By Lauren Zazzara
Staff Writer
During the fall, hats become even more chic because they are fashionable and practical. They help preserve heat on your head, which can help keep you toasty on those bitter days. Hats can be intimidating though. The majority of people don’t wear them, and therefore when you choose to wear one, you are sure to attract attention. Use these trick to make sure you attract only positive attention.
1. Beanies: Beanies make an outfit more casual. Pair them with a dressier ensemble to help make it more class–appropriate. Try one with a dress, tights and boots combination. I especially like beanies paired with dark colors. An all-black outfit gets a pop of color from a green or maroon beanie, whereas a neutral colored beanie will match any patterned look. Or, match your outfit to your beanie by going casual with jeans, a sweatshirt and a scarf.
2. Floppy hats: I tend to associate floppy hats with balmy summer days as we use them to shield our faces from the burning sun, but floppy hats can work in the winter as well when they are made with heavier fabrics like felt. I like these hats in colors like olive or burgundy, but they also work in blacks, browns and grays. They give a bohemian vibe, so they look great with loose dresses or maxi skirts. Or, counter the hippie-vibe with something edgy like a leather jacket.
3. Bowler hats: These hats have a classic silhouette, and their small size allows you to pair them with more dramatic outfits. For example, try one of these hats with an outfit that mixes patterns: Try a striped shirt with a floral skirt (just make sure the shirt and skirt have a color in common). The hat won’t distract from the outfit but will add a tomboy vibe. A bowler hat would also look great with an oversized sweater or flannel to counter the grunge look these pieces give off.
4. Fedoras: Fedoras are great because they can be worn by both sexes. They instantly make a casual outfit look smarter and more pulled together. For guys, try one with a simple t-shirt or a button down with jeans. Girls can wear them with a flowy blouse and skinny jeans.
Hats are also a great resource to use for DIY projects. I recently read a blog post that suggested wrapping a skinny belt or a ribbon around a hat to give it a new look. You can easily slip a feather into anything wrapped around the hat to create an earthy vibe. Have fun with your hats and don’t be afraid to flaunt them around campus-just make sure they aren’t so big that they don’t block the view of the students behind you in class!
