Hats — The Forgotten Accessory

Macys Hats – 1909

Women of a “certain age” think of hats fondly, remembering their favorite chapeaux because until the 1920s, a woman never stepped out of the house without her hat, not even to the mailbox. Hats keep us safe from the sun, may hide a bad hair day, can frame our face, and complete an ensemble.

Just as hemlines have gone up and down, hat sizes have fluctuated between large and small. Hats have influenced how hair was cut and styled — and hairstyles have influenced what kinds of hats were worn. Popular culture early in the century influenced styles more than ever. Broadway shows like The Merry Widow made the “Merry Widow” hat all the rage. These wide-brimmed hats were elaborately adorned with flowers, ribbons, tulle, feathers, and even entire birds.

By the 1920s women were cutting off their long locks for short styles like the shingle and the bob. The cloche, a small hat that hugged the head like a helmet, became very popular. If you wanted to wear one, you needed to have your hair bobbed so it would fit inside. After World War II, women began to stop wearing hats on a regular basis. Some claim that the mass-marketing of sunglasses may have had something to do with this.

In the 1960s hats began to be a thing of the past although such icons as Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn still glamorized hat wearing. Still youth was “in” and old age was “out.” Culture was geared more toward newness rather than tradition. Social etiquette didn’t matter so much. Women dressed less formally. The quality and style of a wearer’s hat had always been a conspicuous indicator of his or her class. Now, the flaunting of upper class privilege, or making class distinctions in general, was not so cool anymore.

Today, hats are required wear “at the races” or at the “Easter Parade” but as we’ll see below, there’s more to it than just special occasions.

Chi Chapter Spring Fling

So why talk about hats. The ‘royals” have always worn hats, but when someone like Kate Middleton, probably the most stylish woman on the planet, wears hats to good effect, well then, we see them coming back in fashion if only in a limited way. In fact, the biggest fashion statement this year, the hat, has come a long way from being a part of the attire that is restricted to the races. It is now the must-have accessory of the season.

But the most important reason is that they have advantages for crossdressers, foremost being that they can frame our face and soften a strong jawline. Attention is drawn to the hat minimizing any flaws such as masculine eyebrows and noses; in effect disguising that which is not flattering.  The photo at the left of the lovely ladies, Terri and Keoki, from the Chi Chapter Spring Fling in Chicago, is just one example of using a hat to good effect and creating a unique fashion statement. Without doubt, the hat enhances their femininity.

Second, the hat as a fashion statement, helps to complete an ensemble. From the wide brim hats to the fedoras to the straw boaters, there are plenty of hats to choose from and moods to adopt. The romantic hats which are floppy and large never go out of style. Since the summers are hot here in the tropics, this is a good style to try out here. The feodra is a classic style for men and women and looks great with formal outfits, especially with blazers and trousers.
In buying or wearing a hat, the principles to remember are (1) proportion, (2) color, and (3) texture/fabrication.

Proportion: The August Accessories Flower Beds Cloche at BonTon Department Stores (below left) frames the face without drawing too much attention to the jawline. Soften the look by allowing hair to sweep down. Summery straw is an appropriate texture for the lightweight cotton top being worn.

An alternative version with flowers has a down-turned brim (below center). Blue complements the skin tone of the dark-haired, fair complexioned model. It is worn with a heavier suit jacket. The on-trend clear blue perks up the gray ensemble. Matchy-matchy has not been the style for some time.

The picture or portrait hat (below right) is ideal for an afternoon wedding, gala graduation party, or an afternoon of upscale lunching and shopping. This wide-brimmed hat draws all eyes to your neck and face.

The look is polished and glamorous. Perfect make-up is a must. If you have a long face or strong jawline, a picture hat will help balance the strong vertical with its horizontal line.

Texture/Fabrication is of paramount importance, and this high-tech textile has everything going for it. Research has proved that a tightly-woven hat offers the best sun protection. We only have one skin, so take good care of it.

Safari styles are on target for 2015. Durable, ripstop fabric construction, and a chin strap means you won’t lose it whether rock climbing or caught in the wind in town. It’s even washable.

For a great sampling of hat styles, check out our Pinterest pages on Sister House. or peruse these styles below

Cloche Hats

Floppy Hats

Trendy Hats

Vintage Hats with Veils

Roller Hats

Pillbox Hats

Berets

Still, there a few Do’s and Don’ts about wearing a hat. These are the ones to remember and you can see examples at the link above.

• Do Use a Brimmed Hat to Frame Your Face
• Don’t: Wear Matchy-Matchy Looks
• Do wear a print hat
• Don’t wear stupid retro hats
• Do leave hair showing with a knit hat
• Don’t use a hat to save a bad outfit
• Do use hats to polish up denim
• Don’t wear a baseball cap (amen to that)
• Do play up the masculine-feminine vibe
• Don’t try exaggerated shapes (unless of course you’re wearing a sombereo with your Mexican dancer dress)

So where do I look for that special hat? Look for a local boutique in your area but if none are there, then here a few online resources:

 e4hats     Nordstrom      BonTon      Modcloth

And remember:
“A hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armor, and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing a costume; it’s the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it’s the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over, and to make all men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat.” –Martha Sliter, offered by The Hat Ladies

As an addendum, just published this morning by Imogene Lamport, is this article on How to Dress Casually in a Classic Contemporary Manner. Please note the picture.

For more articles by Tasi, click on her authors name below or visit Sister House and her blog, the Fashionable TG Woman.

Tags: berets, cloche, fashion, featured, floppy hats, hats, hats are porportional, hats complete ensemble, how to wear a hat, pillbox, roller hats, safari, style, trendy, vintage hats

Category: Style, Transgender Fashion