How to Wear a Fedora

How to wear a fedora hat and look like a million bucks. Choose style based on dace shape. Universal fashion from looks that are sophisticated to casual.

A man wearing a dark denim shirt with his dark short-brimmed fedora.

Over the years, the fedora hat has gone through surges of popularity. Some people find that fedoras are chic, while some others find them to be outdated and ridiculous.

No matter where you stand on the varying opinions of the fedora, there is one thing that most people can agree on, and that is that they have been around for eons. There is no chance of the fedora hat fading into the depths of fashion obscurity anytime soon. 

Once only thought of as a hat to be worn with formal attire, the fedora has proven that it can be worn on its own with a pair of jeans or with a maxi dress or skirt. The fedora hat is versatile as well as universal. Fedora hats can be rocked by both men and women.

Whether they are made of felt, wool, or straw, the fedora is a fashion staple that deserves a spot in every closet. Here are some tips on how to wear a fedora and look good while doing it. 

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Seasons Change But Fedoras Remain the Same

There is no doubt about the fact that fedoras are versatile. However, the hats have gotten a bad wrap from people who are just not fashion-forward enough to understand how to wear them, and what to pair them with. The thing is, the fedora is the style of hat that can be worn at any time of the year, and in a multitude of ways.

The possibilities for how to style your fedora hat are limitless. The materials they are crafted in make it possible for them to be worn year-round. Fedoras are made in a variety of materials including but not limited to:

  • Wool 
  • Felt
  • Straw
  • Denim

How To Wear a Fedora in the Summer

A woman wearing a white tank top, sunglasses and a pastel-toned patterned fedora.

A straw fedora hat should be a staple in everyone’s closet during the summer months. The hats are fashion gold when paired with the right pair of sunglasses. Beyond that, wide-brimmed varieties of the straw fedora hat can protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

A white fedora hat can be styled with a crisp pair of white jeans and a white tee or tank top for a simple yet classy look. The key to styling fedora hats with tees and tanks is to keep things simple. 

Wear a simple pair of pearl or gold ball earrings, a simple necklace, like a locket, or a cross on a chain necklace pair to help accentuate your look when you want to add a touch of class to your straw or white fedora. Add an aviator or diver style watch, and a couple of stretchy beaded gold bracelets, and you have everything you need to pull your look off.

If you are planning to go with this look it is important to remember that less is better when it comes to your choice of makeup. Neutral, and more neutral tones work best with this look.

Straw fedoras are great summer staples, and they pair well with blue jeans and denim shorts. Pairing a straw fedora hat with a pair of denim cut-offs can produce a couple of versatile styles depending on the type of shoes you choose to wear and the fashion statement you air to make.

If you want to convey a relaxed, yet fun and playful look, pair a fedora with a well-starched white button-down shirt.

Leave the last button of the shirt undone. Tuck one side of the shirt in. Pair this look with a medium-sized hobo crossbody bag and a pair of plain white sneakers. You can also choose to wear sneakers with a coordinating neutral colored print. Again, the key here is to keep things simple. 

If you are planning to hang out with the girls for a fun day of shopping or an early lunch, pair a fedora with a sleeveless knotted top and a pair of cut-offs. Coordinate this look with a neutral color straw or leather medium-sized cross bag and some fringed sandals.

Top the look off with muted makeup, a simple pair of pearl earrings, and a straw fanny pack, and you have a look that is both comfortable and chic.

Summer is the time when flirty dresses are all the rage. Pair a fedora with a two or three-tiered white or neutral-colored dress. Cinch the waist with a neutral-colored belt to add dimension to the look.

Choose small jewelry pieces to wear with this look. Complete the style with a clutch straw purse, and a pair of neutral-colored ankle strapped sandals.

Maxi dresses pair well with fedoras. The hats look great with sleeved, sleeveless strapless, and narrowly strapped dresses. Maxi dresses in fuller skirts should be worn with larger bangles and necklaces, if they are to be worn with a fedora.

If you choose to wear a maxi dress that is more fitted to the body, you want to make sure that you keep your lines clean. Wear smaller pieces of jewelry. Dresses paired with white or straw fedoras are always a great pairing during the summer months.

How to Rock a Fedora During the Fall and Winter Months

A woman wearing a white fur coat with her red fedora.

