What’s the Topper? Bucket or Brewster?

May 11, 2021

Hats, like hair, can make or break your day. 

They can be the perfect topper or the perfect storm, as in crash and burn.

Still, here on The Fringe, we say: “Go for it!”

Break It Down

Now, with that said, let’s break it down.

Not every style is good for everyone or every occasion.

So, it takes a little trial and error to come up with the right style and a little knowledge to make the right choice.

Be Fearless

Don’t be afraid, says fashion writer Shani Jay. 

She assures there’s a hat for everyone and every occasion and suggests starting small, like with a Beanie or Beret, Beanie for the younger set and Beret for the older. The Beanie is that unstructured knit or wool hat that hugs your head. The Beret is the flat wool disc that’s typically worn tilted off to the side. 

Speaking from the “older” point of view, I’d nix the Beret, even though I’ve known women who can rock that look. I’ve discovered with my new pixie cut, I need a wide-brim with full crown to frame my face and round out my flat head. (Too much time on my back as a baby, apparently.) 

Anyway, once you’ve picked a style, make sure the color complements your outfit, says Jay, and matches at least one other item you’re wearing. Stick with two colors, she says, or three at most. 

I’d go with the latter because I like the rule of threes. So, I’d match the hat, belt and shoes, or hat purse and shoes. Any of your accessories can be included in the accent color trio, like a scarf, jewelry or gloves. They all could play into the “rule of threes” equation.

To Hat? Or Not to Hat? 

Now, when is wearing a hat appropriate? You ask?

Well, anytime, I’d say, when for warmth.

But if purely for looks, I’d think about where you’re going.

A hat is always acceptable at formal events like weddings, funerals and garden parties, (Does anyone do that anymore?) and can be worn throughout. Just be mindful of people around you and have the courtesy to doff your hat if it’s obstructing someone’s view. 

As for a casual-style hat, Jay and I agree. Take it off when indoors, like at work, obviously, and at restaurants, theaters and churches, and when being introduced or sitting down at someone’s home for a meal. 

Oh, and here’s a tip. She says formal hats can stay on during the playing of the national anthem but casual hats must come off.

As for a general rule of thumb, here’s one I hadn’t heard – the time of day determines the size of hat. Jay says, a hat should decrease in size as the day goes on. In other words, a wide-brimmed hat suitable for a morning or afternoon event would be gauche for evening. 

And, get this, for a wedding, she says the hat worn by the mother of the groom should always be smaller than the mother of the bride. Now, I’d never heard that one before. 

Isn’t this fun? I love learning new stuff.

Who knew? Learning about hats and how to wear them could be so much fun. I did, I did.

Bucket? Or Brewster?

Getting back to the hats, there’s so many to choose from – a Portrait to frame your face, a Bucket to look chic, a Fascinator for allure, a Pillbox or Fedora for sophistication and the Garden, not the garden variety as plain, but Garden meaning adorned with flowers and fauna.

Try it! Seriously. You might like it. Really, you just might surprise yourself and find some unbridled new confidence. Don’t be afraid to stand out. Be bold, I say. Turn some heads.

And what’s so great these days is there’s no one-style-fits-all rule. You can choose the style that’s right for you. And, truly, there are so many. Some of which have been around for years. The style’s the same, just the name has changed. 

The wide-brim went from the Garden to Cartwheel to Portrait; the bucket from helmet to lampshade; the Fedora to Brewster then Vagabond. 

That Bucket, that epitomized high fashion in the 1960s, is back with a vengeance, I just learned, at least with the younger set.

Try it! You Might Like it. 

The point is, try it! Take baby steps. You don’t have to fully commit. Just pick up a thrift store hat and wear it the next time you go shopping. Wouldn’t that be fun? Maybe? Maybe not. But what could it hurt? Put that sucker on and hold your head high. 

And think about what hat historian Susan Langley said – a hat is your crowning glory, the pinnacle, the grand finale. 

You’re a new woman, now. And who knows? You just might like it.

REFERENCES: “Vintage Hats & Bonnets” by Susan Langley, 1998, by Collector Books; “How to wear a hat, by Fashion Writer Shani Jay for LoveToKnow.com

Yikes! Great for the outfit. Not for the face. Next!

Photo by Oakley Boycott