HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HEADGEAR - THE HAT
Magnify your face and wear a hat
The myth of the "hat-head" is a thing of the past, because everyone can find a hat to suit their taste! You just need to find the right style for your face shape. Today, among the hat shapes, we'll help you choose the one that will flatter your face.
However, let's not forget that a headpiece is above all a matter of love at first sight: if you like a model, don't hesitate any longer and wear it proudly!
WHICH HAT FOR WHICH FACE SHAPE?
Let's first identify your face shape. Round, square, or oval, heart-shaped or triangular—your features and lines, while unique, fall into more universal face shapes. These aren't automatically gender-specific; both men and women can have a square face, for example! We've grouped them into six easily identifiable categories:
- Square
- Rectangular
- Diamond (or inverted triangle)
- Heart
- Round
- Oval
A face shape is simply determined from lines based on specific points:
Let's mark the ends of your forehead, the ends of your jaw and chin, and connect them with imaginary lines. Now let's assess the regularity and shape of these features. Sometimes the face fits directly into these lines. If this isn't the case, the position of your cheekbones, as well as the vertical points connecting your forehead and chin, will allow you to connect your body shape to another shape.
For this example, we first drew the blue lines on Violet's face. We were able to convert this square into an oval by looking at its line of symmetry between two marks on its forehead and chin.
Our little tip:
Tie your hair back or tie it back to reveal your face and analyze its shape. Draw imaginary lines between your two hairs to identify one of these six shapes. You can also trace them on your mirror using lipstick, for example.
ALL SHAPES OF HATS: Trilby, pork pie, fedora, bowler hat…
Hat jargon is so specific, we often mistake these shapes for separate styles. Fedoras and borsalino hats, for example, are styles of hats, but they can be made of felt, straw, or Panama straw. Here's how to easily identify the shapes.
First, let's divide the hat into 2 parts: the crown and the brim.
Let's look at the shapes of skullcaps (sometimes also called “crown”): they can be mascoted (in other words, “pinched”), round or flat on top, diamond-shaped, teardrop-shaped, etc. An infinite number of cap shapes exist, however, some are more popular than others. A hat style is also appreciated according to the height of the crown.
Regarding the edges Now, these are first judged according to their length. With the same crown, small or large brims will not give the same style! Let's then look at whether they are flat, raised, or lowered.
A hat is therefore an assembly of a crown and a brim!
Here are some very popular template shapes that you can easily reference:
-
Fedora (or borsalino): round cap, mascotated at the front, the length of the edges is medium or long, with the back raised and the front lowered.
- Trilby: round cap, mascot on the front, small edges worked like a Fedora
-
Pork pie: flat cap on top, often teardrop-shaped, originally mascotated on the front, small raised edges at the ends.
The secret of pork pie: from its literal translation from English “pork pie,” it gets its name from its particular resemblance to a British dish similar to a pork pie...
-
Boater: hat with an oval, flat crown and flat brim.
The secret behind the boater hat: emblematic of Venetian gondoliers, the boater hat is actually a French hat dating back to the Second Empire! At a time when the Paris Prefecture authorized the navigation of small boats on the Seine, a flat-brimmed hat made of thick straw was imagined, thus protecting its owner from the blazing sun. The boater hat was worn for strolling on the Seine, or for lunch on the banks of the Marne, for example.
-
Bowler hat: high, round cap in the shape of a melon, with small raised edges at the ends.
Historical secrets about the bowler hat:
Emblematic of Charlie Chaplin's character, the bowler hat is, in fact, a true symbol of the Industrial Revolution. Hats have always been considered an indicator of social status par excellence. Before the mid-19th century, top hats were worn by aristocrats, and caps by the working class. The Industrial Revolution completely redefined social organization, and the bowler hat is its best representation. Worn by wealthy bankers and simple servants alike, it is a sign of modern man's freedom of opinion.
-
Cloche hat: high, round crown with folded edges that fit the head.
The fabulous story of women and the cloche hat:
At the beginning of the 19th century, fashion codes were evolving. Women, who until then had shown their wealth and social status through the sophistication of their hats, were opting for a more minimalist, modern style. Women were shedding frivolities and large brims to show their faces and donning an elegant and practical accessory that would put them on a pedestal. This was the beginning of women's emancipation!
-
Capeline: hat with large, long, soft brims and a round crown.
EVERY FACE SHAPE HAS ITS FETISH HAT!
Here's a guide to help you choose the right accessory for your first step into a hatted world:
Generally speaking, enhancing your face involves finding the right balance between the height of the crown and the width of the edges depending on your body shape.
A square or round face will be more easily crushed by a crown that is too high, or by brims that are too large or too low.
An elongated oval face will be enhanced by the perpendicular line of a sun hat or fedora. Conversely, a cloche hat will be the perfect accessory to add height to the bottom of a heart-shaped face .
Softening a rectangular or square face will be easier with rounded cap shapes; we recommend, for example, a bowler hat or a cloche hat.
This guide is for informational purposes only; it is also necessary to take into account other criteria such as hair length, for example, your height, shoulder width, or even your outfit or clothing style. The material or color of the hat will also influence its style: dark colors will tend to reduce the size effect of hats with high crowns. A thick felt hat will accentuate its shape, or also the rigidity of its brim.
For more information and personalized assistance, we look forward to seeing you in our Parisian boutiques!
