Hats off?

I was inspired to write this after reading a piece about hats in last month's British Vogue.

Image: Pinterest

This particular piece of writing struck a chord with me for several reasons. Firstly, because I adore hats - of all shapes and sizes - and secondly, because despite my love for hats, I don't believe I wear them enough and I definitely think I should.

Oh boy do I love the quirkiness of a pork-pie, the whimsy of a straw boater and the sartorial elegance of a bowler.

A hat wearer is always the most suave, the most divine, the most charismatic character in the room whether they know it or not. And most likely they do.

Hats to me are perfectly formed markers of ones personality, balancing so nonchalantly atop the head for all to see. They can show off sophistication, elegance or edgyness with ease. 

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule - namely fluffy animal-imitation hats (ears and all) and those God-awful dangler woollies, made infamous by a certain pop-star of perhaps questionable style panache (that's rather naughty, maybe I shouldn't have said that).

My partner has always worn hats, caps to be precise. And quite frankly, even though he is devilishly good-looking anyway, looks even more handsome wearing one.

The truly wonderful thing about caps, and all hats in fact, is that they exist outside of trends and seasons; a cap is always a cap, and its synonymity with cool characters of the past and sub-cultures is embed in its mesh and polyester.

A hat has to be just so. Placed atop the head at just the right angle to accentuate the cheekbones or mysteriously shadow the eyes.

I've experimented with hats in the past but have never been one for everyday hats. In the winter when it’s beyond Arctic and the words of past school teachers (or perhaps it was precocious childhood friends proudly denouncing their newly-learned fact) resound in my head: '80% of a person’s heat escapes through the head'. I'm still not sure if this is true.

I love the idea of the everyday hat. The potential of a single item to add a little extra drama to any outfit, transforming the mundane into something just a little more special, more stylish.

My father likes to remind me quite often when I try countless hats during shopping outings - definitely one of my favourite small pleasures - that I suit hats, all types of hats. Perhaps I do - certainly some suit hats more than others so I'm quite smuggish about the fact I'm one of them.

Whilst trying, rather unsuccessfully, last weekend to grab a bargain at a local jumble sale, my eyes fell on a poor squashed inky-blue knitted beanie. One of those big beanies - I'm not sure of their proper names. Sure it had a few bits of dried grass nestling in its weaves and a little dust, but for 50p, I quickly nabbed it before a local Granny also saw the item's style/warmth potential and beat me to it.

Now, fully washed, my cute Rasta beanie (as I'm calling it) looks divine. Sitting atop of just-washed, blow-dried fluffy hair, it's my new favourite thing. I wear it even if it's not actually cold, just because I can.

Yep. My love for hats just keeps on growing - along with my collection. And with all the charm and character these age-old accessories yield, I think I'll leave my hat firmly on.