Page 140 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2024

SHOPPING
FOCUS ON FASHION:Hats
A Southern Style Tradition
story by Barbara Travis
Southern women are historically known for their elegance and love of dressing up, and that includes
a traditional and long-standing affection for hats. Good news – hats are stylishly back! Whether they be wide-brimmed, caps, bucket styles, Western looks, or fedoras, we love our hats. They are a personal display of style, add a chic touch to fall outfits, and provide a welcome bit of southern charm and fashion flair.
Growing Popularity
Hats are currently a major accessory trend. They’ve made a bold return because they make a strong statement in an uncomplicated way and can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe.
Everyone seems to be wearing hats again whether they be with formal or informal attire. The favored reason for hat resurgence as a popular accessory is that leading fashion magazines and social media sources have featured them in various ways on their covers and in advertisements. Showcasing automatically leads to increased sales. The more we see, the more we like, right?
How to Wear Them
One of the best ways to wear hats while showing your Southern fashion flair is to pair them with an off-shoulder top or jeans. Or perhaps you could choose a bold color or pattern to finish off your outfit and make heads turn.
Wear your brims at an angle when
possible. The crown of the hat should be at least as wide as your face. A hat with a higher brim helps lengthen the appearance of your face.
Wearing a hat can spice an outfit up, but
it’s best to keep your other accessories to a minimum. As an example, if you’re rocking a wide-brim hat, statement earrings would be overpowering. Similarly, if the hat has a bold print or colorful band, a large belt buckle might clash. You get the idea.
A Timeless Fashion Statement
Hats are a Southern style legacy. They’ve been around in many forms for decades, are not going away anytime soon, and can add a new dimension, charm, and
versatility to your
everyday wear.
Whether you’re
headed to a football
game, outdoor
party, or wedding,
a well-chosen hat
worn with flair
can provide
the perfect
finishing
touch.
140 | October 2024
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