As if fighting skin cancer, wrinkles, and a bad-hair day weren’t reason enough to don a brim – hats are the go-to accessory this summer.

Anyone who has ever burned their scalp, and had to suffer through the pain of subsequent brushing, or the day when their entire part peels off - just once is enough to swear on a silk headscarf ‘never again!’ - will rejoice that this summer hats are as stylish as ever.

This summer’s hat trend is all about protecting your scalp, face, ears and neck from the sun’s rays, while looking cool and kempt. The trends that are dominating the summer streets can be organized into three main categories: the straw hat, the city hat, and the transition hat.

The Straw Hat

This summer’s straw hat comes in many different variations, but a few details remain constant, the straw is neat and tightly woven, the look is polished and chic – translation, this isn’t the time to pull out your worn and frayed straw cowboy hat. The straw accessories of choice are the Fedora, the Trilby, the Panama, and the Boater Hat.

The most versatile of the straw toppers, the Fedora can be paired with a bikini, jeans, blazers, t-shirts, and much more. The style is best popularized this season by Gucci’s Spring 2009 RTW collection. Pick up your own version from Lilliput Hats in Toronto from $170.


(1) Gucci Spring '09, (2) Fedora Nina by Lilliput

If you are a fan of the Fedora, but want to try something slightly different, look no further than the Fedora’s sleek and stylish cousin, the Trilby. The Trilby is traditionally made from felt, but is popping up in straw everywhere you look. As versatile as the Fedora, you can pair the Trilby with everything from a flirty summer dress to a black leather jacket. Splurge on a braided trilby by Eugenia Kim for $285, or score with Christy's Crown Series' trilbys for around $75.


(3) Eugenia Kim Trilby, (4) Christy's Crown Series

No longer a style worn primarily by men, the Panama hat is gender-neutral, and flatters every face shape. The style conjures adventure traveller, and the wider brim keeps you sun-safe. If you can’t make the trip to Bocas del Toro to pick up an authentic one, then try the Natural Toyo Panama from Eugenia Kim.

Calling all Pretty Woman super fans, if you are planning on spending a lot of time yachting this summer, or just want to look like you could, buy a traditional Italian Boater Hat. The look is sophisticated and challenging. Wear the Boater with confidence, and perhaps a floral tea dress.


(5) Eugenia Kim Panama, (6) Classic Boater

The City Hat

This season’s city hat trend is not specific to one particular style of hat, but rather focuses on what a hat can do for your look. Regardless of what the thermometer reads in the summer months, city dressing requires more polish than dressing for the beach does. This trend is all about creating balance: masculine and feminine, patterns with solids, colours with neutrals. Use a summer hat like the Panama to soften a black leather jacket, or pair a solid black hat with flirty and feminine clothing.


(7) Sonia Rykiel, (8) American Apparel

This season's best examples for hats that ground flirty and feminine summer clothing is Sonia Rykiel’s black brim hat from her Resort 2010 collection, and American Apparel’s floppy, 70s style black hats from $55 each.

The Transition Hat

As the summer months wind down, the trends in hats will move from light and airy beach wear, to rich and textured fall hats. Look for hats that can be worn all summer, and will bridge the transition between seasons flawlessly.


(9) Moschino, (10) Oscar de la Renta, (11) Burberry Prorsum, (12) GAP bucket hat

The best examples of transition hats this season are the flat cap seen in Moschino Cheap & Chic’s Resort 2010 collection, the tweedy berets worn in Oscar de la Renta’s Resort 2010 collection, and the slouchy bucket hats worn in Burberry Prorsum’s Fall 2009 RTW collection.

Staying stylish and sun-smart doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can pick up your own bucket hat for a fraction of the price of a designer hat from the GAP for just $19.50.

by Heather Loney