Head-Turning Tips: How To Wear Panama Hats for Women

Style statements can be simple. Think Sharon Stone in a white button-down Gap top over a Vera Wang evening skirt at the Oscars. Or Taylor Swift in an orange-red bandeau top over a fuschia pink skirt at the Grammys. Even more iconic and easy is Audrey Hepburn’s timeless little black dress. For some women, hats can also be statement pieces.

Panama hats for women, in particular, are effortless to style. You can wear one for a trip to the beach, during a summer picnic, or on a holiday somewhere exotic. Although the traditional wide-brimmed straw hat makes it perfect for sunny days, it’s versatile enough to be part of your wardrobe in any season.

How do you wear one to stand out from a stylish crowd? You begin with finding the right hat using the following tips:

1. Find a shape that’ll work with your current wardrobe.

Panama hats come in fedora, teardrop, optimo, and trilby shapes. 

The classic fedora has a bent crown in the center and a long oval brim, whereas the teardrop, also known as the Havana Panama hat, has a C crown style with a blocked long oval. The optimo features a crest crossing the crown, and it’s blocked on standard oval; the trilby, on the other hand, bears some resemblance to the fedora but has a flatter brim.

Each hat shape will uplift or freshen up certain outfits. Some shapes, like the optimo, will be better for formal occasions than others.

Consider where and how you’d wear it when shopping for your Panama hat. Do you plan to wear it while on holiday? Will the Panama hat become your summer staple? Are you saving it for bad hair days on weekends?

2. Try one on to see if it’s perfect for the shape of your face.

Round. Square. Heart. Which face shape are you? 

If your face is round or triangular, you may have hit the hat jackpot because any style will suit your face. You can top off your business suit at work with an optimo or brunch with friends on a weekend in a trilby. 

If your face is heart-shaped, you can style your outfits with any Panama hat. But go for ones with smaller brims. Those with wider brims accentuate the forehead and narrow the chin. Look for hats that balance the width of your forehead.

If you have a square face, try Panama hats that soften facial edges. Go for round crowns and wider brims, which emphasize femininity.

If your face is oblong, choose a Panama hat with a flared or wide brim. A wide brim will counterbalance vertical curves.

3. Make sure the hat fits you.

Like every outfit in your closet, your hat must fit you perfectly. A tight hat isn’t just uncomfortable; when worn too long, it could damage your scalp. A loose hat, meanwhile, will slip down your eyes and make you look like you’re wearing someone else’s Panama hat.

How do you know your hat size?

Use a tape measure to wrap around the circumference of your head, starting from the back and working toward the forehead. The tape measure must lie in the middle of your forehead and sit just above the ears. Never pull the tape too tightly.  

4. Go with a versatile color.

Versatility with every accessory you own means you’ll always have something to mix or match with your outfits. The same goes for your Panama hat, which comes in typically light colors. 

Classic colors like beige, tan, or white usually work with any outfit. Darker colors, like black or navy blue, may work best for evening occasions. These are not styling rules, so if you find that natural hue Panama hat looks smashing on a pink tailored suit and heels for a chic night on the town, go for it.

Not all Panama hats are neutral in color. Some will come in multiple colors, which could work with casual and formal outfits.

What to wear with your panama hat

Panama hats can enhance almost any outfit: a summer dress, linen suit, baggy jacket or evening wear. You can wear it beyond the beach and long after your trips.

On casual days, Panama hats style up denim wear and everyday T-shirts. Pair it with other accessories, like an oversized bag and sunglasses. On weekends with the family, the brimmed straw hat will brighten up a cute dress with a nice little handbag. On dressy evenings with friends, a white fedora over a long strapless dress can amp up a sultry style.

No matter what you’re wearing or where you wear it, Panama hats are versatile fashion staples.

How to shop for authentic panama hats

Panama hats are not cheap – not the authentic ones, anyway. But is price the only factor that points to the genuineness of your Panama hat?

Authentic Panama hats come from Ecuador. Look at what you’re buying closely, and you’ll notice a tight weave consistent throughout the hat. A tight weave is lighter and more flexible. When you twist the hat in your hand, you’ll feel it give a little but retain its shape. A hat of this quality takes longer to produce, which explains its premium price.

Quality Panama hats will mean you’ll wear this accessory for a long time. Some well-made Panama hats are rollable, like a stylish packable sun hat. You can pack them in your bag without worrying about the accessory losing its shape.

The right Panama hat does sun protection in the most stylish way. Find a shape and color to match your wardrobe, and wear it with confidence.