The Art of Wearing Hats: What to choose. Where to find. How to style.

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FIND IT: ALMOST EVERYWHERE

Trilbies can be bought in every hat establishment you can think of – vintage shops, high-street shops, milliners and even fancy-dress shops. You now have no excuse not to get one.

PERFECT IT: DON A WAISTCOAT

Whether male or female, this is not only dapper, but authoritative and oh-so-suave.

STYLE GURU

The one and only Justin Timberlake has displayed a wealth of trilbies over the years. The smooth-talking singer often wears them with a Suit & Tie, and that’s Not a Bad Thing.

The BOWLER (#ulink_0049ef08-74e1-5d67-b824-722b2687ec75) —

The world’s first bowler hat was made for a gamekeeper in 1849, and the first thing he did when he saw it was jump on it. No, that wasn’t out of disgust, but to check whether it could support his weight and thus be suitable for wearing in all weathers. Although originally meant for withstanding the sharp winds and torrential rain of the British countryside, it was quickly adopted by city workers in Britain and America before falling out of regular use in the 1960s. An easier-to-wear, modern version has recently exploded back onto the scene, making the bowler a distinctly stylish hat once more.

WEAR IT: IN THE DRY OR THE DAMP

Because bowler hats are tight-fitting, the wind can’t blow them off your head (a common and harrowing problem that will be addressed in Chapter 4), and their tough felt material isn’t bothered by a bit of rain.

OWN IT: SMALL HEADS AND ROUND FACES

Modern incarnations of the hat are fashioned to rest primly atop your head, suiting round faces in particular. They’re not big hats, so smaller heads benefit from this.

STYLE IT: BLACK SKINNY JEANS, A STRIPED TOP AND A BOWLER

This look is not only embarrassingly easy to put together, but also gives a classic twist to a popular outfit.

FIND IT: HIGH STREET

Bowler hats are everywhere. You’ll find one in most big high-street shops from autumn through to spring.

PERFECT IT: ALL NIGHT LONG

Swap trainers for smart shoes to go from a stylish daytime to a polished evening look.

STYLE GURU

Fearne Cotton, a respected hat champion, often nails the bowler, teamed with a simple, ‘thrown-together’ look and a dash of lipstick.

The CLOCHE (#ulink_1a4a60f3-a202-52fd-9f1d-1c8d2d2a3de8) —

The 1920s is perhaps the only era defined by a hat. The cloche – chic, stylish and simple – was created by French milliner Caroline Reboux. By 1924 the cloche had transfixed the continent, even inspiring novels such as The Green Hat, which became known as the book that encapsulated the frenzied hysteria of the decade. Snuggly skimming the nape of the neck, the cloche creates an elegant, elongated line that evokes nostalgia for a time long past.

WEAR IT: DAY OR NIGHT

One of the most versatile of hats, it never fails to deliver a final splash of panache to every outfit.

OWN IT: CROPPED HAIR

On account of its structured shape the cloche is fairly rigid, and it might be difficult to wear one if you have big hair. A cropped haircut is neat and will peek out from beneath like a secret begging to be discovered.

STYLE IT: FULL SKIRTS AND FLOATY DRESSES

Although originally worn with the slim-fitting, scandalous dresses of the 1920s, the cloche is great for balancing the flare of big skirts with its graceful shape.

FIND IT: INDEPENDENT HAT SHOPS

While high-street shops are starting to adopt the cloche, independent hat shops have a real variety of colours and styles to help you find your unique hat.

PERFECT IT: THROW ON A CAPE

It might sound strange, but instead of putting on a coat in the winter try wearing a cape, letting it lend that extra element of dignity that the cloche completes. It’s also particularly fun to swoosh around in ...

STYLE GURU

Check out Angelina Jolie in The Changeling for hats that will change your world for the better.

GET THE LOOK: The 1920s (#ulink_3ce1daf7-dd63-57cb-9018-0ebcc486ddd4)

For setting the world on fire with fierce cropped hair and unapologetic lifestyles, women of the 1920s are still idolised today. Draped in beads or furs, their look is not now a practical one, but it can be tweaked to help you achieve that dazzling aura.

THE HAT Any cloche hat will work for this look, but pay attention to detail so you find one that will match one other element of your outfit – be that colour, design or fabric.

THE OUTFIT To achieve the full style, aim for a loose-fitting, drop-waisted dress. This doesn’t need to be smart or formal – the beauty of this look is that it’s meant to seem like it’s simply been thrown on in a slapdash manner.

THE ACCESSORIES A string of pearls and dark red lipstick are all you really need to complete the outfit, but incorporating fur into it will finish it off to perfection. This could be in the form of a coat or cape with fur attached, or a simple fur collar. The latter in particular can be found in various vintage shops.

The BOATER (#ulink_0a10a113-fad5-5d12-ad0a-ad21b72236f7)—

The boater’s first foray into fashion was as an informal hat, heralding a new age of wearing hats for leisure. It was worn by men during the summer months in the early 20th century, having previously served as an item of uniform for Victorian schoolchildren (how delightful if that could still be enforced!). It’s now most often seen during the famed Henley Royal Regatta every summer, as well as remaining popular in many European countries.

WEAR IT: SUMMERTIME

As an exclusively straw hat, stick to wearing this during the summer. Don’t worry about getting caught in the rain, though – the thick straw can easily withstand the wet.

OWN IT: WIDE BRIMS FOR WIDE FACES