Hats are always a wardrobe and catwalk staple, and all heads are embracing them this summer. The right headwear can turn an outfit from ordinary to stunning, and there won’t be another one exactly like it anywhere.
Panamas look great with distressed denim, so get those shorts and jeans ripped and ready. Pay homage to the twenties with a jaunty boater, or to the wild west in a cowboy hat. Fedoras are fabulous in felt, or any other material. Try one in leather, and for a touch of class, match with a mini.
As for colours, anything goes, but use contrasts to define them. Metal studs stand out on a dark finish, for example. Tie a black or brightly-coloured sash, or a chiffon scarf, around natural or white. Match black, brown or navy hats with similar skirts, and then break them up with white camis or blouses.
Top layers of pretty pastels with a hat of two or three pastel shades, ringed by a pale ribbon. Anchor the whole with suede boots. Dress from head to toe in shades of brown, from beige to chocolate. Pick up on the tropical trend with a hat or scarf in an exotic pattern of flowers, fruit or birds.
Scour second hand shops or online auction sites for vintage offerings, or check local selling groups on social media. Get your whole outfit this way! It could be an original take on occasion wear for weddings or that trip to Ascot that you’re making in your dreams; but we’re not mentioning fascinators.
Tops are up to you, but loose seems to work best, so try something like a boyfriend shirt or baggy tee. Wear with anything from floral maxis to romper suits, and layer with kimonos or crochet dresses over bikini tops and crops. Check out how well bikini tops hit it off with long floaty skirts, too!
Of course, it can be a practical thing, too, protecting us from the sun’s rays. Talk up your pale and mysterious status with a wide floppy brim, or stay street-wise in a visor or baseball cap. When the wind bothers you, or on bad hair days, you might prefer a simple pull-on.
However, the time has long gone when we covered our heads just to keep out the weather. We say that come rain or shine, day or night, hats are always cool, and summer 2014 is no exception!
The featured photo is of Geneva Vanderzeil wearing denim shorts from One Teaspoon, black bikini top from Triangl and a Panama hat from J. Crew
Rachel Parcell is wearing a shirt dress from 3.1 Phillip Lim, hat from Rag and Bone, boots from Vince, bag from Tiffany & Co. and sunglasses from Karen Walker
Rachel Parcell is wearing a shirt dress from 3.1 Phillip Lim, hat from Rag and Bone, boots from Vince, bag from Tiffany & Co. and sunglasses from Karen Walker
Banging Fashion is wearing a hat from Zara, crop top from MissGuided
Petra Karlsson is wearing a a top from H&M, trousers from Åhlens and the hat is from Choies
Kristina Bazan is wearing a top from Minusey, jacket from The Kooples, shoes from Zara, bag from Valentino, hat from H&M and trousers from Hugo Boss
Barbora Ondrackova is wearing a sweater from American Apparel, shorts from H&M , boots from Vagabond, black felt fedora hat from Choies and a bag from Celine
Stella Wants To Die is wearing a panama hat, shirtf from Zara, skirt from Kling, bag from Stradivarius and sandals from Zara
Nika Huk is wearing a yellow cami dress from SheInside and the hat is from River Island
Sonya Esman is wearing a grey top from River Island, a vintage skirt, boots from ASOS, bag from Chanel and a hat from TopShop
Sirma Markova is wearing a ruffle top from Zara, shorts from Stradivarius, backpack from Choies and a hat from Parfois
Olivia Purvis is wearing a fedora from Asos, dress from Barbara Hulanicki, bag from Lulu Guinness and shoes from Topshop
Alexandra Pereira is wearing lace trimmed shorts from Chicwish, top from Anine Bing, beige Panama hat and a bag from Prada
Andee Layne is wearing a white button down shirt from Urban Outfitters, whie jeans from Hudson, shoes from Sam Edelman, hat from Janessa Leone and the bag is from Givenchy
