A straw hat is my favorite summer topper for both its sun protection and the style bump it gives an outfit. When selecting the right straw hat for my clients, we are always looking for that middle ground between the “I-don’t-want-skin-cancer” straw hats of decades past, and the more trend-driven straw hats of Instagram influencers. For those new to the world of millinery, let’s go over how to find the right straw for you, when to wear a straw hat as well as my favorite straw hats right now. Click the link below to skip to that section:
- How To Find Your Hat Size
- Best Straw Sun Hats For Women
- When Not To Wear A Straw Hat
- When To Wear A Straw Hat
How Does Hat Sizing Work? Aka How To Find The Best Straw Hat For You
First of all, you need to know your head size. Get a measuring tape and measure the circumference of your head where you would like to wear your straw hat. If you need some visual instruction, watch this video from Will+ Bear. Here’s the general breakdown of hat sizes, though the exact measurements can vary slightly.
- Extra Small: 20.5″
- Small: 21.25″
- Medium: 22″
- Large: 22.8″
- Extra Large: 23.75″
When it comes to the fit of your straw hat, a snug hat will stay on when the wind blows, but then it really ruins your hair. Choose the fit according to your priorities: hair vs. wind. If you want to have good hair and insurance against the wind, I adore a hat with a chin strap! If the wind takes your hat, it won’t go far.
Once you know your hat size and how snug you want it, you need to select the straw hat that corresponds with your needs. If you are looking for major sun protection at the beach, then a large brim hat makes sense, although it’s not the most modern option. Personally, I prefer smaller brims so I can have a better view and move more easily. Those large brims often feel cumbersome. If you are looking for a straw hat for daily wear, I recommend choosing a hat with a brim of about 3-4 inches.
Best Straw Sun Hats For Women
When it comes to the best straw sun hats for women, I love a boater or a subtle fedora. Watch out for those straw hats with the super tall crowns, like this one. It is a trend that flatters very few people. Below are my favorite straw hats that I’m putting on my clients right now. Notice how most of them have a chin strap or are packable. Why? Because I got you! We need our straw hats to be utilitarian as well as stylish.
- Best Budget-Friendly: Nordstrom Packable Boater Hat (23″ inner circumference; 3.5″ brim width) – $49
- rag & bone Packable Straw Fedora (comes in 21″, 22″ & 23″ sizes; 2.75″ brim width; also available here, here, here & here) – $250
- Biltmore Vintage Couture Canyon Moon Guatemalan Palm Braid Straw Rancher Hat (4″ brim; also available here) – $138.99
- Minga Straw Boater Hat (sizes range from 21″-24″; 3″ brim) – $160
- Best For the Trendier Folks: Brixton Jo Straw Rancher Hat (comes in sizes ranging from 21.25″- 24.25″; 4″ brim; also available here, here, here, & here) – $99
- Artesano Jacaranda (comes in sizes ranging from 21.25″- 24.4″; 4″ brim) – $280
- Best For the Ultimate Sun Protection Folks: Free People Arizona Packable Hat – $68
When Not To Wear A Straw Hat
Hats are probably one of the hardest, if not the hardest, accessories to pull off, so it is key to know when to skip this powerful accouterment…
- A Bad Hair Day: This seems like the best time to wear a hat, but it is not. Obviously, you know your hair best, but a hat puts the focus on the sad strands dangling out of the hat. And then inevitably the hat will come off at some point. The combination of an organic bad hair day mixed with the hat’s extra clumsy styling is a terrible combination.
- A Seated Theater: Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor theatre, it is best to skip a brim. You don’t want to block the view of the people seated behind you.
- Small Indoor Restaurants: It will feel crowded and rude.
- Dark Restaurants: You will feel silly in a straw hat in a dark restaurant no matter the time of day.
- Windy Day: Goodbye, hat!
- Running Errands: More power to you if you can pull this off in a Target, the grocery store, or the post office, but I feel a little cramped when I wear a brimmed hat running errands. (Here’s what I personally recommend wearing to run errands.)
- Traditional Work Place: You knew that already.
When To Wear A Straw Hat
Time for the fun part, when should you wear a hat?
- The Farmer’s Market: Yes, it may be crowded, but a hat works beautifully in this outdoor venue.
- The Park: Whether you are there for a picnic or hanging with your kids, the park is an awesome place to sport that straw hat.
- The Zoo: Yes, sometimes it is frustrating when you are trying to get a good look at that bear bathing and there is someone in front of you with a brimmed topper, but Zoo spectators know to wait their turn to get upfront and stare.
- The Beach: Stating the obvious, but get out there in those gorgeous hats when the sand calls to you. Just make sure you have a hat with a chin strap on those windy beach days. Check out my full list of the best beach accessories, here.
- Outdoor Restaurant: Don’t feel rude in your straw glory while dining on an outdoor patio.
- Tea: Places like Coral Tree Tea House always have ladies sporting hats. Feel free to sport yours as well.
- Indoor Restaurant Full of Natural Light: Polite Provisions is a wonderful example of a restaurant with lots of space and light to make a straw hat more comfortable.
- Walks: I love my sunset walks around town, but sometimes I forget that a hat would be the perfect accessory for my weekly explorations.
- The Horse Races: The Del Mar Races is famous for its hat competition on opening day, but hats are welcome on any day you attend.
- Festivals: Any outdoor festival, like the Socal Taco Fest, is one of the most popular occasions to sport a hat. Feel free to follow the crowd on this one.
- Lawn Bowling: There is something so fabulously old school about lawn bowling in a hat. Try it.
- In the sun: Basically, any occasion or serene activity that takes place in the sun begs for a straw hat.
Can you think of any other places a straw hat would be perfect? Tell me in the comments.
Photos by Dayley Photography and Devon Boutte
