Guide to Men's Wide Brim Hats
The secret to rocking your hat game is to wear your hat with confidence and style. When we think of wide brim hats, what usually comes into mind is a...
The secret to rocking your hat game is to wear your hat with confidence and style. When we think of wide brim hats, what usually comes into mind is a women’s hat style for summer or fall. However, today, men’s wide brim hats are changing the dynamics of the fashion world as well.
Guide to Men’s Wide Brim Hats
Whether you’re wearing a simple shirt or going for a sophisticated look, your wide brim hat will perfectly elevate and complement your statement effortlessly.
They are not only a fashionable companion; wide brim hats also serve a practical purpose. Since these hats measure at least 3 inches, they are handy for providing shade from the blazing sun. It can protect your face, neck, and ears from harmful UV rays as well as other outside elements.
Keep reading to learn more about the various styles and materials used for men’s wide brim hats before buying one:
What are the Different Wide Brim Hat Styles for Men?
There are various wide-brim hat styles for men with different highlights and selling points. Read on to learn which style suits you best:
Fedora Hats
We can’t talk about hats without including fedora in the list. It is a timeless piece that goes way back in the fashion industry’s history. During the heydays of fedora hats, dapper gentlemen would wear them on a daily basis. Its signature features complete a classy and well-dressed look.
But while short brim fedoras are a popular choice, wide brim fedora hats offer distinct features. These features make it a hot choice for men who are looking to step up their hat game. Its structure works for various face shapes with its pliable brim, dented crown, creased center, and pinched sides.
Boater Hats
As its name goes, boater hats were originally the go-to hat of boaters at boating and sailing events. Unlike other wide brim hat styles that use different materials, these have always been straw hats.
Straw is a lightweight material that serves its purpose of protection when basking under the sun. The most popular straw types used for boater hats are Sennit straw, Toquilla, Toyo, Raffi, and Shantung. These hats have a flat top and brim and are typically accentuated with a red and blue or red and black ribbon.
Outback Hats
Outback hats are also popularly known as “Aussie hats” as their inspiration roots from Australian’s remote outback. Its appearance looks close to that of classic western hats with its turned-up brim. It has an overall rugged yet sleek look with a naturally wide brim, a creased crown shape, and a medium profile.
The signature features of outback hats make them the perfect choice for harsh and extreme weather conditions. These hats usually consist of water-repellent and firm material, making them both functional and fashionable.
Bucket Hats
Perhaps the most “it” style of wide brim hats today are wide brim bucket hats. It has a subtle hipster and swagger look that suits casual outfits and dynamic fashion statements. Furthermore, most bucket hats would have at least UPF50 sun protection. Its casual style and incognito vibe make it a perfect travel companion. Hence, anyone can sport its droopy and downward brim to exude a trendsetter and free-spirited aura.
What are the Materials Used to Make Wide Brim Hats?
Now, let’s look at two of the most popular materials used for making wide brim hats: straw and wool.
Straw
Straw is a timeless staple material for making hats, usually through the process of interweaving. It remains a popular material over the years because of its lightweight and well-ventilated quality. Its small openings make it a cooling hat for hot weather while still providing enough sun protection.
There is a great variety of types of straw used to make wide brim hats. These types vary in durability, strength, quality of fineness, and color. Some of the most common types of straw used for making hats are:
- Raffia
- Toyo
- Toquila
- Shantung
- Milan
- Seagrass
Wool
Like straw, wool is another popular material for hat making. Wool has many different animal sources from lamb, sheep, angora goat, alpaca, llama, and even camel. This fabric is highly versatile and has remarkable features, making it a go-to choice for various hats other than wide brims. The fibers of these fabrics are hypoallergenic, wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking, and durable.
With its natural insulation, it can keep you warm enough for chilly days. At the same time, it has breathable air pockets that will help keep your head cool during hot weather.
It takes essential know-how to wear a wide brim hat confidently. Since we have unique tastes, the perfect style and material would also vary for different people. We hope this guide helped you decide which type of men’s wide brim hat to go for your next outfit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Can you wear a wide brim hat in winter?
Wide brim hats do not only protect you from the sun’s rays but also against the cold and freezing weather in winter. They can be worn as an alternative to beanies or Russian hats.
How do you reshape a wide brim hat?
To reshape a wide brim hat, simply place some books, weights or any heavy object on your brim’s creases and lay it on a flat surface for a day.
How wide should a hat brim be?
If you have an average to large body type, you can wear 3 1/2″ to 4″ brims. On the other hand, those with smaller body types should wear wide brim hats with 3 ” to 3 1/2″.
