Styling a Hat: Stylist Kathy
Hats. When we at A La Mode decided we were going to do a series on how we style hats, I got a little anxious. It's only been recently that I have started to wear hats. I say that but, I did wear a teardrop shaped cocktail hat for my wedding! I liked it when I tried it on but, on the day of the wedding it kept slipping from the front of my head (weighted down by the veil) to the back. By the time we walked down the aisle "married" I whipped the thing off and I didn't put it back on .
When I was a little girl, my mom would every once in awhile take the hat boxes off the top shelf of her closet and let my sister and I try them on. I loved it and felt soooo fancy.
This past Fall, my niece and I went to the Fall Into Luxury Fashion Show at ARIA in downtown Minneapolis. It had a Goth theme; goth isn't me. So, I chose to wear an outfit with a more vintage meets steampunk vibe; I fit right into the crowd. The finishing touch to my outfit was an old top hat that I had bought years ago and never worn. Something about this hat made me feel confident and lively. It fit my face shape, added height, and didn't compete with my hair. That's the thing, when you find the right hat for you, you know it.
I've always loved fascinators - a small ornamental headpiece that fits on the head using an alice-band-type base or headband or even a small comb. They are easy accents that don't mess up your hair. I do like a little drama when I dress up!
But, to be honest, the hat that scares me is the everyday ball cap. I think women look so cute in them but, when I put one on I often feel insecure. My husband likes me in a these and I am trying to get more comfortable with them. I have found that not all ball caps are alike. I need a ball cap that lands snug towards the back of my head and yet, adds a little height to my face. When I wear a ball cap, typically I pull my hair behind my ears and make my hair submit to the hat. :) This is a great tool for day two camping and no showers.
I have a short forehead and a broad nose so, finding that perfect ball cap is something that I'm on the lookout for while we travel. The fit is important. If wrong, it accents my nose and makes it look larger than it is. This is how it is for all of us in proper fit for body shape; finding that right style for OUR shape and so this is true for hats too, finding the right fit for our face shape.
Another obstacle is that when I wear my glasses, the bill of the hat, when placed comfortably on my head, pushes my glasses down. This is annoying!!!! And frankly, it's not flattering. Obviously, I like to take my husband Pete's Delta hat. But, it's getting tired so, the search for the perfect ball cap continues.
As Summer sunshine is about to arrive, I will be pulling out my caps to shade my face from the sun. And you can be sure that if there is a chance for me to wear my top hat again, I WILL! :)
Happy Wardrobing!
Kathy