Hat to wear with denim?

[Milaandra]

Hello, Fashionistas! I have decided to wear mostly medium/pale wash denim during port days on my Canada/New England cruise in two weeks. The jacket is stylish and shaped, not manly or distressed. I am a firm believer in avoiding sunstroke by wearing hats when sightseeing, so here is the question. What sort of hat works with denim and middle-age (46)? Don't worry about what will suit me...I have one of those heads that can wear any hat but a cloche. But what materials/styles work with that type of casual gear? Newsboys are too young, aren't they?

 

Thank you!

[cb at sea]

Denim is considered a "neutral", so almost anything will "go" with it. Straw, canvas,...stuff like that would work.

Pale wash denim is very casual, so you wouldn't want anything too "fancy"!

[Bowie MeMe]

I love my Tilly adventure hat (Canadian made) and it goes where I go. I have the mesh model (small mesh insert so air can get to the head) strings that keep it in place, pocket for credit card/money in brim and large brim that protects ears and neck. Serious sun protection and comfortable. Don't be surprized if folks come up to you and say hi to you and your Tilly. They are popular and even have knock-offs (which are not as shrink resistant). I have stone (light beigy white). Google Tilly hat and learn their remarkable story :rolleyes:

[Happy ks]

I have a packable travel hat in straw, it's lasted for years now:

 

http://www.travelsmith.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&itemID=415&fromNewSearch=true&mercadoResultId=8

 

They have quite a variety of hats on Travelsmith.

[Milaandra]

I'm thinking about it strictly from a fashion sensibility. I know that newsboy and military caps look cute with casual denim, but are those styles too young for a 46-year-old? How about a basic fedora...is that too dressy? Did you recommend the panama and the outback-style Tilley for their practicality or because those styles go with jeans?

 

What about the season cusp and material? It's too early to get an accurate temperature prediction, so I figured I would bring both ankle boots and sandals. (Flats would go both ways, but I can never find any to fit me right) What materials will go both ways...felt, fabric, tweed, straw?

 

I've always worn straw hats in summer, but mostly with dress pants, skirts and dresses. I've bought a couple of dressier fur felt hats and I'm working up my courage to wear those this fall/winter with more structured clothing. But for some reason the jean jacket is throwing me...it seems too cool-weather for a straw summer hat. If I wear a cap, will I look like "mutton dressed as lamb?" If I don't wear a cap, what else goes?

[DoggieDash84]

I'm thinking about it strictly from a fashion sensibility. I know that newsboy and military caps look cute with casual denim, but are those styles too young for a 46-year-old? How about a basic fedora...is that too dressy? Did you recommend the panama and the outback-style Tilley for their practicality or because those styles go with jeans?

 

What about the season cusp and material? It's too early to get an accurate temperature prediction, so I figured I would bring both ankle boots and sandals. (Flats would go both ways, but I can never find any to fit me right) What materials will go both ways...felt, fabric, tweed, straw?

 

I've always worn straw hats in summer, but mostly with dress pants, skirts and dresses. I've bought a couple of dressier fur felt hats and I'm working up my courage to wear those this fall/winter with more structured clothing. But for some reason the jean jacket is throwing me...it seems too cool-weather for a straw summer hat. If I wear a cap, will I look like "mutton dressed as lamb?" If I don't wear a cap, what else goes?

 

It's really hard to say if 46 is "too old" to wear something. Everyone pulls clothing off in a different way. If you feel awkward and uncomfy in certain clothing, chances are, it will show in the way that you carry yourself so you'd be better off not wearing those types of clothing. If you feel confident in it, you'll most likely be fine.

 

I'm guessing that it would be too warm to wear this type of hat, but I think something like this would be very cute w/a pale jean jacket:

 

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/13/8/AAAAAhUOcNUAAAAAABONVw.jpg

[Willie T]

I getting the impression you really want to wear the newsboy hat. Go for it! 46 is not old. 146 is old, but even then, if someone that age wanted to wear it, I would still say do it. Like I have read here before a hundred times, everyone is so busy wondering if they look OK, chances are no one is paying much attention to anyone else. I,am older then you, but have been thinking I need a newsboy too.:D

[Happy ks]

I keep wondering why you are worrying about it so much :confused:

 

If you really want to keep the sun off of yourself, a newsboy, cloche or any other fitted type of hat won't do that (except for your scalp). You need something with a brim, a fedora type of hat would work a bit, but if it is sunny, a solid hat will keep you hotter than you can even imagine, at least it does me. Even my straw hat is warm, but it does keep the sun off my face.

 

I've always thought that hats worn close to the head are to keep warmth in, not the sun off the head. I see young people around here wearing knit skull caps (or whatever they call them) even during summer and cannot understand why, I would have sweat pouring off my head :o

[Milaandra]

I keep wondering why you are worrying about it so much :confused:

 

Mostly fear of looking ridiculous, of course! Okay, and my oh-so-Scottish hatred of wasting money on something that I won't wear after I bought it. (because it looks ridiculous...which sort of brings us back to point #1, doesn't it?)

 

Based on the majority of posts on this board, it would seem that many of us are in the same boat. :)

[Happy ks]

I don't know how many cruises you have been on in the past, but I find there are so many people looking ridiculous on cruise ships...you have nothing to worry about. I mean this in the friendliest way, even though it doesn't sound so :o

 

My feeling is that since you are asking and have several considerations in mind, you more than likely have a better fashion sense than many of your fellow cruisers onboard the ship.

