I think you’re either a hat person, or you’re not. But there are also so many types of hats, that you may wear some and not others. Or wear them all, or none at all.
Living in NYC has definitely altered my style chemistry quite a bit already. This city requires you to have all the things. You need everything for every season. And one item that I am surprised I have felt a strong need for, is a hat.
Are You A Baseball Hat Person?
I think I’ve always envied people who look cute in a hat. Especially a baseball hat. I never even THOUGHT to attempt it because I just felt really dumb instantly in a baseball hat for as long as I can remember. Or for the very few times I have thrown one on to try it.
Remember the Von Dutch trucker hats we all wanted in the early 2000’s thanks to Paris Hilton? I think maybe that scarred me a bit in venturing back into cap territory.
Yet come spring and summer, and a good warm weather vacation, and I’m all in on the wide brim straw fedora. I love wearing them, I feel pretty in them, but that’s pretty much where it ended.
And I even dabbled in the wide brim felt hat for fall and winter as the ultimate blogger it girl accessory in the mid 2010s. I think those have been retired now, I hope. I think the Millennial style update to that may be a cool baseball hat, actually.
How To Style A Baseball Hat
I’m still learning how to style this accessory. But I am quickly learning what I like and don’t like. Here’s a few style tips I’m leaning into when thinking of how to stye a baseball cap with my personal style.
Choose A Color That Contrasts Your Hair
I think this is why I have been anti-hats. I feel like many I would try were always black, or brown, or just dark in color. And then I just didn’t love it against my dark hair. Once I put on this green hat from Still Here, I loved the contrast with my hair.
Make It Part Of The Color Palette
Just like any accessory you wear to complete an outfit, keep color palette in mind. Let the hat be part of the whole color palette and story.
If you’re going all neutrals with your outfit, you can also do a pop of color with your hat to add some interest. Just like you would with a great sneaker, or a bag to add some interest to your outfit. And also think about the color wheel, going across the color you’re wearing for contrast, or moving to either side of your main color to find complimentary colors. This is a great way to add more color to your closet.
Juxtapose The Menswear Inspired Accessory
Maybe it’s just me that feels this way, but I feel like a baseball hat feels more menswear inspired to me. And with that, I like to try to contrast it with more feminine pieces if possible. Not always, as you can see in today’s look I am just wearing jeans a tee and a blazer. Kind of an androgynous look.
But I really love a baseball hat with a dress that’s more feminine to add interest and contrast to a feminine piece. I think this is a fine line too though. Baseball hats are very casual so I wouldn’t style this with your dressiest floral dress. I think a good rule of thumb is if you can wear the dress with sneakers, it can also be worn with a baseball hat.
And at the same time, I think so many great street styles can be juxtaposed with a similar look to what I’m wearing today with jeans and a blazer, but add a cool heel or boot. Just play around with the accessories to find the right balance.
Complete Your Look
Baseball hats can feel very casual, like that thing you throw on top of your dirty hair to run out of the house in your comfy sweats. And while I’m all for doing that, you can technically elevate even that combination by completing your look. So if you’re planning on making a fashion statement with your hat, I would suggest completing your look.
Just like I preach that you can totally wear sweatpants in public and look elevated and cool, or wear a matching set that may feel like pajamas, but make it look polished, the same goes for wearing a baseball hat in my book.
Complete your look by putting the finishing touches to your outfit with jewelry, a lip, and choosing a stylish bag instead of your big work tote. These small touches really make your outfit feel more put-together.
Now that you have a few of my go to tips on how to style a hat, give this effortless accessory a try. It’s a fun way to add a pop of color to your look, and keep your head warm in cooler weather or keep the sun out of your face. A must have accessory for any wardrobe in any season.
