It doesn’t matter if you want to top off your signature style or conceal your thinning hair — hats offer timeless elegance. That said, it does take a little finesse to successfully pair one with your outfit.
You can don a dad cap with nearly anything, but you won’t win many fashion points. If you want a slick, pulled-together style that wows the folks you meet, you need to treat your hat like you would a tie. If it matches, it polishes off your ensemble.
Here are 10 tips to get you started.
1. Look Fine in a Fedora
If you want to rock a classic Humphrey Bogart look, you need the right hat. You can polish nearly any suit with this topper. You should wear your fedora with a slight tilt to either side and slightly forward. Don’t go too far, or you risk losing your happy thoughts.
2. Try a Trilby
Do you have a long, narrow face? If so, rock the Pete Dougherty look with a stylish trilby over a suit and tie. Measure for the ideal fit by running a tape measure ½ to 1 inch above your ears. Average men have a seven and ⅜ inch head size, and if yours comes in under the margin, this style may solve your problems.
3. Style Like a Player
There’s nothing like a baseball cap on days when your hair looks worse for wear or keep the sun out of your eyes. Plus, it gives you a way to show your favorite team some love. These look ideal paired with anything from jeans to comfy pants, although they’re so ubiquitous, no one will think twice if you use one to top off trousers.
4. Play in a Panama
If they gave awards for false advertising, this chapeau might win — they don’t come from a central American nation. Rather, many Panama hats stem from the town of Cuenca in Ecuador. This hat tops off nearly any summer style, from a floral Hawaiian shirt to a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up.
5. Do It Like Dad
Dad caps are like baseball caps without the snapback. Therefore, you have to find the right size for your cabeza, but most contain a touch of elastic for a snug fit. If you can find one like Scotty Smalls wore in “The Sandlot,” you can rock any Halloween party without investing in an additional costume.
6. Be Classy in a Bowler
If the weather demands a wool suit for warmth, top it off with a bowler. These hats resemble fedoras, but they sit squarely atop your head and keep it comfortable, even in snowy conditions. Pair it with a lined trench coat, and you’ll look delightful even when the weather’s frightful.
7. Stay Warm in a Beanie
However, a bowler might look more than a bit over the top if you are dressed in casual wear. For winter days when you rock jeans or corduroys, go with a classic beanie. These cover your ears to keep your internal temperature from dropping too precipitously. Plus, they cost so little, you can afford one to match any color ensemble.
8. Go Suave With a Pork Pie
Buster Keaton originally rocked the pork pie hat, but it enjoyed a comeback in the hit television series “Breaking Bad.” This versatile topper pairs with a suit or more casual wear. You can even pair one with comfortably worn jeans for a boho look that onlookers will envy. You might be running errands, but they’ll think you’re a musician heading out between gigs.
9. Catch Some Waves in a Boater
You don’t have to get shipwrecked on a deserted island like Gilligan to wear a boater hat. All you need is a warm, sunny day, and you’ll look right at home regardless of whether you own a vessel. This style does come in handy when you head to the lake or work in your garden. The full brim keeps damaging UV rays from wrinkling your nose and the back of your neck both.
10. Top Things Off Right
Few hats stun the way a top hat does, but you need to match this style to the right outfit. Otherwise, you look like a magician carrying your rabbit home from your most recent show.
However, if you need to attend a white-tie affair, you can don one of these stylish numbers to complete your look. Whether or not you sing “Putting on the Ritz” while you strut your stuff is up to you.
Learn How to Style a Hat With Your Outfit
Hats do more than cover unfortunate bald spots. They also tie your ensemble together — marry your style to the right topper today.
Dylan Bartlett is a men’s lifestyle blogger from the City of Brotherly Love. He runs the site Just a Regular Guide, looking at other topics related to health and wellness, relationships, the outdoors and DIY. You can follow him on Twitter @a_regular_guide to get frequent updates on his work.
