Sun hats- what's FF/non-frumpy?

J.J.

Hi all- It's getting hot here in Texas, but I know it's pretty cold in lots of other places- so please indulge me. I need help with hats!

I really need to wear a hat because even with sunglasses, the sun is too much for my very pale eyes. Besides a baseball cap, what's fashion-forward and/or not frumpy?

I'd like it to be smoosh-able (or at least not damaged if it gets smooshed) and not a ton of money. A wider brim is definitely better, but I don't want to look ridiculous. I go to the park a lot with my toddler and spend time playing outdoors in backyards frequently, so it has to work in those kinds of places.

I have a square-shaped, strong jawline and shoulder-length hair with bangs, if that makes a difference. I think I'll be mostly be wearing sundresses this summer, but not flow-y/boho style ones; I like more tailored pieces. I'll wear the hat with those kinds of casual dresses pretty regularly.

Any style suggestions? TIA!

9 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from JayS

rachylou

Veteran

I like big brimmed Mary Had A Little Lamb visors. I know, it's a little Golfing Green, but it's also yachting in the Greek Islands, which is eternally cool and goes with big Jackie O sunnies, IMO.

9 years ago

Gennifyr

Active Member

I have this one and a similar style in black. It's wool and a bit floppy. I plan to wear it with my tailored stuff. The black looks a lot more boho than the cream. Something similar in a stiff fabrication would work as well.

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9 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I have one from years ago that is a crushable med. brown/tan weave that has a touch of a cowboy hat shape - that one got a lot of compliments - outside of Texas I should add, as I used a lot when traveling.

A lot of hats just don't do enough for our intense Texas sun (we need both very breathable fabric and wide enough brim) - the panama hat and fedora styles don't really work well enough. There are some from an Aussie company I can't think of the name, maybe Coolaroo? or something like that.

Try REI or Whole Earth Provision Company if you have either near you.

9 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Gennifyr, where did you get your hat? I really like it.

J.J., I am in the same boat and am watching this thread with interest!

9 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a very gear-ish hat that I wear for hiking and photographing in the great outdoors (yes, even with the tie for under the chin, because a lot of times it's windy!). But I have a floppy, wide-brimmed hat from Nordstrom Rack that is a good beach hat. I can't remember the name, but I've found that the Rack, TJMaxx and Marshalls can be really good for hats, depending on the store.

9 years ago

Gennifyr

Active Member

Forever21.

9 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I think a big floppy straw hat is forever chic.

ETA: my red straw hat is packable, but I bought it in the uk and it's a German brand that is not available in the us. The brand is Seeberger, for what it's worth.

ETa again: if you have a medium sized head, there's a good selection at dept stores as well as discounters like tj maxx. The problem is that in the USA most women's hats come in one size, which is basically a medium. I wear an XL hat so i have a hard time.

9 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I have two different straw hats, one has a black band and one is a floppy loose weave one.

Both are from a surf shop, brand is Hurley.

9 years ago

abc

Veteran

Watching this as we just returned from the beach. My cheapie hat (a men's fedora - to fit my big noggin) got crushed on the way back home I heard you can spray with water and reshape straw hats so I will give it a go. Watching intently for other responses to this thread.

9 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

Anyone look at men's Panama hats lately?

I wonder because years ago I bought a man's Panama for a fairly cheap price at J. C. Penny. Loved that hat and took it on my first trip to Greece. Unfortunately I left it in the lounge at Heathrow airport. I still miss that hat. Best-looking hat on me I've ever found.

As far as I can tell, good, uncrushable hats don't come cheap these days.

If you do find a decent hat, you can give it some pizazz by wrapping a scarf or ribbon around the crown.

9 years ago

J.J.

Active Member

http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....#038;psc=1

Hi all! Thanks for the advice; super busy so haven't had time to respond. I ended up getting the hat above. (It won't let me 'collect' it, so I had to do the link.) I LOVE the hat. It is not the most stylish thing ever, but it's not terrible and it work SO WELL. It's light, stays on, and blocks way more sun than you think is possible. My husband thought it looks Australian, so when I was wearing a coral boho-ish top and green boyfriend chinos, he said it "worked." With jeans and a t-shirt, he thought it looked silly. Still, I LOVE it. And the price!

8 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Well you found it.
I was going to recommend Lola hats. I find them pretty fashion forward.
Mason Michel is amazing but extremely expensive.

8 years ago

JayS

Veteran

I know this thread is a little old, but I just wanted to throw out this one I found at Soft Surroundings (leave no retail stone unturned). What I like about it is that it kinda rolls up and you can snap it together. Here in the Houston area, the sun is brutal and I wear it to run errands...from the parking lot to the store...I have a habit of parking at the back of the parking lots, for exercise as well as to try to keep my car doors from getting dings. I can wear this into the store, then snap it up and stash it in my bag. It holds it's shape when unrolled. Btw, loved the one at the amazon link...I might have ordered the black one;)) Can't have too many...

http://tinyurl.com/on4kdl5

ETA: link fixed, I hope

8 years ago

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