Boater hat

Not so long ago, the boater hat returned to fashion again, it began to appear at fashion shows and on street style photos, fashion bloggers also adopted this style. A great reason to also pay attention to this model, making it part of your summer wardrobe.

Let's find out together what a boater is, how to choose it and what to wear with?

The boater hat appeared in the second half of the 19th century, it was worn for rowing to protect the head from the scorching sun. Hence the name (from the French canotier - "rower"). In Venice, gondoliers began to use it as a headdress, hats of this style can be seen on them today.

Then she was a part of the men's wardrobe for a long time, and only at the beginning of the twentieth century migrated to the women's. At first, it was worn for cycling and equestrian sports, since the hat was very light and did not block the view with wide brim.

She did not like the pretentious headdresses that the ladies of that time preferred. Therefore, one of the first hats she created was a laconic and strict felt boater. This model has become a visiting card not only of Mademoiselle herself, but also of the annual collections of the House of Chanel.

Authentic boater is a round straw headdress. Distinctive features are a flat crown, the absence of beveled streamlined corners, which are found on most other models.

The fields are perpendicular, straight and narrow.There are also other models: with wider brims and even a small visor.

Be sure to have a ribbon decorating the crown, traditionally it should be dark blue.

Of course, today boaters are found in various interpretations, they can be decorated with colored ribbons, bows, flowers, and a veil. Also, hats from other materials appeared - felt, wool, textiles. Since this model has returned to fashion again, designers have offered us a huge selection for every taste.

For manufacturing, flat straw braids are used, which are stitched or woven together. Most often, ordinary dried wheat is taken as a basis, but it can also be the stems of other plants: Florentine wheat, rice straw, toquilla (a plant native to Ecuador) and other herbaceous plants.

During the manufacturing process, the product is treated with steam, making it softer, soaked in hot water, and then manually adjusted to the desired parameters. Such a long process is necessary in order for the product to be as pleasant to wear as possible.

Due to the popularity of the straw boater, the designers decided to introduce the same felt model into fashion. It is suitable for off-season wear when you need to protect your head from wind, light cold and light rainfall.

There are two types of felt - soft and hard, but boaters, of course, are made from hard. You cannot change the shape of such a headdress by making dents on the crown or tilting the brim. Therefore, you need to choose a hat exactly in size so that it fits well and does not fly away from a gust of wind.

Fabric models retain their traditional rigidity and hold their shape well, therefore, it is not recommended to subject them to harsh washing, which can make it difficult to clean. But there is no risk of damaging such a hat during transportation - the hat can be safely packed in a suitcase.

The boater will look great on tall, slender, especially skinny girls with a triangular face. It will look good on the owners of an oval face, which are suitable for almost any hats.

This model is absolutely not suitable for girls with a square or round face! You need to avoid rigidly shaped models with small margins - they are definitely not for you.

• The best are Ecuadorian straw hats. The material requires lengthy preparation of dressing and weaving, since they are usually made by hand. The cost of the finished headdress is high, but the quality is also appropriate.
• Be sure to try on your chosen hat, make sure there are no pieces of straw sticking out from the inside, which subsequently can cause discomfort to wear.
• Pay attention to the presence of soft textile tape, which must be sewn on the inside along the entire diameter of the crown. It is necessary for the hat to fit properly on the head.
• Needless to say, the hat should be exactly the right size for you. This is especially important when choosing straw hats as they are very light and can be blown off your head by the wind.
• In leaving, a straw boater hat is not very demanding. Dry cleaning with a soft brush is sufficient. If it is heavily soiled and needs to be washed, do it quickly and in no case leave it in the water for a long time, otherwise it may deform.

The hat will look great with all kinds of sophisticated dresses and sundresses. It is desirable that they be light and airy, to match the hat itself. Give preference to clean, bright colors - white, blue, light blue, red, pink, green, yellow.

Another great solution is denim and light cotton tees and blouses. These can be ripped boyfriends, skinny skinny jeans, flared jeans, a skirt, and even a jumpsuit. Sandals or espadrilles work well with this look.

Lightweight, airy blouses will look great with light cotton shorts or trousers, an A-line miniskirt or a fluffy knee-length midi skirt. For shoes, choose sandals with small heels.

It can consist of a vest, light wide trousers, sandals or pumps without a heel, and a small cute hat. Complete the look with themed accessories: jewelry in the form of anchors or a chiffon scarf with a nautical print.

A business image is not a reason to refuse a headdress. In this case, you can recall how men wore a boater and create a masculine look: a three-piece trouser suit, a white shirt and a tie. For shoes, loafers or oxfords are suitable.

Don't forget about fine jewelry. Depending on the look you choose, it can be delicate vintage clips and medallions. Thin chains, multiple rings on the fingers, and small hoop earrings are also fine. Such a set of jewelry will be appropriate in combination with jeans or trousers.

It is not surprising to wear such a hat with a coat that is decorated with a fur collar, just like Merlin Monroe did. Wear it over a chiffon dress, complementing the look with heeled ankle boots.

• An excellent summer look for every day. Short denim shorts, an elongated blue cotton shirt, beige suede sandals, a light blue handbag and a wide-brimmed boater. Convenient and stylish!

• This look is perfect for walking around the city and a romantic date. Short white dress with green stripes, made in the style of minimalism. A small blue handbag with a long strap and a hat - nothing more.

• Going to your friend's wedding? A boater hat, decorated with flowers on top of the crown, will be a great addition to a festive look. The base will be a blue sheath dress, lemon pumps and a small beige clutch.