When ladies are selecting a hat, I’m often asked “Should I buy the dress first or the hat?” There is no right or wrong way, but here are the pros and cons of both.

Picking a Hat First:

Pros: This options enables you to pick the hat of your dreams and gives you more freedom in terms of trims, colors and styles. Do you like peacock feathers? If so, you can incorporate them into the dress. Like hot pink, black and white? Then we can incorporate them into your hat.

Cons: You have to find a dress/outfit to match your hat. This can be difficult if you are trying to match up colors. If a client picks the hat first, I usually suggest that they pick a neutral outfit to make things easiest.

Picking out the outfit first, then finding the hat:

Pros: You already have your dress. By already having the dress/outfit, you have some guideline in choosing your hat. Say your dress has yellow and ivory, then you can tie those colors into your hat.

Cons: You might be more limited in your hat choice. Also, depending on the hat supplies that your milliner has on hand, they might be out of the colors you are looking to use.

There is no right or wrong way. If you see an outfit that you absolutely fall in love with, then by all means, purchase it. If you are undecided about what to wear, then pick out a hat that already goes with an outfit already in your wardrobe. That way if you run out of shopping time, you still have your hat and outfit ready to go!

By: Polly Singer