With the cooler weather settling in across Australia but outdoor living still going strong a great hat becomes a must-have accessory.
Whether it’s a chic wool fedora, a wide-brim floppy hat, or your go-to beanie, (my absolute fave) find the shape, style & colour that suits you best before stepping out the door.
Finding the right one can be a challenge but just like with any accessory there are a few simple tips that can help make the process easier and more successful.
First and foremost, identifying your face shape is key to selecting a hat that flatters you. (See face shape guide below to help determine yours.)
Here are a few handy tips to keep in mind when shopping for a hat…
1. Take your outfit with you. If you’re buying a hat for a specific outfit or occasion, bring the outfit – or at least a piece of it along when you shop. This saves the hassle of guessing whether it will complement your look.
2. Don’t rely on memory for colour. We’re often poor at remembering exact shades, and it’s disappointing to get home and realize your new hat doesn’t match. Don’t forget your colour swatch if you’ve had your colour analysis with me or photos if needed.
3. Consider your proportions. The size of your face and body should guide the size of your hat.
4. If you have a small or petite face, opt for smaller-scale hats.
5. For those with larger features or a fuller frame, a larger hat will balance your look more harmoniously.
For those with an oblong face shape, avoid hats with tall crowns that sit high on the head, as they only exaggerate the face’s length.
Instead, opt for crowns that sit lower and cover a generous portion of the forehead to help create balance. Medium to wide brims is ideal especially styles with a downward tilt, which soften and shorten the overall appearance.
Floppy hats, berets, sun hats, and cloches are all flattering choices for elongating face shapes – see SJP for this example…
And round face shapes are best complemented by hats with structured lines and taller, defined crowns.
Avoid rounded crowns, as they tend to accentuate the natural curves of the face. Instead, choose hats that are at least as wide as your face but not wider than your cheekbones for the most flattering proportion. Brims that are high, asymmetrical, or worn at an angle can help elongate the face and create attractive visual balance.
Styles such as the fedora, flat cap, and conductor hat work particularly well on round faces – see Kate Winslet for this example.
More to come next post!
Oval – Is considered the ideal shape as it is perfectly balanced. The jawline is softly rounded, not too narrow or too wide with the hairline being slightly wider than the lower face.
Square – Your face has strong angular lines. It is as wide as it is long.
Rectangle – Your face is predominantly longer than the oval. It’s the same width at the temple as at the jawline. Hats that are not too high at the crown would be best as you won’t want to lengthen this face shape much more.
Oblong – This face shape is predominantly longer than the oval and is the same width at the temples as the jawline. Once again it is considered a long face shape, therefore avoiding hats with a high crown would be advised.
Round – Your face is as wide as it is long or just marginally longer with fullness at your cheek bones. The goal is to make the face appearer longer and narrower.
Heart – This face is wide at the temples and significantly narrower at the chin. It often accompanies a widow’s peak which emphasis the heart shape face.
Diamond – Your broadest point is at your amazing cheekbones with a narrow chin and hairline. Similar to the oval you could also wear almost any style hat.
Triangle/tear drop – Your face has a broader jawline than the forehead. A wide brim hat will offer lovely balance with the wider jawline.
