People often say to me, “Oh I love your hat, I wish I could wear one!” or ” I love hats but never know when or where to wear them.” I’ve faced these taunting questions too. When I first started interning with Polly, I was so excited because have a deep love for fashion, but hats were a tough subject. I have always had hats, casual hats mostly but as I grew and traveled more I developed a love for a more wider range of hats, Panamas, newsies, and of course, Derby Hats.

But it was still unclear to me about when and where to wear hats. I was so nervous about wearing my hats. But by working with Polly I began to realize you can wear a hat pretty much anywhere. Here is a list of the following places and times you can dawn a great hat.

• Church: This is an easy choice. While many people don’t wear hats to church anymore, this is the perfect place to wear a lovley hat. If you are nervous think about on Easter or when you were a kid and remember seeing the hats and wishing you had one. So be that person and everyone will think you look grand.
• The Beach or Out On the Lake: I love wearing my straw cowgirl hat on my dad’s boat. A straw hat is perfect for the warm weather. They don’t get too hot and they keep you shaded from the sun. Which we all know is great for your skin.
• A Luncheon or a Tea: A Sunday Luncheon with family or friends is a nice way to wear you hat, especially of you are nervous about wearing a hat. When you are surrounded with people that are close to you you won’t worry so much about what everyone is thinking. P.S. A Hat Ladies Luncheon is about as perfect as you can get!
• The Hats for Hope Auction: This spring auction for breast cancer research is a great place to wear you hat as well as find a new one.
• The Kentucky Derby, Keeneland, etc.: This one is a no brainer. But on a personal note, when I wore my first derby hat to Keeneland this past year I felt like a million bucks!
• The Grocery Store or in the Garden: This may not seem like the place to wear a hat, but I find myself wearing my hats the most when I need to run out but don’t necessarily feel like doing my hair.

I know it can be a nerve-racking thing to begin to wear hats, but it the initial worry that you have to get over and from then on it is a FUN and FABULOUS walk in the park.

By Anne Kreke