Mad Hatter!

Dear readers,

It has been slightly over a week now since my last post, so I thought it was about time I wrote to you again. About what, you may ask? I was undeniably struggling to answer this question myself… until this morning.

It was impossible to go for a walk today as it was getting notably colder by the hour. Thus, I made the impromptu decision of taking ‘The Tube’ to get to the flower market I was headed to. Based on the premise that the clothes you wear tell a story, I could not help but observe what people in my tube carriage were wearing. (I must say, I shall think soon that when people say every woman is possessed by her own peculiar devil of curiosity, they are speaking the truth!) I recall thinking to myself how wonderful it was that every single person was incredibly, absolutely, supremely, extraordinarily different. Nevertheless, remarkably, there was one peculiar trend I spotted… (you might realise soon that The Girl In A Cocktail Dress is extremely fond of trend-spotting ventures!)… and that is that almost everyone was wearing some sort of hat! Interestingly, when I stepped out onto the bleak streets of London, I found this same trend being reproduced; mainly by fashionable, self-assured, young women. Therefore, for this week’s post, I deemed it was quite appropriate to write a segment on hats; after all fashion is a type of communication, and we all know that a great hat speaks for itself! Importantly, however, before you continue reading, I want to clarify one common misconception. Ladies, saying you don’t look good in a hat is like saying you don’t look good in shoes; it’s just not true! Granted, not every hat will suit every person; but once you find THE hat for you, you are pretty much ready conquer the world (or at least be the most agreeable woman in the room!) 

Is a hat a simple accessory or a necessity? When looking into its history, it quickly becomes apparent that it has been both. Headwear for women began in earnest during the 18th Century, when straw bonnets were de rigueur; and has continued to be a popular and fitting accessory for women of the 21st Century. I suspect this is because few women have ever been able to resist the temptation to try on a hat and discover in the mirror a person they never suspected was there!

Hats on the runway:

One of my favourite RTW (ready to wear) runway looks is Saint Laurent’s Spring 2013 collection. Their collection is especially suited for women who want to look classic-chic with an edge. Below are a few of my favourite looks. Click on a picture to have a closer look!

For Autumn/Winter 2014-15 (so, now!) Giambattista Valli created a collection embellished with twisted turbans that very much called the movie The Sheltering Sky to mind! His looks are perfect for women who embrace their femininity, while still looking glamorous and laid-back. These are some of my favourite looks:

In Fendi’s Autumn/Winter 2014-15 collection, it is ALL about the fur hood (which I happen to be a huge fan of!!). Most definitely, these looks are ideal for you if you are a show-stopper, who is not afraid to experiment with clothes. Check out some of their looks:

For ease and practicality, you might prefer to adapt this look to your day to day style and opt for a less extravagant fur?

If you want to exude confidence, in an uptown luxe, yet seemingly-effortless kind of way, the Autumn/Winter 2014-15 Polo Ralph Lauren Collection is for you! Below are some of my favourite hats and looks:

If you’re a hip city girl who loves her cap, maybe this look from DKNY’s Pre Spring/Summer 2015 collection is for you:

Do you enjoy wearing naive, micro floral prints, with a great flattering cut and a matching hat? Then maybe you should take a look at MaxMara’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection. Here are some of the looks I found most interesting:

If you like to plan ahead, then take a look at this selection of looks I took from the Chanel Pre Autumn/Winter 2015-16 Fashion show! The hats from these selections are suited to you if you like to express yourself in an elegant, mysterious, and edgy way.

Again, for those of you who like to buy your clothes thinking about the seasons to come, this Barbara Bui Pre Autumn/Winter 2015-16 Collection might be worth exploring. Here are some of my favourite looks which I find perfect for an evening out in town.

Autumn/Winter Hat Trends (summarised!!)

– Fur Hats (e.g. Fendi)

– Knitted Hats (e.g. beannies)

– Caps (e.g. DKNY)

– Classic Hats (e.g. Barbara Bui)

Spring/Summer Hat Trends:

– Caps

– Panama and bucket hats

– Boater Hats

– Wild-brim Sun Hats

– Turbans

Of course, one can’t always shop in the designer section; so for alternatives I recommend having a look in Zara, Topshop, Massimo Dutti, and Urban Outfitters (for the more edgy amongst you). Alternatively, you will always find a large array of choices in big stores such as Selfridges, or Harrods! For those of you who lead busy lives and need some inspiration on how to wear that new hat you just bought and can’t wait to debut, follow this pinterest link to have a look at Street Style Hats.  http://www.pinterest.com/unahats/street-style-hats/ 

As a final remark, I would like to encourage women all around the word to wear hats, seeing as a hat facilitates the different facets you have and allows you to express the mysterious, elegant, playful woman inside of you.

I shall leave you with this quote from the timeless beauty queen, Audrey Hepburn:

“Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.” 

Love,

Mimi ♡