I had almost forgotten how great it was to wear a floppy hat. Then, at a charity event, I found myself the proud owner of a big-brimmed hat at the close of a silent auction.
When I tried on my new hat, I immediately felt a little more glamorous. And — unlike fedoras and ball caps — I felt like this big floppy style worked well with my short hair (I always feel like I look like a guy with a ball cap and short hair.)
Can a single hat transform your entire look? I'm not sure, but for a relatively small price, you can find your own big-brimmed straw hat this summer and rock this look for yourself (I'm a big proponent of anything that will make me look anything remotely like Sofia Vergara, photo, left.)
Here are a few dos and don'ts to carry off the floppy hat:
- Do add fabulous sunglasses. Go big and glam with your shades for a knockout look.
- Don't add retro clothes. Although younger gals pair floppies with bellbottoms and other boho look, you'll be better off sticking with more classic pieces for a sophisticated look.
- Do choose a flattering color. A neutral straw hat may go with anything, but I like a hat that flatters my coloring (for example, I chose a pretty burnt orange.)
- Don't go crazy big. I've seen hats (on the likes of Donna Karan herself) that make you look like a strong wind could carry you away; keep the brim scaled to a reasonable size for a polished look.
- Do try it for summer events. My next goal is to incorporate my new big hat into outdoor summer events for a more pulled-together look. First up: pool graduation party that I'm hosting. Poolside is a natural for a big hat, but so are events like outdoor weddings.
More looks to try:
