The Hat’s Out of the Bag!

This post was written by one of my favorite ladies, Michelle at Wicked Whimsy. Michelle’s a funky & fun femme who shares a love of colored hair, Fluevogs, and head adornments.  Check out her site, share some love with her, and thank her for being so lovely as to guest post for me!

Via Rossina Bossio

Once upon a time, people would rarely be seen in public without some sort of head adornment. It simply wasn’t considered proper. And then, around the 1960s, hats slowly but surely faded from fashion – I’ve read it was due to JFK hating them, but I’m not sure if that’s accurate or not. Now, hats are firmly in the realm of “special occasions” or “purely practical” for most people, and this, ladies & gentlemen, is a crying shame! Let’s bring back the hat, shall we?

Side note: the hat’s feathered sister, the fascinator, is also an amazing accessory, but some diligent soul(s) already went about bringing it back. So this post will be focused purely on hats.

Hat by Pretty Good Things

The Unstructured Hat (aka: floppy hats)

These hats are the most common today. Beanies, toques, tams, most berets, and almost any knitted or crocheted hat that hasn’t been felted will fall into this category.

How to wear: These can be thrown on with almost any outfit, providing that there’s some degree of color coordination or purposeful contrast. They’re comfortable, warm, and great for covering up a bad hair day!

Hat by Audra Jean

The Structured Hat (aka: fancy-lookin’ hats)

Structured hats are usually made out of blocked wool or straw, and include fedoras, most cloches, and top hats. These hats will usually cost a little more than an unstructured hat*, but they should last years if properly taken care of. Obviously, straw is the better choice of material if you live in a hot or humid clime, and wool is better for cooler climates or seasons.

How to wear: Personally, I think these hats look best with a clean, sharp silhouette. A tailored pair of pants, some brogues, a vest over a solid-color top & a top hat would make a great menswear inspired outfit; or you could wear an a-line skirt or full skirt with a fitted top and some heels. Simple, but the addition of a hat will make it eye-catching.

Hat by Bubbles & Frown

The Whimsical Hat (aka: “holy crap, where did you get that?!” hat)

These are my personal favorite! Tiny top hats, huge Victorian creations, and everything in between fall into this category – these will definitely be the crowning glory of your ensemble.

How to wear: With whatever strikes your fancy! Don’t worry about looking costumey or any stares you might receive, just wear what makes you feel fabulous. Which, really, is applicable in any situation, but even more so here.

Hats are a wonderful way to expand your wardrobe and have fun while doing so. They’re a less common accessory than most nowadays, but definitely worth checking into.

Oh, and a reminder: I’ve seen people complain before about the price of handmade hats; please don’t. Millinery is a time consuming craft, hat blocks are expensive, and a lot of hand-work is involved in the process. People who hand-make items have to pay rent, too!

Thank you, my darling Michelle for the great post (and the especially fantastic words of wisdom at the end!).

Tagged as: hats, indie designers, tiny top hats