Hats - where to begin?

[Deleted member 12480]

I know a lot of you gals wear hats, so i thought i'd consult you. I would love to have some lovely hats to wear eventually, but i have no idea where to start.

How did you start wearing them, and how do you know how to wear them or what to wear them with!

xxx

 

[Kiri]

I'll stick around this thread, I've been wondering the same thing.

 

[deadpandiva]

Old movies, vintage fashion magazines and patterns are good places to see examples of how certain styles of hats should be worn and to get a good idea of the styles you like. There are also a lot ove repro hat making book which show how they should be worn and what is most flattering for your face shape, hairstyle etc...

Watching classic movies is what started my love of hats. The movie The Women has some of the cutest I have ever seen. Any hat worn my Myrna Loy in just about any movie from the 30's-40's is also amazing. But she had the cutest face for hats.

 

[Deleted member 12480]

this seems ridiculous but i never thought to watch old movies?
Good idea, thankyou, after my last two exams i will break into the summer holiday spirit by watching the afformentioned film!

OT, but i also don't know where to start for old movies either, apart from Sky Movies Classics - but my family get annoyed 'cause the recordings clog up the Sky Planner!

 

[Lady Day]

Look in the wardrobe essentials thread, and the vintage hats thread as well. Tons of pictures.

I dont know if there is any real 'start' per se. You can look at what Juniors sizes were wearing then age it up. But gals just wore hats, all their lives.

LD

 

[Miss Sis]

Firstly, I would look to the era you are wanting to dress to. I think you will want to match that to your clothing in the main or it can look a bit dis-jointed, IMO. Next, what sort of hat are you looking for? Casual sunhat or dressy felt? Summer or Winter? I would look for things that will go with what you already have as that will be much easier.

Look at lots of hats whether in person, in books, movies or on-line. I would try to go to a shop with lots of hats and try on different styles to see what suits you. Years ago I thought only wide brims suited me but I was wrong. This will hopefully help avoid buying hats perhaps on-line that *don't* suit you.

Only trying on a hat with an outfit will tell you if the hat is right with it. Much easier with a casual hat, as a rule. I think you have to focus on either the clothes OR the hat. If they are both fighting for attention, something isn't right and you probably won't feel comfortable.

Yes, you will probably come across hats you just plain fall in love with and have to have despite them not going with anything you own, but prepare for them to sit around a while whilst you find something to wear with them! LOL.
I have hats I have never worn as I just haven't got the right outfit for them - Yet.

 

[Deleted member 12480]

thankyou ladies. I think i'll be watching a lot of films too, and i do have four (yes a sad little four) 'womens own' magazines that i will have another flick through, but as you said 'casual or dressy' does this mean that sunhats are more casual and the little felt or fur ones, or whatever they may be - are more dressy?

my apologies for asking what might be a completely obvious question - i am completely ignorant where hats are concerned!

 

[Miss Sis]

Well, straw is not *always* less dressy - you can have quite smart summer hats made of finely woven straw, especially when they are dyed rather than natural colours, but felt is a more expensive fabric and is usually going to last alot longer, as well as be warmer ie/for a Winter hat.

Obviously I don't think you want to wear a fur hat in the height of Summer with your cotton sun dress or a large brimmed summer straw with your wool winter suit! That would look very strange.

As I said, thinking about what you want to wear a hat with will make it alot easier knowing what to look for, once you know what styles suit and what you like!

 

[MaryMary]

Firstly, I would look to the era you are wanting to dress to. I think you will want to match that to your clothing in the main or it can look a bit dis-jointed, IMO. Next, what sort of hat are you looking for? Casual sunhat or dressy felt? Summer or Winter? I would look for things that will go with what you already have as that will be much easier.

Look at lots of hats whether in person, in books, movies or on-line. I would try to go to a shop with lots of hats and try on different styles to see what suits you. Years ago I thought only wide brims suited me but I was wrong. This will hopefully help avoid buying hats perhaps on-line that *don't* suit you.

Only trying on a hat with an outfit will tell you if the hat is right with it. Much easier with a casual hat, as a rule. I think you have to focus on either the clothes OR the hat. If they are both fighting for attention, something isn't right and you probably won't feel comfortable.

Yes, you will probably come across hats you just plain fall in love with and have to have despite them not going with anything you own, but prepare for them to sit around a while whilst you find something to wear with them! LOL.
I have hats I have never worn as I just haven't got the right outfit for them - Yet.

That is true - which is why I try to remember to buy some very simple vintage dresses as well, in solid colours because then my "gotta have 'em" hats match perfectly!

Patterns helped me greatly as well. And I love when you're watching an old movie and are like, "Oh THAT'S how the hat is supposed to be worn!" it's kind of fun lol

 

[swinggal]

I think is also depends on how you wear your hair that day too - if you do vintage hair that is. Some hats are made to be worn tilted to the front, some sit right on top of the head, others to the back. Not much use having a big pompador hair style when you are wearing a tilt hat over your eye - you get what I mean. I'm tending to talk about 30s and 40s hats here too as that's what I wear. 30's hair tended to be a bit shorter, waved and not as high as 40s hair roll-wise in the front - so many hats were worn tilted or to the back of the head.

I think it's nice to have a selection of styles. I wear berets a lot when I want to be more casual or don't have the time to do elaborate vintage hair. Still gives an outfit a vintage look. I have a selection of tilters and toppers as well of different colours and styles so that I can match them with different clothes. Cloches are nice too for a 20's look. They are very distinctive but generally require hair that is flat to the head.