Can You Wear Hats?

Tina, here.

Hats scare me. But I love them. I typically only wear them when I'm out of town. Because who cares what strangers think of you who you'll never see again? But why can't I be more mature and self-possessed in town, and throw caution to the wind and just wear a darn hat? I don't like attention, or people looking at me all the time, and hats tend to draw attention. The thing that makes no sense is that I still love hats. So it's a real conundrum for me. Wear a hat and be looked at, or stifle my true self and stupidly believe that people even care and stare, because they don't.

BIG hat. A glorious hat, actually. Made by Carol Carr Millinery. With vintage netting and Lady Amherst feathers imported from England and hand-tinted. Found at Stacey Rhodes Boutique in Brentwood, TN.

With the Kentucky Derby (this past Saturday) and Steeplechase upcoming this weekend in Nashville, and summer in general, it's time to take a serious look at how to wear hats and not look stupid. That's what's everyone's afraid of, right? (I've hand-selected the perfect fedoras, straw hats for the beach and beautiful garden party hats, including a $21 monogrammed floppy hat!, all in the brand-new May Style Vault, and the special bonus issue, Dresses For Every Occasion. Find out how you can shop them here.)

Great hat. Not great on me. Until I show you how to wear it...keep reading.

We went shopping at Stacey Rhodes Boutique just outside of Nashville. This shop has become a destination for hats (not for sale online, but visit their website for photos and if you call them I bet they'll work with you to find your perfect hat). Stacey and her team were kind enough to let us play dress-up and we even convinced 2 ladies to be our models. Now, take into consideration these 3 rules when buying hats if you don't want lots of stares and just want to wear a hat for the sun protection or cause you just plain like hats: scale, shape and decorative ornaments.

Keep the scale in proportion to your stature.

Floppy hats are in. Can everyone wear them? No - if you have a really small head, you will drown under the rim. And if you're petite, then you will disappear altogether. The rim of the hat on the right is more in scale with our model's smaller head. The crown is actually taller, which gives her height. Brill, right? Both fab hats from Stacey Rhodes Boutique.

What shape is your face? If you have a square face, you'll want an architectural hat, in other words no round hats or bowlers. If you have a long narrow face, stick with smaller brims. If you have a round face, a hat with sharp lines will not frame your soft features kindly.

This fedora is perfect for our model, who has a long narrow face. The brim is not too short or long, and nothing is overwhelming her petite frame.

The taller you are, the wider and taller you can go on the brim and bowl.

Ooooh such a fun party hat. If I wore this hat to Steeplechase, I'd pair it with a simple dress so as not to overwhelm it, and high heels because it needs some grounding and presence. A wild dress and no extra height would cause this hat to go flat.

You've also got to wear hats properly. Do not wear a hat on the back of your head like adorable Anne of Green Gables.

Hats on adults shouldn't sit way back on the head, Anne can, you can't wear it like this. Photo source.

Here's your visual for how to wear a hat properly. Place it on your head so that the rim is even with the floor. Not far back on your head like on the right, but just back slightly so you can see out from under it, as on the left. You can tip it slightly to one side, key word slightly.

Decorations. Great for special events like the races and outdoor parties. Keep them to a minimum for your everyday beach hat or running around town (the floppy monogrammed hat in the May Style Vault is soooo cute and it's only $21.99!). It's like you're yelling everywhere you go if your hat is really loud and attention-grabbing. So be careful.

For an everyday hat, if you're going to go colorful, like this pink hat, a fedora is the right size to keep it from being obnoxious. But you can go all out for special occasions. Huge, feathers, bows, plastic figurines, you name it.

You know my thing for dressage? Well, let me just say that I've worn 2 different top hats to the last 2 Steeplechases in Nashville. I just think they're so cool. Not your everyday hat, but great for a "function." This one is by Louise Green.

One more look at the amazing, statement-making Carol Carr hat with Lady Amherst feathers. But really, I just wanted another excuse to talk about Lady Amherst feathers.

All new May Style Vault has landed (with lots of easy-to-wear hats)! Plus, this month a special bonus issue, Dresses For Every Occasion. Savings of over $1,000 inside, for members only. Shop all my favorite May looks in one easy place. And save while you shop. It's like walking into a beautifully laid out dressing room I picked just for you.

Join the Style Vault Now!

Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out all our Nashville wardrobe consulting services for men and women while you’re here – if you are in Nashville, you get us up close and personal, plus you can access our exclusive in-store discounts! It’s wedding season, and we have a Groom’s Package and love helping MOB’s and MOG’s.