

      July 6, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      Hi Wren, You sound like you have some cool hats. The Tula brand seems really well made. I have never heard that advice before about storing them. Thank you for that!`So happy you enjoyed the post!

  3. LA CONTESSA says

    July 6, 2021 at 4:15 pm

    YOU ARE MY HAT GAL!
    THANK GOODNESS I PICKED YOU TO PICK UP MY HAT BUT I THINK HEIDI GOT THAT JOB!
    REGARDLESS, YOU LOOK TERRIFIC IN HATS!
    I HAVE WAY TOO MANY BUT DO LIKE THEM AROUND THE HOUSE SO I CAN GRAB AND GO!
    BRILLIANT POST!
    OFF I GO TO SEE WHAT SARH HAS TO SAY!
    XXX

    • kimwheeler says

      July 6, 2021 at 9:46 pm

      Elizabeth, I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who had a better hat collection, nor looked so good in them! You always give me hat inspiration. I should have shared your cool hat! I will deliver soon. xoxo

  4. Wendy Sievers says

    July 6, 2021 at 4:21 pm

    I, too, am a hat gal! I’ve had to stay out of the sun the last 20 years or so and have quite a collection myself. You have shown a few I haven’t seen and may have to check out! Your post is very timely for me because I just got another delivered today from Wallaroo to wear in and on the water in Hawaii. Thanks for the great post!

    • kimwheeler says

      July 6, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      Hi Wendy! I’m so glad you found some hats you haven’t seen. The Walaroo hats do seem so nice. Have fun in Hawaii.

  5. Liana says

    July 7, 2021 at 1:17 am

    I love your collection of hats, and your picture of Jane March inspired hat is absolutely adorbs , in fact you’re a great hat wearer. I loved this post, thanks for introducing me to the rancher hat. Recently, I’ve been very much in love with beret hats, so French , so chic, and my savior to bad hair days 😉.

    • kimwheeler says

      July 8, 2021 at 8:40 pm

      HI Liana, Thank you. I don’t know how great I look, but I do love them Berets are beautiful and I do think I need to try one when fall happens. Yes and I do love them for the ease and hiding the bad hair!

  6. Heidi says

    July 7, 2021 at 7:36 am

    Hi Kim,
    You look so darned cute in every one of these pics! You are the cool girl, you were stylish even when backpacking!
    I love all your hats, I have so many but it may be time for me to cull some and a refresh of my hat wardrobe. When I had my convertible I always kept one in my car, now that I drive a closed top car I keep at least six in the back for all occasions. Doesn’t make sense but at least I’m ready for anything!
    I’m going to check out a few that you linked, thanks for this post!
    Bo Derek!
    XO,
    Heidi

    • kimwheeler says

      July 8, 2021 at 8:37 pm

      Heidi you are nice. I can see you in the convertible with your hats! So Heidi! Why not have them ready and available right? Good plan! Right Bo Derek.. If only.. I have to say she’s aging well. I follow her on Insta. xo

  7. Leslie Haws says

    July 7, 2021 at 8:20 pm

    Great post! Enjoyed it all. I, too, loved “The Lover”. I have the dvd and the soundtrack (I’m dating myself)! Yes, it was racy but fascinating . The film technique made me feel like I was living in the movie. I could probably be a “groupie” if I thought about it. Thanks for reminding me of a time many years ago!

    • kimwheeler says

      July 8, 2021 at 8:34 pm

      HI Leslie! I so agree.. There is something about that movie that was so transporting to a different time and place! I think that is why I loved it so much. Glad someone else feels the same!

  8. Lorna says

    July 8, 2021 at 11:27 am

    Have n idea how my first comment ended up where it did. The heat is making me drunk.

    • kimwheeler says

      July 10, 2021 at 7:23 pm

      It’s okay! xo

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