One of the best things about the fall and winter months is the versatility the weather affords fashion. There are more opportunities to layer clothing, and create new fashion trends making the fall and winter months the perfect seasons for fedora hats. Besides, if you live in an area where the winters are brutal, why not up to your fashion game with a felt hat to elevate your diva status?

Here are some ways to sport a fedora when the weather is chilly.

Trench Coat Pairing

A woman wearing a gray trench coat with her gray fedora.

A black fedora hat is a definite must-have during the winter months because they add a touch of class to just about any type of outerwear.

A wide brim fedora hat in black paired with a black pair of leather or suede boots and a trench coat in lighter shades of brown makes for a sophisticated look. Fashion is supposed to be fun, and nothing is more fun than a trench coat in red, electric blue, and shades of pink.

Try a coat with a pop of color and pair it with a black fedora hat and black boots to elevate your fashion game. Top off the look with a small leather over-the-shoulder purse.

A Fedora Hat and Leather Jacket

A woman wearing a black rider jacket with her brown fedora hat.

There is never a wrong time to flaunt your rebellious side. Pair a wide brim black fedora with a short black leather jacket and a pencil skirt in black. A simple turtleneck in a color in black or in a color creates a polished look.

Add a pair of black tights and a cute pair of shooties in black, a black clutch, or one in a color that matches your top and simple gold or silver jewelry, and you are off to the races.

Depending on where you live in the country, a leather jacket is an item of clothing that can be worn year-round to dress up any outfit. Pair a classic fedora with a leather jacket and a pair of dark denim blue jeans to create a classic look. Leather jackets ar have transitioned far beyond what they used to be.

They come in a variety of colors and often are at the core of outfit inspiration for many. Pair a pink or a yellow leather jacket with a pair of black jeans and a black round neck top and a black fedora hat, and a pair of shooties for a classic look.

If you are someone who likes to dress a little more on the conservative side, you can achieve a sleek look by pairing a black fedora hat with a black dress and a short leather jacket in a color of your choice. You can add a simple pair of hoop earrings to complete your look. Be sure to pay attention to hat size when pulling together your outfit.

Wide Brim fedora hats should be worn if you are looking for a look that is professional or dressy. If you are going for a more casual look, you should choose a fedora with a smaller brim.

Scarves and Fedoras

A close look at a woman wearing a dark hat and a dark scarf.

The fedora is a timeless hat and pairs well with scarves. When you have to brave cold weather, adding a scarf to any outfit is a plus. Pair a black fedora with a cable knit sweater in and a black, gray, or navy blue maxi skirt and a coordinating scarf to create instant glam.

Add a leather bucket bag in a coordinating color, a couple of thick bangles, and a pair of boots to complete your look.

Blanket scarves and fedoras work really well together when paired with longer-length wool, or bubble-type coats. Choose a black, navy, brown, or off-white fedora to pair with a coat of the same color, and add a coordinating plaid blanket scarf to create a simple, but elegant look.

You can also choose to pair a trench coat with this same combination to achieve a completely different look.

Blue Jeans and a Brown Fedora

This is a man wearing a plaid shirt and blue jeans with his brown fedora.

If you want a casual look, but you don’t want to assert a lot of effort, pull out your favorite pair of jeans and a dark brown fedora. Pair them with a beige, or eggshell-colored round neck sweater and a pair of below-the-knee dark brown or black boots. Add a leopard-printed clutch, some tortoise-shelled bangles, and some hip shades to finish the look. 

All About the Hair

This is a long-haired woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and black leather jacket.

If you are the type of person who likes to look completely pulled together when you step outside your front door, you will definitely want to pay attention.

Let’s talk about your hair for a bit. Look if you have already read this far, it is more than apparent if you weren’t a fedora-wearing individual before, you definitely want to be. Here is what you need to know about how to wear a fedora with different hairstyles.

If you are one of those ladies who just like to look like you just sort of threw something on, even though it takes you hours on end to perfect your easy-going look, the fedora hat has your name written all over it. Fedoras pair amazingly with locks that hang straight, and they also work well with curler hairstyles.

If you are the Megan Markle messy bun type, you are in luck, because the fedora looks great when worn with a low messy bun. 

Fedoras also work well with French braids, micro braids, and twist curls. If you are looking for a more sophisticated style, you can coordinate a fedora hat with a nice side sweep that hangs, or you can do a side sweep with a twist. In addition, fedoras can also be worn with buns that are worn closer to the nape of the neck.

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