Hatsinthebelfry

Fall Hats Are Here!

My favorite time of year has arrived, the season switch over. It is out with the straw and in with the tweed, houndstooth and wool. I just love when our new styles start rolling in and I can start planning my fall wardrobe around my most important accessory, my hat!  

Expect innovative looks for the ladies this season, like the San Diego Winter Rose Houndstooth Fedora.  Keep it classic with the Betmar Margot Classic Wool Cloche with the heathered flower. Go casual with the Belfry Street Firenze knit Fisherman Cap.

Men’s styles are classic shapes made with unique materials, like the Belfry Gerald Woolrich Tweed Fedora. If you are a porkpie lover, like I am, the Belfry Street Fosters Wool Porkpie in grey is a great look for fall. A transitional hat, the Belfry Street Bodie, is perfect to take you from summer to fall.

This is a small sample of the fall styles coming to a Hats in the Belfry near you and online at www.hatsinthebelfry.com. -Shannon

Should Have Put On A Hat

This week’s post is dedicated to those celebrities that should have just covered up their head and called it a day. I realize that everyone has a bad hair day, but at least some of us are smart enough to know when we NEED to be wearing a hat.

Shia Labeouf – I understand a guy that wants to look like he isn’t trying too hard, but give me a break. I realize that he is raking it in with the Transformer movies and possibly doesn’t want to be recognized in public. Shia, you could have easily thrown on a Belfry Street Army Cap with those shades and no one would have had to take this picture.

Katy Perry – I like that Katy is always changing her look and blazes her own fashion trails. I even like the pink hair, but I will say this, there is nothing like a hat to protect your colored locks from the damaging effects of the sun (not to mention cover your blond roots in between color touch-ups.)  Katy, you can still be fashion forward and sensible. Put on this Straw Big Brim from the Protection Collection.

Robert Pattison – You have teenagers swooning and calling out Edward even when you try to make other films, but this is taking it a little too far. Shaving half your head for a movie role? How dare you. Keep these asymmetrical locks under wraps at least until the last Twilight movie has been released. The Kangol Summer Ivy Cap should do the trick.

Kate Bosworth – I don’t know what has come over you, Kate. Usually your hair looks flawless. Are you having some sort of Britney Spears-esque kind of crisis? To save us all from enduring another second of this disastrous do, please, put on something like the Sea Breeze Cotton Sun Hat from the Protection Collection.

Al Pacino – This hair needs an intervention. Al gets a break because he didn’t choose this look for himself. He is filming a movie about music mogul, Phil Spector who did wear his hair like this on purpose. My advice is to cover that do as soon as you get off the set with a hat like the Belfry Smith fedora.

No matter how bad a hair day you are having, we always have a hat that is sure to help you through. – Shannon

Celebrity photos from peoplemagazine.com

End of Summer Style

With summer winding down, many celebrities have been spotted sporting their summer hat styles at the beach, out shopping and enjoying some family time. And why shouldn’t they? With just a few weeks left until the back to school, fall holidays chaos begins, we should all be taking a cue and indulging in some final R&R before the hustle and bustle commences.

Katie Holmes took daughter Suri on a shopping trip in L.A. sporting a straw fedora similar to the Belfry Goon style on sale from $38.00 to $24.00

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Jennifer Anniston went on a Hawaiian getaway with beau Justin Theroux. Justin’s pub cap is the perfect style to wear summer to fall. Our Belfry Biltmore Cap just $25.00 down from $44.00 is a great style to get you through the next two seasons.

Sandra Bullock enjoyed a movie with her little one. Her straw fedora is great to keep out the sun on these hot summer days. We suggest the Belfry Bogart light summer straw $25.00 down from $38.00.

Brittany Spears took her family to Long Island beach this week. We like her straw hat, perfect for the beach…but we’re not too sure about the rest of the outfit. You can make the Belfry Natural Ocean hat on sale from $38.00 to $30.00, look much better with a regular beach bathing suit and cover up. 

There are still a few weeks of fun in the sun, so take advantage of the End of Season Sale at hatsinthebelfry.com and enjoy the end of summer with your loved ones!

(Photos from peoplemagazine.com) 

-Shannon

Summer Scarves

The only accessory that I love more than a hat is a beautiful scarf. I think of the two accessories as similar in the sense that a scarf says something about a person just like a hat. When you see someone wearing a scarf they look put together, like they thought through each piece of their outfit rather than randomly put something together. This may not necessarily be the case, but because a scarf is an accessory that is more fashionable than functional in the summer months, it creates that impression.