Victoria Tornegren is wearing cut off denim shorts from Levi’s, hat from Åhléns, top from Estradeur and the sunglasses and the shoes are from NLY
Thao Nhi Le is wearing a lace dress from Sheinside, and a hat from H&M
Katarzyna Tusk is wearing a white jumpsuit from H&M and a Fedora from Asos
Kenza Zouiten is wearing a blouse and skirt from Zara, sunglasses from JFR, bag from Balenciaga, boots from Jeffrey Campbell and a hat from TopShop
Chiara Ferragni is wearing wedges from Isabel Marant, shorts from Mlle Mademoiselle, shirt from Iro and a bag from Louis Vuitton
Negin Mirsalehi is wearing a striped top from Monki, a panama hat from Nasty Gal and denim shorts from Levi’s
Maritsa is wearing a deep V white tee from I Am Not Basic and a hat from TopShop
Kristina Bazan is wearing a sequin top, shorts from Guess, hat from The Kooples, shoes from Just Anna and a bag from Stella McCartney 
Carmen Hamilton is wearing a black cami from J Brand, sunglasses from Le Specs and the bag is from Dylan Kain 
Cathrine Heienberg in a white summer dress and hat 
Kristina Bazan is wearing a black top from Zara, bag from Stella McCartney, shoes from Just Anna and a hatfrom The Kooples 
Helen Janneson is wearing a white chrochet dress from Chicwish 
Flavia Desgranges is wearing a brown leather jacket from Boda Skins and a hat from Lack Of Color 
Mija is wearing a denim jacket from Acne Studios, white summer dress from Mango, felt hat from Janessa Leone, bucket bag from Mansur Gavriel and boots from Isabel Marant 
Paulien is wearing a bikini top from Mango, white skirt from H&M and the hat is from Urban Outfitters 
Amber Fillerup Clark is wearing a khaki top from Free People, trousers from 7 For All Mankind, boots from Zara, hat from Nordstrom and the bag is from Coach 
Zoé Alalouch is wearing scarf from Vintage, jeans and sandals from Zara and the bag is from Balenciaga 
Sophie Elkus is wearing a paisley romper suit and hat from Zimmerman and the bag is from Stella McCartney 
We Wore That is wearing a red print precioso dress from For Love and Lemons and a vintage necklace 
Stella Wants To Die is wearing a black skirt from Kling, bag from Su-Shi, boots from Au Revoir Cinderella, trench coat from Zara and a hat 
Jazmine Rocks is wearing a denim dress from Primark, hat from Miss Selfridge and shoes from Bertie 
Amber Fillerup Clark is wearing a white top from Helmut Lang, black distressed jeans and boots from Rag & Bone and a floppy fedora from Nordstrom 
Zoé Alalouchoe is wearing a kimono from Janet & John, top from H&M, shoes from Zara and a bag from Promod 
Alexandra Pereira is wearing a black and white pattern shirt from H&M, hat from Styligion and the boy bag is from Chanel 
Julietta is wearing a black hat from Zalando, top from H&M, and the shorts are from Monash 
Mafalda Castro is wearing a white dress from ÂMÈ Concept and bag and shoes from Zara, sunglasses from 
Merrick White is wearing a graphic statement T-shirt and panama hat from J. Crew 
Julia Engel is wearing a kimono from Kite & Butterfly, pink top from Isabel Marant, shorts from One Teaspoonhat from Maison Michel and a Chanel bag 
Sonya Esman is wearing a vintage plaid shirt, denim shorts from Levi’s, sandals from Zara, hat from Worth & Worth and bag from Dolce Gabbana 
Negin Mirsalehi is wearing a patterned print dress, shoes and hat. All from Guess 
Arielle Nachami is wearing ripped jeans from Levi’s, sunglasses from Smoke X Mirrors, shoes from Valentino, hat from Urban Outfitters and the T-shirt is from Nation 
Helen Janneson is wearing a South Pacific Maxi Dress by Tysa and the hat is from Brixton 
Evangelie Smyrniotaki is wearing a white top and shorts from Isabel Marant, hat from Missoni and a fringed purse from Jordan Makarof 
Marianna N is wearing a blue and white pattern print dress from Zara, bag from Furla, and ballerinas from Aldo
