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How to Wear a Stylish Hat

Jun 9, 2011 / By Heather Vecchioni

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Hats make you look super cute and comfortable.

Photo: Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images

Hats often make the perfect accompaniment to most any outfit, but gals still seem to shy away from them. These dome-piece decorations are also suitable for just about any occasion, from a lazy day on the beach to a fabulous shopping trip. Besides pumping up your outfit, wearing hats also keeps you cool and shields you from the hot, glaring sun. Pulling off a stylish hat look is fairly simple if you know what your grandma did about how to wear them.

Wear the correct size. You're going to look plain silly if that hat is too large or too small. If your hat falls off easily or hangs down over your ears, you need to go a size or two smaller. If the hat makes your forehead itch, you've likely got one that's too small. The average woman's head is about 22 ½ inches, give or take. Start there and adjust accordingly.

Rock the hat that suits your face shape. Just as a haircut affects the way your face looks, a hat does the same. Chicks with oval and heart-shaped faces can get away with just about any hat, whereas gals who have oblong faces should sport hats with wide brims to balance out the length of their faces. Round-faced girls should go with hats that feature high and wide crowns, with the crown as wide as your face.

Find a stylish hat that goes well with your skin tone. Just as makeup, clothes and hair colors can either make your skin sing or look sick, hats can do the same thing. A good rule of thumb is to pick hats that are the same color as the clothes, makeup and hair color that make you look your best. To know for sure, place the hat on your head and look in the mirror. If your eyes look brighter and your skin is glowing, you've found a winner. On the other hand, if your eyes look sunken and your skin looks sallow, you should keep looking.

Pay attention to your hair. Staying with your everyday hairstyle may not cut it when wearing a hat. Try curling the ends so they flip out or pull your hair back into a tight and low pony. Results of hanging with your everyday hairdo: Long and thick hair can have a widening effect on the way the hat looks. If you're unhappy with how you look, try tucking your hair behind your ears. Play with your hair a bit before you decide whether a hat works for you.

Tip your hat a bit to the side. This simple little gesture of cocking the hat to the right or left can make a huge difference in the way the hat looks, especially if the hat is made from felt or straw. Moving the hat forward or backward can also alter how it looks. Play with it a little bit until you find what works; if you just aren't satisfied, move on to another hat.

Fedoras, Panama and trilby-style hats work on just about everyone. Once you've tackled these -- or if you're feeling brave -- try a cloche -- a bell-shaped French hat. Don't be afraid to experiment with these stylish hats and most of all, don't forget to have fun.