Some of my favorite summer scarves are featured in the Getaway Collection on www.hatsinthebelfry.com. These unique prints and materials make for a scarf that can be worn throughout the year while still looking fresh and light for the summer.

A crinkle scarf like The Charlotte is perfect for traveling. You can roll it up and keep it in your beach bag. How glamorous would you feel coming off the beach with your bathing suit, sun hat and scarf? The neutral tone is easy for any wardrobe, but the fashion colors like the green or purple are great, too.

The Jasmine Sparkle Fashion Scarf adds a pop of color and a little glitz that can be worn day into evening. A long scarf that can be wrapped and worn in different ways adds a different look to different outfits. These great colors like turquoise and lilac combine hues of those colors while still looking bold and bright.

If your look is a little more bohemian The Maya Floral Fashion Scarf might be more your style. I love it when people mismatch their prints and this scarf would be a perfect way to add some extra color to your ensemble. The colors are soft for summer and will translate well into the fall season.

My favorite scarf featured in the collection is The Camilla Polka Dot Scarf. I love the different sized dots and the splash of color with the neutral of the green. I also love the idea of putting this scarf with the Belfry Roxanna Fedora. I can see this look being worn with a black sundress or a t-shirt and jeans and still looking swanky.

A great scarf is truly a unique accessory that can add an extra touch of class to any outfit.     - Shannon

Street Style Around the World

Whenever I see a person on the street wearing a great hat, I stop and tell them so. I am sure many of you hat wearers experience this on a regular basis. But did you know that there is a whole crop of websites dedicated to stopping stylish people on the street? Well, there is! Just about every major city has a website dedicated to photographing people with great style. From Helsinki, Finland to Copenhagen, Denmark to Barcelona Spain and back to the U.S. stylish people are being photographed and featured wearing great hats.

Dam Style is a street photography blog from Amsterdam. We see very similar hat trends on the streets of the United States. Guys are wearing snap brim fedoras and gals are wearing cloche hats.

In Barcelona, Spain expect to see the classic snap brim fedoras and big brims to block the sun. The website Spain Street Style is a great place to spot the super fashionable and the casual traveler.

The Locals is a street style blog from Copenhagen, Denmark. They are in their summer months, but the high temperature is about 70 degrees, so expect warmer headwear. Knit hats in bright colors and floppy styles.

The street style found on Hel-Looks in Helsinki, Finland can range from wild to wilder even though their hat trends are very similar to those in the States. Classic driving caps, snap brim fedoras and fascinators can be found on even the most unique fashionista.

Back stateside, in San Francisco, the floppy style with great sun coverage can be found on one of the most photographed street stylistas who is pictured every season on the blog THESFStyle.

New York based style blogs like The Sartorialist picture street stylers from New York, L.A., Paris, Milan and more. In L.A. we see mini bikinis and trendy fedoras. In New York, they keep on trend with the trendy floppy fedora but skips the bikinis.

From this display of hat style all over the world, it is safe to say that hats as a fashion accessory are here to stay. It doesn’t matter where you live, if you are wearing a great hat, you have a serious chance of being stopped on the street. - Shannon

Broner Hat Give-away!

Happy Give-Away Day! We are at it again, hosting another contest, this time giving away one of the many Broner styles that we carry. Hats in the Belfry and Broner Hat and Glove Company have worked together for a very long time. Not only do they make great hats, but they are another one of the great North American Hat Companies founded by a family passionate about hats.

Broner has a long history of American hat manufacturing. They started in business in Detroit Michigan in 1920 when founder, Harry Broner, started selling protective hats, gloves and aprons to Ford auto workers across the street from his home. After the Great Depression in 1933 when auto manufacturers started providing the protective gear for the workers, the business model changed to focus on the industrial manufacturing market and the local retail market. Now, over 78 years later, Broner is located just up the road in Auburn Hills Michigan and is still run by the Broner family.

How to Win: Tell us which of these five Broner hats in your favorite! We will randomly select a winner from all the comments to win the hat they chose as their favorite. We will pick a winner on Friday, July 15^th.

Another Way to Win: Go to our Facebook page and comment on your favorite Broner hat for a second chance to win.

