Wearing the Right Hat for Your Figure

Hat Wearing Tips

Adjusting a hat:

If a hat isn’t flattering when you first try it on, you may need to adjust how it is placed on your head. If your face isn’t perfectly symmetrical in appearance (most of ours aren’t), chances are the hat will look better at an angle. Try tilting the hat slightly to the right or to the left. Angle it from every direction and view it from every angle. Experiment until you find the optimal look. Here are some additional tips:

Glasses

If you have glasses, try upturning the brim of your hat for a more flattering look.

Hair

If you have hair, try tucking your hair behind your ear or putting your hair up for the best look, and so that your features can fully be on display.

Earrings

Experiment with different earrings to spice things up.

Choosing the Right Hat for Your Face Shape

Selecting the optimal hat style for your face shape can help you look and feel your best. There are a few ways to determine your face shape:

Mirror Method: Stand in front of a mirror and pull your hair back. With a bar of soap or lipstick, trace the outline of your face onto the mirror. Compare the outlined shape on the mirror to the pictures below.

Tracing Method: Trace the outline of your face from a photograph. Observe to see what shape is revealed.

Measuring Method: With a ruler or measuring tape:

Measure across the tops of your cheekbones.
Measure across your jaw line from the widest point to the widest point.
Measure across your forehead at the widest point.
Measure from the tip of your hairline to the bottom of your chin.
Compare measurements to the guide below.

Oval Shaped Face

Description: When you measure your face, your length is equal to about one and a half times the width. Your face is only slightly narrower at the jaw line than at the temples, with a gently rounded hairline.

Best Choices: Because of your face is balanced and in even proportion, you can wear almost any style.

Avoid: The crown of the hat should never be narrower than your cheekbones. Hats should be no wider than the width of your shoulders.

Round Shaped Face

Description: Your face is approximately twice as wide as it is long. You have a round chin and a round hairline. The widest point is at the cheeks and ears.

Best Choices: Styles that add fullness and height at the crown. Select hats with sharp lines, tall crowns, high brims and asymmetrical shapes. Straight brims should be slanted to create flattering angles. Wear your brims on an angle whenever possible. The crown of the hat should be at least as wide as your face. A hat with a higher brim will help lengthen your face.

Avoid: Rounded crowns, circular or floppy-shaped hats.

Heart Shaped Face

Description: When you measure your face, it is narrow at the jaw line and wide at the cheekbones and/or forehead. Your face appears wide at the temples and hairline and narrows to a small, delicate chin.

Best Choices: Medium brimmed hats are ideal because they do not accentuate a wider forehead or a narrow chin. Heart shaped faces look good in almost any hat style. Hats with asymetrical brims are a good choice. When you have a wide forehead and a narrow chin, the brim of a hat can help balance a wider forehead. If you go too wide, your chin will appear even more narrow.

Avoid: Avoid hats with brims that are small because they will make your forehead look bigger. Avoid wide brimmed hats or hats that are too full as these will make your chin look more narrow.

Square Shaped Face

Description: Your face is about as wide as it is long. You have a strong, square jawline and a square hairline.

Best Choices: Wear your brims on an angle whenever possible. Wide brimmed hats with a rounded crown can help soften a wider square jawline. Choose hats that sit high on your forehead to elongate the bottom half of your face. Feminine hats with curvy lines will help soften the lines of your face. Round and asymmetrical hats will contrast a sharp jawline.

Avoid: Hats with a flat top or a tapered crown.

Diamond Shaped Face

Description: Your face is the widest at the cheekbones, with a narrow forehead. Your forehead and jaw line are approximately equal in width. Your shape is a cross between a heart and an oval.

Best Choices: Almost everything works with your balanced face shape. Try a variety of styles.

Avoid: You can wear almost anything.

Oblong or Rectangular Face Shape

Description: Your face is longer than it is wide. It is about the same width at the forehead and just below the cheekbones. Individuals with oblong shapes may have a very narrow chin or a very high forehead. Your face appears long and slender.

Best Choices: Choose wide hats with short crowns. Hats with wide flat brims or curled/floppy brims work well. Try pulling the brim of your hat down to your eyebrows to shorten your face.

Avoid: Narrow brims and hats with high crowns, which will make your face look even longer.

Pear Shaped Face Shape

Description: Your face is characterised by a narrow forehead and is widest at the jaw, with a round chin.

Best Choices: The best styles will create width at your forehead and temples, giving the illusion of an oval face. They will draw attention to the upper part of your face. Choose hats with a full (but not tapered) crown and a wide brim.

Avoid: Hats with tapered crowns, which tend to accentuate a wide jaw.