If you thought that your fixation with hats and caps could earn you the moniker of ‘mad as a hatter’ in the fashion galaxy then just sit back and chillax. For it’s not only you who is going gaga over the hat frenzy, other fashion crazy dudes and divas are too joining the headgear brigade this wintry season. So why wait any longer? Just crank up your crush on caps and get set to be the next big fashionista of your town.
Mad cap craze
Although head wears are considered an all-the-year-round accessory by the fashion freaks, yet to beat the chill and shine with style, hats and caps do score some brownie points among the glitterati during this time of the year. “Headdresses — ornamental or plain — are an integral part of fashion no doubt. They are absolute fun to spruce up with when you can feel the cold nip in the air! Winter is my favourite season to experiment with hats, caps and other types of headgears, which aptly fit into the category of classy as well as casual. They are not just functional for staying warm but can also effortlessly enhance even the simplest of your outfits with a dash of style and sophistication,” gushes content creator Rupali Hasija, who’s also an advocate of mid-size community.
Given that hat fashion is mostly attributed to the westerners, women in India rarely indulge in haute hats or cap culture to crown their heads with in order to flaunt their chic style and charisma. “However, with the trends of globalisation setting in for decades now, hats and caps gradually evolved as an adopted accoutrement of fusion fashion in the domain of desi couture,” argues designer Bani Khurana.
“Hats can be associated with all seasons and are worn throughout the year. The baseball hat for summery days, the straw hats during the muggy monsoons and the beanies as the current flavor of winter are the major eye grabbers. The best way to wear a hat or a cap is by understanding the shape of your face,” she instances.
Hat gallery
“A great headwear is always known to neaten and smarten one’s outfit and hats and caps do conform to this compliment,” opines designer Aakansha Agarwal from Gulaal Creations. “There are lots of options in the hat closet to draw some great inspo to enhance your look this season. Fedora hats are actually cool and can dole out runaway success to your entire look. Berets are the best choice to lend an overall groomed look to an outfit. Pair up with a similar colour scarf to further accentuate it. Be more creative by adding net veil to your normal hats. They are feminine and unfurl a mysterious element to your overall getup,” she elaborates ahead.
Headband-style caps; soft, sculpted straw or wool hats; flat-top hats; baseball caps are a rage now. Doffing her hat to an attractive fat pile of diverse hats and caps, Hasija picks her favourites. “Beret caps are my go-to head cover for instantly unleashing a modish angle to any outfit while maintaining a refined vibe. I probably own one in every imaginable shade!” she thinks proudly. “I’m equally obsessed with fedora hats. They exude a sense of power and confidence, seamlessly making you stand out of any crowd,” she fathoms.
Winter warmers
Popular content creator Rohit Bose whose middle name is the ‘Modern Dhoti Man’ for styling the Indian male drape in infinite ways, states: “There are several kinds of hats specifically designed to suit menswear that promise to keep them warm and also elevate their style quotient during the colder months.”
Some notable ones include trapper hat, newsboy cap and beanies. “Also known as an aviator or ushanka (a Russian fur hat with ear flaps either tied up or clasped at the chin to shield the ears, jaws and the lower chin from biting cold), trapper hats are typically made from wool, leather or faux fur. It features ear flaps that can be tied up or left down dangling sideways over the ears for releasing extra warmth. It was originally designed for cooler climes, making it a perfect accompaniment for winter. Next comes the newsboy cap (or flat cap), which is a popular winter hat, often crafted from wool, tweed or cashmere, offering pleasant hotness and a timeless, stylish look in freezing conditions. Its rounded shape and a small brim make it ideal for casual and dapper-casual winter outfits. Lastly, beanies are a quintessential winter accessory, particularly a knitted hat that fits snugly on the head, keeping it cosily warm. Available in various styles and materials like wool, cashmere or acrylic, beanies are practical and trendy for casual winter wear,” describes Bose in detail.
Hasija suggests a few that can come in handy this season. “Apart from berets and fedora hats, woollen baker boy caps are a big fad this season. They bring a fresh, youthful charm to any winter look! There’s nothing quite like the luxury of cashmere but materials like high-quality wool or velvet can also deliver the same level of elegance and heat,” she says.
Fancy fare
Decorative hats and caps with frills cut out for outdoor events like open-air lawn parties, picnics in the outskirts, glamorous evening events or sporting activities like polo games see a swelling demand in the chilly weather. The crème de la crème of society loosens its pursestrings to purchase and parade some amazingly bedecked hats in vivid hues with innovative patterns and extravagant embellishments. Possibly hats could convey one’s social position, the unerasable divide between aristocratic class and mass, and his/her aesthetic tastes.
“If I had to select from a cupboard of specimens fastened to their hooks, it would be the uber cool and natty fedora hat for me. Not only does it provide excellent sun protection but also easily unleashes that coveted finesse to your look,” reasons Hasija.
Hat trick
Hats off to the hats-and-caps fashion that is prompting designers and self-taught stylistas to recommend some cool do-it-yourself headwear hacks with creative add-ons like flowers, ribbons, tulles, straws, brooches, pins, fabrics, precious stones, jewellery, artificial plants and fruits, etc.
The desi boy in Rohit Bose truly lets his creativity run wild with the turbans “as the possibilities there are endless,” he believes.
“Personally, I love experimenting with saris to fashion a slew of stunningly unique turban wraps. By repurposing the nine yards, I not only get a rich variety of colours, patterns and fabrics but also the opportunity to add a personal touch. The versatility of saris permits me to play around with different textures right from the flexible glossy silk to a soft, pliable, soothing cotton. Plus, it gives the liberty to toy with a vibrant palette or intricate prints. To further promote the look, I often accessorise a turban with elegant necklaces and earrings to render a one-of-its-kind avatar,” concludes Bose.
The fedora hat has a soft brim and indented crown. It is typically creased lengthwise down the crown and slightly pinched near the front on both sides. This type of hat looks good on round and square faces.
The wide brimmed hat is usually called the sun hat and suits well for oval, round, square and heart-shaped face structures.
The floppy hat is one that tends to hang downwards and is often loose than stiff. This type of hat looks good on all face structures.
Beret hat is a round, soft and flat crowned hat usually made out of a hand-knitted fabric or wool. This kind of hat is seldom worn in a tropical country like India. It fits well on square, oval, heart and diamond-shaped face cuts.
Boater hat is crafted out of straw and is typically worn by countryside men. However, an elaborate version of this hat can also be donned by women during their summer outings.
