I'm Bringing Hats Back

The legendary Audrey Hepburn wearing a traditional Italian straw hat.

Bombshell Sophia Loren, wearing a giant hat, pearls, and not much else…

The very elegant Jean Harlow.

The Ivory Tower Cap at Anthropologie.

(Hand) made with seersucker, this Blue Regatta hat by BKMHattitude is PER-fect for the summer.

The Lydia Sateen Hat by Coach.

Terry Graziano makes hats that bullet you back to the days of pencil skirts and teetery-tall heels. But even better.

At only $34, the Diamond Top Feather Fedora at Urban Outfitters is super-cool and everyday wearable.

The Zatana hat by Helen Kaminski (at Head Games).

The Kelly hat by Jacqueline Lamont is available at Barney’s.

Sometimes, you just want to hide behind a big, floppy hat. This cotton sunhat, handmade by Sookie, will fit the bill.

Serious about hats? Buy one from the prestigious Pinkham Millinery, like this gorgeous Sloper Fedora.

By designer Coley Claire.

By designer Bea Szenfeld.

Image via GARANCE DORÉ.

A recent Tiffany ad campaign.

Need to measure your hat size?

While the hats available at mainstream stores usually come in sizes small, medium, and large, if you’re splurging on a more expensive hat, you’ll need to know your hat size. Hat sizes are determined by measuring the circumference of your head about 1/2 inch above the ears and dividing by pi. (You know what pi is, right? Of course you do*.)

The Royal Ascot

Since 1711, the Royal Ascot has been circled on the calendars of British high society. The attendees of this thoroughbred horse race must adhere to a strict, formal dress code — which, of course, means hats for both the ladies and gents. And the crazier, the better.

The Kentucky Derby

Replace the endless flow of champagne with Mint Juleps and you’ve got the Kentucky Derby, the American version of the Royal Ascot. And while the dress code isn’t as strict, it’s an unspoken rule that the ladies who attend wear gorgeous outfits topped with beautiful hats.

Your head will spin as you scroll through the pages of these colorful, fun, and uniquely pretty head pieces.

Myra Callan is the brainchild behind Twigs & Honey, a shop that creates one-of-a-kind headpieces for both super-chic brides and fashionistas alike.

Yes, you’ll need a hat box. This square version is easier to store that its round counterparts. Storing more than one hat? Tape a photo of the hat to the outside of each hat box to easily ID what hat it’s holding.