Characterful hats are currently trending, moving from fashion catwalks to high street retailers across the UK. At the Loro Piana show, nearly every model displayed some form of headwear.
Furthermore, the Chloé collection featured both white sailor hats and sheer headpieces. David Long suggested that hats offer a rare chance for display, allowing wearers to signal individuality subtly, stating, "Excluding beanies and baseballs, hats are a rare opportunity for display, so I think the wearers are trying to say: ‘I’m not like everyone else, even though we all wear the same clothes nowadays.’ They’re showing off, in other words, but only a little bit."
Noel Stewart added that headwear can significantly mark a person's intent or personality, whether that message is spoken loudly or quietly, noting, "Hats can be a major signifier of personality and intent, whether it is shouted or whispered is up to the wearer." Stewart also advised that soft pillbox styles offer a chic way to express oneself without appearing overly elaborate or costly, remarking, "People want to be chic without being too forced (and expensive) about it. This soft pillbox is a very good way of doing that."
John Galliano collaborated with Zara, presenting Napoleonic-style bicorne hats as part of his designs. Availability of personality-driven hats is confirmed at retailers such as Asos and H&M.
Jackie Kennedy previously mentioned receiving an order for a million hats, while Stewart commented that people require different headwear for various life moments, saying, "I am wearing a baseball cap at the moment, but it’s not all I wear and we all need different hats for the different moments in our lives."
Stewart: "People want to be chic without being too forced (and expensive) about it. This soft pillbox is a very good way of doing that."
Stewart
