Whether you want to protect your face from the sun, keep your head warm, cover a bad hair day, or add a touch of flair to your outfit, you should choose a hat that accentuates your best features. The right hat can pull your outfit together. Still, the most flattering hat will also compliment the shape of your face – for instance, if you have a petite face, a large hat will overwhelm your features. If you have a larger face, you’ll need a larger hat to make it more proportionate. Finding a perfect hat for your face is all about balance. Read on to learn about the different face shapes and hats best suit them.
Heart-Shaped Face
Heart-shaped faces are characterized by a chin that’s narrower than the forehead. If you have a heart-shaped face, almost every type of hat will look good on you – especially if they have a short brim and sharp angles. Try a jockey cap, baseball cap (like the best-fitted hats Canada), a cloche, or a fedora. If you have a broad forehead and narrow chin and want your face to look more balanced, try a bucket hat to make your features look more proportionate.
Round Face
If you have a round face, you have fullness below your cheekbones and a wide hairline. To balance a round face, avoid anything that can emphasize its roundness. With a round face, you’ll want your hat to be the opposite. Choose a hat with angular curves to add length to your face, and avoid any hats that are too round – they will accentuate the volume and fullness of your face. Hats that suit round faces are fedoras, porkpie hats, and newsboy caps – tilt your newsboy cap to one side to create some asymmetry and balance out your features.
Square Face
You have a square face if your jawline and hairline are the same lengths. Square faces can be balanced by adding some height above the hairline. Bowler hats and floppy hats look best on square faces because they can soften the hard angles at your jaw and cheekbones. Other excellent options are berets and beanies – just be sure they are soft and don’t have harsh angles. Avoid trilbys and fedoras because they will accentuate your sharp features.
Oval-Shaped Face
If you have a long and narrow face, you’ll want to create the illusion that it is wider. As with any face shape, the simple rule of thumb is that opposites attract. Floppy hats or hats with short brims are great for adding width. Avoid hats with too much height, though – they will only elongate your face even more.
The Bottom Line
While understanding what hats work on different face shapes can help, the only true way to find the perfect hat for you is to try on a wide variety. If you’re stumped, a baseball cap should do the trick. Baseball caps look great on almost everyone – that’s why they are a staple for celebrities and athletes alike. Whether you’re attending a sporting event or just popping out to run a few errands, tossing on a baseball cap on your way out is an instant way to look street-chic.
