Top It Off Or Drop It Fast
Summer is the season of sweat, sunshine, and the eternal struggle to look cute without melting. You could slather on sunscreen and call it a day… or you could top things off with a hat. But not just any hat. Some styles deserve a beach day and an Instagram story, while others should stay buried in your closet. So, first, let’s take a look at ten hat styles that deserve their moment in the sun.
Alexander Stemplewski on Pexels
1. Panama Hat
Originating in Ecuador (not Panama), this iconic straw hat made waves at the 1855 World’s Fair in Paris. It’s hand-woven from toquilla palm and prized for its breathability. So, wear yours at beach weddings, outdoor cafes, or music festivals.
2. Boater Hat
What began as rowing club headgear evolved into a dapper staple of Edwardian summers. With its flat crown and ribbon band, the boater delivers structured charm. It belongs on manicured lawns, next to croquet sets and lemonade glasses.
3. Straw Bucket Hat
Mod fashion’s 1960s swing brought bucket hats into youth culture, but straw versions introduced rustic charm. Lightweight and crushable, they travel easily and pair well with flowy dresses or breezy shirts. Toss one on before a beach boardwalk stroll.
4. Wide-Brim Sun Hat
Nothing beats a dramatic brim when it comes to UV defense. Often exceeding five inches in width, these hats date back to 18th-century garden parties. Ideal for long poolside reads or vineyard strolls, they command presence and offer shade.
5. Fedora (Straw Version)
A symbol of mid-century cinema cool, the fedora gets a seasonal twist when crafted in straw. Its crisp crown and smart brim structure your summer outfits without weighing them down. Worn during coastal evenings, it easily pulls every look together.
6. Cloche Hat
Shaped like a bell and snug by design, the cloche hat defined 1920s femininity. In summer versions, raffia and cotton soften its Art Deco edges, making it perfect for park picnics. Plus, it frames the face beautifully to give a chic look.
7. Floppy Hat
Soft, sweeping, and possibly the most extroverted hat of the bunch, the floppy hat feels like it wandered in straight from a Stevie Nicks song. Moreover, the brim doesn’t just block sunlight; it also casts shifting shadows across your face like a live-action Instagram filter.
8. Pork Pie Hat
Named for its similarity to the British meat pie, the pork pie hat packs a punch in its flat-topped, snap-brim silhouette. Especially in summer, straw and seagrass versions bring bounce and breathability without dulling its edge.
9. Safari Hat
The safari hat was once the choice of 19th-century explorers and Victorian-era botanists with questionable bug spray. Today, its ventilation holes, neck cords, and wide, sloping brims still cater to those who treat summer like a scavenger hunt.
10. Gambler Hat
The gambler hat, with its low, oval crown and rolled brim, became famous along the Mississippi River. These days, its straw versions soften the swagger just enough to fit modern porches. Lastly, add bold sunglasses and take your hat game full circle this summer.
GINGER : The Easy-to-Style Gambler Hat by Gigi Pip
Now comes the part where we dig into the hats that time—and taste—didn’t treat so kindly.
1. Top Hat
Towering symbols of 19th-century elitism, top hats haven’t graced casual wear since Queen Victoria ruled. Abraham Lincoln famously wore one, but unless you’re on stage or reenacting, leave it behind. Sweaty, stiff, and oversized, it just traps heat.
2. Bowler Hat
Once a staple for British bankers and Charlie Chaplin, the bowler hat feels cartoonish today. Designed in 1849 to protect gamekeepers’ heads from low branches, its dome shape and rigid silhouette clash with breezy summer attire.
3. Fez
The fez is more of a cultural artifact than a summer accessory. It’s flat-topped, brimless, and usually red with a tassel that spins in the breeze like a confused ceiling fan. No shade, no ventilation, and a tendency to fall off your head during mild wind gusts make it useless for modern-day sunshine seekers.
4. Bicorn Hat
Two peaks and one mistake. This hat flattens the top of your head while making your side profile resemble a pair of bird wings in flight. Plus, it’s impossible to sit in a convertible without the corners catching air like airplane flaps.
Marie-Lan Nguyen (Jastrow) on Wikimedia
5. Capotain (Pilgrim Hat)
This hat on the list screams Puritanical austerity as it is stiff and usually sports a buckle. Popular in the 1600s, this hat lacks ventilation and visual appeal. Would you wear colonial boots with your swimsuit? Exactly. Let it rest with Thanksgiving centerpieces and dusty history books.
Chapeau Short: Pilgrim Hat by Hat Historian
6. Cartwheel Hat
Debuting in the 1930s and ballooning into postwar opulence by the '50s, the cartwheel hat was the original satellite dish of style. Massive, flat, and circular, it framed faces like a picture but blocked anyone standing to your side.
7. Mushroom Hat
This one bloomed in the 1910s and puffed up again in the 1950s, like a fungal fashion trend that just wouldn’t die. Its brim droops softly all around, making heads look like they’re retreating into little fabric caves. Moreover, in high humidity, it collapses faster than a half-baked soufflé.
8. Cavalier Hat
Aristocrats once wore these hats at court while gesturing wildly with goblets and poetry. But today, that swooping brim and showboating plume just says, “I brought a bird to brunch.” It’s impractical in every way—too large for chairs and one gust of wind away from aerodynamic disaster.
9. Bycocket (Robin Hood Hat)
Bycocket is shaped like an elf’s dream and usually worn tilted with a feather poking out like a fancy antenna. Pair it with anything modern, and you risk looking like you have wandered out of fantasy fan fiction. On top of that, it doesn’t shade, and it doesn’t ventilate.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
10. Sombrero
Huge brims and high crowns make the sombrero more heritage than a hot-weather go-to. Worn by Mexican ranchers for protection in arid fields, it's impractical for patios or parks. So, respect its roots, and don’t just reduce it to a summer costume.
