Because there are so many different kinds of hats, it can be bewildering for the fashionable man to decide what to wear on various occasions. Even though the trick is to know which hats go better with certain outfits, making up your mind is easier said than done because a wrong pick can make you stand out from the crowd for all the wrong reasons. A brief guide to some of the world’s most popular hats, you can think of adding to your collection:
Panama
A classic in the world of hats, Panama is best for wearing in warm weather due to its low weight and color. The origin of the Panama hat lies in Ecuador, where the native craftsmen excelled in fabricating them from the plaited leaves of a Toquilla palm. A well-constructed Panama hat is highly breathable, lightweight, and sturdy. The ones with a tight weave and superior quality finish can be expensive because it can take as many as eight months of hard labor to manufacture one. The Panama hat goes best with crisp cotton or linen outfits and is an ideal summer accessory for those who love to spend time outdoors.
Bucket
After having gone out of fashion for a long time, the Bucket hat has made a comeback among fashionable men looking to boost the impact of their casual attire by several notches. The Bucket hat gets its name from its shape, but as ordinary as it may sound, it can prove to be a very stylish accessory for gentlemen wishing to dress up or down, depending on the kind of Bucket hat chosen. The hat possesses a characteristic narrow brim that slopes down. Originally favored by rural farmers and fishermen, the Bucket hat is usually made from heavy-duty fabrics like canvas, denim, and tweed. Often the hat’s crown has metal eyelets to allow better ventilation. It provides great sun protection and is a popular fashion accessory for gentlemen favoring a rustic appearance.
Pork Pie
Made popular by film stars like Buster Keaton, the Pork Pie hat got its name from the traditional pork pie commonly found on British dining tables. Similar to the Fedora hat, Pork Pie hats made from felt or wool have a characteristic flat crown, a brim that curls upwards, and a crease on the inside top edge. Pork Pie hats are best worn with smart casual attire. There is a fair amount of leeway regarding the height of the crown and the width of the brim, and you can choose one from the many options of mens hat styles.
Boonie
The Boonie is a variant of the widely-used slouch hat and is popular with those serving in the military in places with hot tropical and desert weather. The Boonie looks similar to the bucket hat but has distinctive webbing surrounding the crown that sometimes extends to the short brim. This webbing comes in handy when you run out of space in your pockets to keep essentials. Cotton is the most widely-used material for making modern Boonie hats.
Trilby
While it may seem similar to a Fedora, a close inspection will reveal it to be quite different. The crown of a Trilby is characteristically pointier than that of a Fedora. Also, the brim of a Trilby is fixed and set at a more severe angle, while the Fedora has a snap or movable brim. Normally made from straw or tweed, the Trilby has a taller crown and a shorter brim than the Fedora, which makes it ideal for wearing it right from spring to autumn. Many people wear the Trilby at the back of their heads instead of pulling it forward to make a statement. The Trilby has emerged as the choice of the upper class, and thus you can spot them at the races and live music concerts. A Trilby looks best on men with slender shoulders, according to Hat Realm.
Fedora
Once identified with businessmen and bankers, the Fedora is now more widely accepted. You can spot a Fedora from a distance because of the distinctive indented crown with a crease running its length. The front is pinched on both sides, and the brim is around 2.5 inches or even more. After a brief hiatus, the Fedora is again high on the list of fashion accessories and represents a good addition to the wardrobe. Even though you can get a Trilby in various colors, it is better to buy one in a neutral color for matching with your outfits better.
Conclusion
The choice of the hat should depend mainly on the occasion, the weather, and what kind of a statement you want to make. While the hats discussed above represent some popular choices, there are many more hat types that can easily find a place in your wardrobe. The secret to wearing hats is not judging which of them are fashionable but which ones you can carry off with confidence and élan.