Good Vibrations - Natural

Santorini - Black

Worldly Known - Olive

 

Sicily - Black

Fine Feather - Grey

Good Luck! - Shannon

Update 7/15!!! Congratulations to Jennifer Lewis! She was selected as the winner of the Good Vibrations hat by Broner.

National Harbor Grand Opening Celebration

 

We are so excited about our newest shop in the DC/VA area. We already received an extremely warm welcome in our National Harbor location and are looking to celebrate with a Grand Opening event this Thursday, June 30^th from 4pm to 8pm.

Enjoy 15% Off any Belfry Brand hat in the store (excluding sale items) when you say the special VIP password “Hats Off”!

 

You can also look forward to refreshments, give-aways and a raffle! We hope to see you there to celebrate our return to the DC/VA area. We are glad to be back!

 What: Grand Opening Celebration

Where: 140 Waterfront Street, Oxon Hill, MD (National Harbor)

When: Thursday, June 30^th, 4-8pm

Summer Style for Men

The summer is a time to relax, get casual and enjoy some fun in the sun. But all that time spent manning the barbeque, out on the boat/beach and watching 4th of July parades can leave a guy exposed to harmful UV rays. My suggestion…put a hat on! Choose a hat that compliments your style and you will not only be protected from the sun, but look damn good, too.

T-shirt and Shorts guys – A guy with casual and comfortable style (like this Abercrombie look) can keep it simple with a hat that can be worn through all the seasons.

The Belfry Street Army cap gives the same amount of sun protection as a baseball hat and is light weight and comfortable.

T Shirt and Jeans – If you are a t-shirt and jeans guy whether it is July or November, let you hat be the seasonal twist to your wardrobe. A basic grey Banana Republic shirt is the perfect backdrop to let your hat make the impression.

The Belfry Street Santiago is a great light weight cap that adds a super stylish element without looking like you are trying too hard.

Button Up and Shorts – If you are a casual guy who prefers a button up to a regular t-shirt (J.Crew style) your hat choice should complement your look while keeping it simple.

Go for a natural color straw that will go with any color combination in a style like the Belfry Straw Jazz.  

Classed Up Casual – When putting together a stylish casual look (like this one from Banana Republic) you have to make sure your hat doesn’t make you look over the top.

The Belfry Street Cabana fedora is absolutely on trend for this summer. The snap brim style is perfect to wear day into evening.

Classic – The classic polo look from Brooks Brothers lends itself well to great hat style. A perfect panama straw will keep you cool while making you look cool.

The Belfry Delay is similar to a Safari style, with a downturned brim for optimal sun protection.

Trendsetter – If you are into wearing the latest in men’s casual fashion, make sure your hat is as stylish as the rest of you.

The Gonzo from Makins in raffia straw is a favorite this season and goes great with a casual summer style.

Button Up and Jeans – If you are a jeans wearing kind of guy who isn’t afraid of color, keep your hat style clean a simple. A khaki driving cap looks great with an Abercrombie colorful plaid button up.

A style like the Belfry Street Gilmore will work with your style for every season of the year.

The Bad, The Bad and The Ugly

I love when I find a picture of one of my favorite celebrities in a great hat. It is fantastic to see actors, musicians, and even reality TV stars wearing a stylish hat on the red carpet. When a celebrity takes a riskswith their hat style sometimes it is awesome and sometimes it is awful. Today’s post is a tribute to those that have tried and failed…but at least they tried. I am no celebrity stylist, but I’m sure I can recommend a better hat style to complete these celebrity looks.

Regina King, known for her roles in films like Jerry Maguire, Enemy of the State and Boys in the Hood, is definitely in fantastic shape and not afraid to show some leg.  The dress is cute and summery, even if it is a little short. The white cloche hat, just does not compliment her look. A floppy hat in a great color like the San Diego Jessica, large brim would have made a much better impression.

Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussy Cat Dolls has been known to wear some revealing items when performing on stage. Why she has chosen to wear this ensemble is beyond me. I almost don’t have anything to recommend that would save it. This floppy style in olive green is a great hat, but paired with a fur vest and skinny jeans, it looks like an afterthought. A mod style cap like the Belfry Jay Gatsby would be a better fit with this glam fur look.

