Trendy Ways To Style Floppy Hats For The Season
- Words by
- Julio Arco
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- 5 min
For summer, pick a hat with a brim of at least 3 inches, a breathable weave such as straw, and ideally a UPF 50 rating. Then match the brim to your height and the rest of the outfit so the hat looks chosen, not borrowed.
A floppy hat is a soft, wide-brimmed hat whose brim moves with you. It works for the beach, a city walk or a garden party, and the styling rules below apply to most women's and unisex shapes.
Why a wide brim protects better
A brim shades the parts of you a cap leaves out. Anna L. Chien, MD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told the Skin Cancer Foundation: "A hat with a 3-inch brim protects the top of your scalp, ears and face." That is a useful minimum when you shop.
Extra wide brim summer hats, around 4 inches or more, add shade for the neck and shoulders. They also take more care to wear, because the volume is hard to ignore.
What does UPF 50 mean on a sun hat?
UPF measures how much ultraviolet radiation a fabric lets through. The Skin Cancer Foundation says a UPF of 30 to 49 offers very good protection, while UPF 50+ offers excellent protection. A wide brim sun hat with UPF 50 gives you the fabric rating and the shade in one piece.
Check the label. A loose open straw weave lets light through the gaps, so a plain straw hat without a rating shades you but does not block like a rated fabric. If sun protection is the main goal, choose a rated hat. For skin concerns, check with a dermatologist.
What is the best hat to keep cool in hot weather?
Straw, raffia and other open natural weaves breathe best, so they are my first pick for heat. Light colors reflect more sun than dark ones, and a vented or loosely woven crown lets warm air escape.
Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd also look at how the hat feels against the forehead. A soft, smooth sweatband is easier to tolerate for hours than a scratchy edge, and comfort is what decides whether you keep the hat on.
Straw or fabric?
- Tight straw weave: more polished, holds its shape, shades well.
- Loose raffia: relaxed and airy, softer brim, a looser fit with the breeze.
- Cotton or rated technical fabric: packs flat and often carries a UPF label.
What are wide brimmed hats called?
The names overlap, but these are the common ones:
- Floppy hat or sun hat: a soft, flexible brim, often straw.
- Boater: flat crown and flat, stiff brim.
- Fedora: pinched crown, medium brim (felt or straw).
- Panama hat: a style made from toquilla straw, often with a fedora shape.
- Bucket hat: a short, sloping brim, usually fabric.
Many men's styles are the same shapes, such as the fedora, boater and wide-brim bucket, in larger sizes. Check the circumference rather than the label, since sizing varies.
How wide should the brim be?
A moderate brim of about 3 to 4 inches suits most people and meets the shade minimum above. If you are petite, a very large brim can swallow your frame, so keep it moderate and look for a higher crown to add height. A reinforced or wired edge lets you bend one side up so the brim lifts instead of dragging down.
If you are tall or broad through the shoulders, you can go bigger. A good rule is that the brim should not extend much more than an inch past your shoulders.
Do a quick fit test: turn your head fast. If the hat slides or covers your eyes, the band is too big or the brim too heavy.
How to style wide brim summer hats
Balance volume. A big hat looks best with an outfit that has some shape lower down: wide-leg linen trousers, a flowing midi skirt or a tiered dress. A skintight outfit under a very large hat can look top-heavy.
Add structure if the hat is relaxed. A crisp white shirt with straight jeans, or a linen blazer, keeps a soft brim from reading as costume. Our post on summer hat trends and wide-brim styling goes deeper on outfit pairings, and styling wide brim hats for every season covers cooler months.
Keep the face area simple
As an architect trained in evidence-based design, I'd treat the brim as the first thing the eye reads. Choose one focal point near the face: small studs or a longer pendant, not both big earrings and a chunky necklace. A lower hairstyle such as a low bun or side braid also sits neatly under the hat.
Shoes and bags
Soft shapes pair well with flat sandals, block heels or leather slides. Stilettos feel sharp against a soft brim. A woven bag in a similar tone ties the look together; see trendy woven accessories for ideas.
Beach, city and festival looks
At the beach, pair a loose straw hat with a cover-up or linen shirt. In the city, a neutral straw or a sleeker shape with a tailored blazer reads more polished. For music events, the hat works well with relaxed prints; take a look at bohemian festival styles.
Indoors or in dim light, a wide brim casts a deep shadow on the face, so a hat like this suits bright, outdoor settings best. On windy days, tighten the inner band or use a hat pin.
Storing and packing your hat
Do not rest a hat on its brim, which can flatten or warp it. Hang it by a hook or store it crown-down on a flat surface. When traveling, stuff the crown with soft clothing and pack it in the middle of the suitcase with clothes around the brim. A light mist of water can help reshape a bent straw brim, but do not soak it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hat to wear in a hot summer?
A wide-brim straw or raffia hat with a brim of at least 3 inches is a strong choice, since the open weave breathes and the brim shades your face, ears and neck. A UPF 50 label adds fabric-level protection.
What are those wide brimmed hats called?
Most are called floppy hats or sun hats. Related shapes include boaters, fedoras, Panama hats and wide-brim bucket hats.
Can I wear a floppy hat to a wedding?
At an outdoor garden or beach wedding, a refined straw hat is usually fine. Skip very large brims for formal evening or indoor ceremonies, where they can block other guests' view.
How do I keep my hat on in the wind?
Tighten the inner adjustable band, or add a hat pin if your hair is up. A scarf tied over the crown and under the chin also works.
Filed under Accessory Trends
