The Occasion

If you’re a little unsure of what type of hat to wear when, this is the place for you.
Sometimes the situation calls for a hat to “dress up” your outfit. Outlined below are some brief comments for some common occasions where people love to wear hats.

• Formal Weddings – More traditional weddings set in a church are an excellent opportunity to wear a beautiful hat. Traditionally, women were expected to wear a hat in church in recognition of God’s authority in their lives. However for men, God’s authority is traditionally recognised by not covering the head in church or especially during prayer. That’s why you won’t see the groom or any of the other men wearing their hat inside the church building, at least not until they get outside for the photos.

• Informal Weddings – Garden or beach settings are examples of less formal weddings. The Bride will most likely be wearing a more simplified gown, so the same should apply for all of her guests. Remember that it is the bride’s special day, so don’t dress to draw attention away from her. If you choose to wear a hat, make it a happy one to celebrate the occasion. Choose light or bright colours.

• The Races – The reason people wear hats at Spring Carnival is to get noticed! This is the best opportunity you will have to wear an incredible piece of work that will turn heads and create a buzz around you. There are a huge range of styles that you can wear, ultimately it comes down to your personality and the image that you are trying to express. Spring Carnival is fun and frivolous, but also a classy affair. Keep that in mind when choosing your outfit.

• Social Event – This description is fairly vague. Put simply, the more formal the venue, the better you should dress. Black Tie may include top hats and upmarket, classically chic ladies millinery. Semi-Formal will include the men’s trilby and a wider range of ladies millinery. Generally, events which take place in the evening will involve more formal dress than those taking place during the day. Ask the event co-ordinator if you are unsure of the expected dress standard.

• Performance Events - Hat lovers may choose to wear their hats or headpieces to the theatre, opera, symphony, and other events. In this scenario, there are two points I would like to draw your attention to. Firstly, your brightly coloured hat is more suited to day wear such as the races, here you would be in better style to wear something more elegant, perhaps in a deeper shade, or with more luxurious fabrics and materials. Secondly, before the performance begins you should take off your hat and rest it on your lap. Have some courtesy for the people seated behind you who want to see just as much as you do. You can wear your hat again to turn heads during the intermission.

Let’s read on to the next section,
Body Type, Basic Face Shape, Hat Fit, The Occasion, Your Outfit, Hairstyle, Attitude & Intentions