 

Whenever we go on cruise ships we see people wearing (I think :rolleyes:) whatever is closest to the door on the way out of the cabin. I see women wearing cute sundresses and baseball caps. I see men who haven't bothered to comb their hair or wear a hat over their unkempt hair and I wish they would have grabbed the hat. I've seen men wearing hats that would look better in the trash can since they are gross and dirty. I see grown ups wearing goofy cartoonish hats.

 

It's all just people and I try not to pass judgement (although I really do)...I just notice and move on. The older I get the less I try to figure out the human race.

[klauer]

I look terrible in every kind of hat (baseball to cowboy), so I envy the women who look cute in them. I don't really think that you need to worry about "sunstroke" in the middle of September in New England, though!

[Bowie MeMe]

As I posted-- the Tilly hat is for serious sun protection. Skin cancer really is not a good fashion statement. Other than to keep the sun off or my ears from freezing I have not worn a hat in years but I do like to see fashion hats on the right people. I almost bought a Goofy hat at DW but thankfully pulled off at the last moment. If you like the hat it doesn't matter too much what others think. Just make sure you have a smile under the brim. :)

[Milaandra]

You won't believe this. My convictions crumble in the face of a sale!

 

I went into a local hat shop to see what they had. I didn't like their "trendy/casual" hats, but they had a huge sale on spiffy summer hats...

 

It's a wonder I walked out with only one! It's gorgeous, though, and since the original price tag was $170, I think $40 was a steal! It'll go great with my silk chiffon Jones New York skirt...

 

I guess I'm wearing my standard paper-straw crushable with jeans for this cruise :rolleyes: Oh well. Good hats look better than cheap hats, and I would have ended up with a cheap hat, I know it. When we're back I'll start looking for a good one to wear with jeans in the Fall/Spring. In the meantime, I'll take everyone's advice and whatever is on my body or head, I'll just carry it off with aplomb!

 

I've also decided that summer ends October 1. Blame it on global warming, but I will no longer be dictated to by an arbitrary Labour Day deadline! :D

 

I am going to look at those Tilley hats. It seems they are sold through CAA offices!

 

Dang it all, I need another hatbox now... (And I had just managed to find a good storage spot for the hatboxes I have now!) Has anyone managed to double up simple summer, big brimmed hats in one hatbox without damage?

[Milaandra]

Oh, I do have to argue a little, though. (Go figure! :D)

 

Hats for sun protection are about keeping the sun off your head...shade around your face is only a bonus. Look at kepis...armies survived with that small skip hat in some of the hottest countries in the world. (Sometimes with a cloth haverlock to keep the sun off the back of their necks...I have long hair instead) The skip brim keeps the sun out of your eyes and the crown protects your head. Athletes have the same protection with a ballcap.

 

I wear intense suncreen for my skin, so shade is optional, but I still need something on my head or I get seriously sick if I'm in the sun too long. That's both the Canadian sun and the tropical sun...the tropical sun just kicks in quicker! ;)

[karen sharpe]

To Canada..? Well of course the toque eh?;)

[Milaandra]

to canada..? Well of course the toque eh?;)

 

rofl!! :d

[karen sharpe]

rofl!! :d

Sorry ..just couldn't resist!:p

[binkysmom]

Congrats on the new hat!

 

Just a reminder to people to put sunscreen on their ears. My dad wears baseball hats all the time but recently noticed a purpley mark on his ear. He goes in for a biopsy next week (referred from his doctor to a specialist). We are hoping it's not skin cancer.

 

I've been wearing sunscreen daily since my teens (now early 30's) but am now much more diligent about my ears, back of neck etc.

[Happy ks]

Oh, I do have to argue a little, though. (Go figure! :D)

 

Hats for sun protection are about keeping the sun off your head...shade around your face is only a bonus. Look at kepis...armies survived with that small skip hat in some of the hottest countries in the world. (Sometimes with a cloth haverlock to keep the sun off the back of their necks...I have long hair instead) The skip brim keeps the sun out of your eyes and the crown protects your head. Athletes have the same protection with a ballcap.

 

I wear intense suncreen for my skin, so shade is optional, but I still need something on my head or I get seriously sick if I'm in the sun too long. That's both the Canadian sun and the tropical sun...the tropical sun just kicks in quicker! ;)

 

I think I'm the opposite, I wear a large brimmed sun visor to keep the sun off my face as well as to help shade my eyes. But I do use a sunscreen for my scalp and when sunbathing (not that I do much of that, we may call it shade bathing) I glob on the conditioner onto my hair, then spray the whole thing with sunscreen for the hair. If we're on an excursion, I just pin my hair up and use the sunscreen on my part.

 

I just can't tolerate the heat from a hat, one of the reasons I suppose I prefer a straw hat to a solid fabric if I do wear a hat.

[klauer]

I'm the person above who looks stupid in any kind of hat, but I do wear them. I think that any dermatologist will tell you that you DO need a full-brimmed hat plus sunscreen to keep the sun off your face, and that a baseball cap is not sufficient. There are visors available that have a wider brim than a standard visor or baseball cap, and your head stays cooler. I'm not sure why you would need to protect your head from the sun if you have a full head of hair -- maybe some sunscreen along the part???

[ladycaveat]

This may be as far from what you're looking for as possible but I just bought the cutest little black "Newsboy" cap/hat that is absolutely darling. Was walking out of Target after buying my doggie food and saw them hanging there . . . for $9.95. Tried it on and just loved it!!!!!!!

[smoothdancer]

I know you did not ask!!

But you say you will be in NewEngland/Canada in 2 weeks, and that was a week ago....

Just to let you know here in New England the temp has not yet begun to cool down. Today temps ranged from 85-90 degrees! Suggest you bring along something lighter than jean material just in case. If this weather continues you might be too hot!

 

Carry on with the hats coversation!