I cannot believe that I am going to recommend a better accessory for Donna Karan, but this over the top floppy is just not helping her cause. It seems like she is going for a beach-y Grecian neutral thing, but the hat just doesn’t seem to be doing its job here. Why not go for a hat that is a little more classic, actually offers some shade and adds just a touch of color like the Helen Kaminski Provence Rafia Floppy?

Khloe, Khloe, Khloe, why do you do this to yourself? This ensemble is just too much. The brim on this hat is too big and the cropped pants are not flattering. If I had to recommend a hat to improve this look, it would be a classic men’s fedora snap brim like the Belfry Goon. Keep it all black and sleek.

Shanae Grimes of Scream 4 and the 2000’s version of 90210, looks like she is going to a 90’s party in this outfit. A see-through top, with jean shorts and boots are enough to get her on the worst dressed list. You really can’t blame the hat. If I had to pick another hat to go with this look, I would probably suggest the Belfry Straw Jazz in the tobacco color straw, mostly just because I really like this hat. There is no saving this outfit.

I wasn’t going to pick on anyone photographed at The Derby, but Brooke Sheilds should know better. I know it is a day to wear over the top artistic interpretations of a hat, but please, Brooke, you can do better. The Christine A. Moore Feather fascinator in cream would go perfectly with your plunging neckline of a dress and still make a statement.

My final hat disaster is my favorite one to pick on…Lady Gaga, Even though I regularly include you on my lists of “worst” hat choices, I hope you continue to wear them. I just love to see what will be on top of your head next. – Shannon

 

On the Golf Course

Finally, summer fun is in full “swing” and many people are spending time outside doing their favorite things. For some members of my family, the dream of living on the golf course doesn’t mean you have a house near a course. It means (if your wife would let you) you would spend every waking minute playing the great game of golf. That is all well and good as long as you are protected. The summer sun can do a number on a golfer who has little to no relief from UV rays on the course. 

Not everyone has the same hat style on the course, so if you haven’t found your perfect golf hat, here are some pros and cons to the most popular hat styles for golfers.

Pub Cap/Driving Cap – The driving cap is a classic style that will provide some protection from the sun, but still leaves the back of your neck exposed.  These styles come in light weight fabrics, like cotton and linen that keep your head cool in the summer heat and are easy to roll up and stuff in your golf bag or your pocket.  Some materials can be thrown in the washing machine for easy cleaning, but make sure to check the tag before doing so.

Pros: easy to store and transport, light weight, washable                             

Cons: limited sun protection (same goes for baseball hats)

Raffia Straw – Raffia straw hats come in various styles with both short and large brims for different levels of sun protection.  Raffia straw is one of the most durable straws making these hats good for packing.  They will travel well in a suitcase if you are planning a golf getaway.  Sometimes this straw can be warm to wear in the hot sun since it is not as lightweight as other straws.

Pros – durable and packable, good sun protection (dependent on the brim size you choose)

Cons – can be warm due to heavier straw

Panama Straw – Panama straw hats come in various styles with both large and small brims.  They are one of the lightest weight straws, allow air through the crown and provide great sun protection.  A Panama straw hat is handmade and of the utmost quality.  If cared for properly, this hat will last for years to come.  A Panama straw hat does require conscious care.  They should not be handled by pinching the crown and should not be left in a hot car. Never sit on your Panama hat!

Pros – light weight, breathes well, quality construction, great sun protection

Cons – fragile crown, should not be pinched or squashed

Toyo Straw – Toyo straw is a paper straw that is very light weight.  Toyo straw hats come in various styles and offer good sun protection.  These hats are less expensive than some other straw hats and are considered a one-season wear.  Toyo straw should not get wet and should not be left in a hot car.  The best way to store a toyo straw hat is on a hat hook or upside down (on the crown) in a cool place.

Pros – very light weight, inexpensive, good sun protection (dependent on the brim size you choose)

Cons – fragile, one season wear, cannot get wet

Canvas – Canvas sun hats offer ultimate sun protection.  They are often weather proof in the chance you get caught in a random summer down poor.  These hats are generally very durable and last for years of wear. Because the canvas allows no rays to pass through, they also allow no air to pass through which can make this a warm choice for a summer golf hat.

Pros – weather resistant, ultimate sun protection

Cons – heavier weight means it can be warm to wear in the sun

Before you schedule your tee time, make sure you have packed your hat! - Shannon