Ah the weather, the true nemesis of the stylish collegiette. And when it is hot and hazy, or the Storrs wind is ~stronger~ than ’07 Kanye, I urge you not to grab that CHI straightener, but rather to reach for a hat instead.
Oh…I am sorry-you said hats “look bad on you?” Nonsense. You don’t look bad in hats, you just haven’t found the right one for you. Look no further than this comprehensive list of hats that are practical, stylish, and will be sure to keep you from ever being mislead to believing you are not a hat person.
Let’s go find some hats!
1. The Iconic Baseball Cap
Let us start off strong with the OG hat. Collegiettes do not be fooled; these hats are not just for dads. Baseball caps are great way to showcase something you are passionate about, even if that something is donuts. Baseball caps go with everything, and as far as I am concerned, only ever elevate an outfit. No one knows if you have not washed your hair in three days, all they see is a pop of color and a catchy saying. When picking the perfect hat for you, I have found looking at the length and width of the brim is important. Having a longer face, I find a hat with a brim shorter in width with a longer outward length helps with the whole ~proportion situation~ that I have heard being a main factor as to why many women I know do not like to wear hats. So be patient and keep up the search, because finding the perfect baseball cap is, in my obviously unbiased opinion, as satisfying as late night Wings Over Storrs.
2. The Beanie
While the baseball cap clearly has a special place in my heart, beanies are definitely my all time favorite hat. A sweater for your head, how could you go wrong?! When searching for a beanie, you should once again take into consideration the length over the overall hat. Some beanies are really long and flop over the back of your head, while others tend to just encompass your head entirely. I personally prefer mine to be a little roomier, but I find tighter fitting hats pair really well with structured coats, like a leather or bomber jacket. Added bonus to any beanie is a nice fluffy pompom, or a funny saying across the brim. Who cares that it is still averaging 70 degrees outside, it is still Fall, and therefore, beanie season.
3. Wide-brimmed floppy hat
I would like to think that if Vanessa Hudgens were a hat, she would be this hat. Whimsical yet edgy, these hats make any look a little more refined. Not too often do I see a hat like this on a college campus, but hey, why not? These vary in floppiness, with one end of the spectrum being a set brim to the other end being one that you can flounce and mold yourself. They are usually made out a velvet-like material, so they may not be beanie-level comfy, but comfy all the same. Not to mention, due to the wide brim, they are super practical when it comes to blocking out the sun, the wind, and of course, the haters.
Bonus- Bucket hats/Visors: Now I have to admit, these hats are not the easiest to feel fab in, but hey, maybe that’s the point. These hats are so silly and fun, that even if you do not feel that you look 100% “good” in these, at least there is no way you won’t be smiling while wearing one. If you do decide to up the glam level, pair a visor with some big hoop earrings, or a bucket hat with pigtail braids. And if not, you better be wearing them at homecoming alongside some pretty sweet face stickers #bleedblue #woof.
So there you have it, collegiettes. I hope I have fully changed your mind about hats and if not, I hope I have prompted you to at least take a double take on your next shopping trip. Because, as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once wrote, “why should anyone be frightened by a hat?”