This year I have received one or two spring and summer invitations which will require me to wear a hat. There is a thanksgiving service, a country wedding, a summer party in someone’s garden, a christening and a holiday in France.
I could of course buy several hats but that seems extravagant, especially as I may never wear most of them again. I could hire a hat from one of the many hire shops all over the country, all of which seem to do good business, but because I have a large head, hat hire is not usually a success for me.
Since life seems less formal these days, I instead set myself the task of finding one hat to cover all the above events. I ruled out fascinators immediately, since although they can look very pretty, they won’t afford me much protection from the French sun. Instead, I looked for hats with brims in soft straw, or Panamas (so they can be packed without any damage), in neutral colours that should work with any outfit. Quite a challenge you might say, but I am pleased with what I have found.
In choosing the shape of your summer hat, keep in mind that the bigger the brim, and the more of a sun hat style you choose, the longer the skirt should be. Big brimmed hats look lovely with mid-calf, fuller skirts. They also look fabulous by the pool when wearing a sarong. The narrower brimmed shapes work well with short skirts and suits, but might be less useful under fierce sun. To make the same hat work for individual outfits you can tie a matching scarf or band round the crown and even add flowers or a brooch if that suits look and the occasion.
I started my search at The Hat Gallery, one of the last remaining independent hat shops in London (other than the couture milliners, with whom I am sure many of the guests for Pippa Middleton’s wedding will already have placed their orders). Close to the newly opened Design Museum in West London, it was a really lovely, relaxing place to begin. The staff were charming and tirelessly showed me hats for every occasion, including ready-to-wear pieces from such designers as Philip Treacy, Stephen Jones and Patricia Underwood. They also stock the iconic Italian brand Borsalino (there was a film named after the brand starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon), for both men and women, see their classic Panama featured here.
Good department stores to search include Fenwick’s, where you will find contemporary designer Noel Stewart amongst others, and Debenhams, where you should look for hats by Joe Browns and Janet Reger – yes, Janet of bra fame! Online, there are also a host of interesting hat sites to look at, such as Pennymayne.com and BenoitMissolin.com. One of which, I have no doubt, will offer up the perfect all-summer-long hat.
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