Signature Style-Five Hats to Love

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..

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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.

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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.

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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..

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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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