You’re also right about attitude playing a big part in hat wearing. Never be timid about wearing a hat. It’s a bold statement in today’s world, and needs a touch of chutzpah to back it up.

Raincoaster, I, too, desperately need a good tricorn. They do things for my face that you would not believe.

And I’ve been known to rock a bowler with no makeup as well – I think that if you have a strong enough face/personality that it carries it just fine. But if you are worried you don’t have what it takes, then you probably don’t…I think a lot has to do with the right carriage.

I shop for hats by which hat flirts with me heaviest from the shelf/hat tree/display. My purple cloche was whispering dirty dirty things to me, and my giant floppy sunhat promised me a magical summer (and it WAS).

And I not-so-secretly really want an imitation Fierce Inauguration Hat.

Would you use a hatpin to keep it in place?

Rain, try Stacey Adams. Excellent quality, very traditional. http://www.hatbox.com

You can dress it up very nicely with some veiling, though.

And I’m saving up for a custom-made tricorne. For whatever reason, I look absolutely fabulous in tricornes, and there’s no point getting a cheap hat if you live where it rains all the time.

I love hats. I have a good face for hats, especially with decently wide brims. I ROCKED hats in the 80s when they were readily available for cheap. But alas and alack, I’m allergic to wool and fur, which means quality hats are risky for me.

But, I still sigh over my (male) coworker’s stunning Borsalino “crush safari”. That is a fine hat. Weightless, stylish fur felt.

http://www.villagehatshop.com/crushable_safari_borsalino.html

I can’t do blazers though. I would look like Frankenstein’s monster without the neck bolts and green skin.

Oh, and I discovered lately much to my surprise that I look really snazzy in a bicorn. I’m on the lookout now for a really nice one I can wear in public. So don’t be afraid to try something a bit unexpected.

emmme, the key to the right hat is a combination of shape, proportion, and correct fit…just like any other piece of clothing. If you’re just trying out the whole hat thing for the first time, head for a place that specializes in them and try on every different style you can find. Try different colors, different widths of brim. Really look in the mirror. Ask one of the salespeople what they would recommend for your face shape and coloring. And then look at it and see whether or not you like the effect.

Mr. Twistie is quite generously sized in the cranium as well as very round of face, and he rocks a well-shaped topper like nobody’s business! He wears a beret most days, and looks great in it, too. Hats are not just for those of us with compact heads.

Oh, and I absolutely second Plumcake’s advice about picking up a copy of Crowns. It’s a fabulous book and an inspiration.