Ask Ellbee ~ Hats

Dear Ellbee,

What are your thoughts on hats?

Maria

PS  Never miss your column!

 

Thank you, Maria.  

I’m truly delighted to count you as a regular reader and hope you’ll continue to enjoy “Ask Ellbee!”


As for hats, here are my general thoughts:
 
I adore them.  They frame the face and highlight the eyes beautifully.  

The Eccentric Deerstalker Cap

Plus they add interest to almost any outfit.

While I acknowledge the potential of a hat on a “bad hair day,” I generally do not use them in that capacity.

I believe that any hat associated with a specific sport or activity should not be worn unless actively participating in that sport or activity.  This includes but is not limited to aviator hats, ball caps, bucket or fishing hats and golf hats.  It goes double for deerstalkers.

More specific thoughts:

The Overdone Fedora

The “warm weather fedora” trend has gotten completely out of hand.  

This craze was cute ~ three summers ago.  But now everyone is turning up in one.  It has become so overdone that it’s no longer fun and quirky, but plainly tired.  

Beyond Miami and southern California, the lightweight fedora is best forgotten.  

Instead, look for caps ~ done in straw or a rattan poly-blend.  Their offbeat appeal will be tempered by the definitive, season-specific material.  

Or opt for a colorful cotton sun hat or classic wide-brim straw hat. These tried-and-true styles will always be fashionable.  Bonus:  They offer valuable sun protection (although sunscreen is still recommended).

Cooler weather provides even more choices and options. 

Ski caps and toboggans are best for winter sports and vigorous outdoor activities.  Skip the mass produced knit caps, though.  Stand out with one-of-a-kind creations from online crafting sites like Etsy, DaWanda and Artfire. 

Delightful knit hats currently available at the Pixiebell Etsy Shop

 

If you are crafty yourself, many shops also sell patterns ~ for as little as $5.  A favorite of mine, the Pixiebell Shop on Etsy sells both patterns and the finished product.

Happy days are here again….

Ellbee highly recommends the stylish cloche hat.

Look for a resurgence in dress hats this fall.  Olden classics like the cloche and derby will be back in vogue.  Berets and Gatsby-style caps remain popular as well.

If you’re buying, mind the distinctive shapes; but look for unique fabrics, interesting textures and distinctive details to make a statement.

Or visit auction sites and your local consignment shops for vintage versions.  Make them you own by pinning on a cute brooch or basting on a sweet handmade bow. 

And, for goodness sake, don’t forget the leatherette gloves.

Like to take a peek at more unique knit hats?
Visit Pixiebell’s Etsy Shop.

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Comments

  1. Gabrielle says

    Love this and love the hats! Thanks for the link as well… I’ll be sucked into Etsy for sure! 😉

  2. Cat says

    My giant head unfortunately requires custom-made hats. I learned this the hard way my first year on my high school drill team, when none of the hundred-plus hats the team had on hand fit on my head and our coach had to take me to the hat store to have one custom-made, but not before berating me for having such a large head, as though there were anything I could do about that. Ah, high school memories! My custom-made hat was awesome, by the way, and I’ll bet nobody ever wore it again after I graduated.

  3. Pam says

    Ooh. I WANT that yellow-gold wrap hat. Badly. Is Etsy offering a discount for your little blog peeps?

  4. Jennifer says

    Diane, “HEAD honcho” at Pixiebell, is now discounting select hats! Use the link above to see which ones are 10% off today!

  5. Diane says

    Diane from Pixiebell here! Feel free to use the coupon code FREESHIPPING for free worldwide shipping. A special little gift from me to all your readers!

  6. Jennifer says

    Sweet! I’ll tweet and put up a special announcement on Facebook. Thanks, Diane!

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