How Do I Choose the Best Two-Tone Hats?

The best two-tone hats will accentuate your best features, disguise your less desirable ones, fit into your budget, and match your personal style. There are a variety of hats for men and women, but the same rules apply for choosing the best two-tone hats, regardless of gender specific styles. Two-tone hats can be casual, formal, elegant, or quirky. Aside from ballcaps and knitted hats, hats are not as common as they were in the early half of the 20th century. You may have to shop online or through special boutiques to find the perfect two-tone hat.

Before you begin shopping, determine your budget. If you are choosing two-tone hats in order to follow a popular trend, keep in mind that trends come and go quickly. You may find yourself shopping in a few months for additional fashion accessories, and discarding the two-tone hat you chose. If that is the case, budget not only for what you can afford now, but what you'll want to purchase in the near future.

If you plan on wearing this hat for many years to come, you'll need to find a high quality hat that will last. Spending more now for a well made hat will save you money in the long run. A cheaper hat may not keep its shape after being worn a number of times or exposed to the elements. It may also wear out more quickly, causing you to replace it sooner.

After you've determined your budget, consider your personal style. Think especially about the range of colors that you typically wear. Most people are drawn to a certain family of colors, like pastels, earth tones, jewel tones, or neutrals. Make sure both tones in the two-tone hat you choose blend with your wardrobe. A hat doesn't have to match exactly, and a bold, complementary color can be great fashion statement.

You want a hat that will complement your facial shape, but first, you have to know what your facial shape is. Take a dry erase marker and outline your face in a mirror then determine the overall shape of the outline. Most faces are oval, round, square, or heart-shaped. Also note any significant features on your face that are not your best qualities, like a large forehead, recessed chin, or prominent nose. These features can be disguised with the correct hat.

The basic guidelines are to choose a hat which is the opposite of your facial shape. For round faces, choose an angular hat, like a fedora. For square faces, a floppy hat like a newsboy or wide brimmed style is appropriate. The width of the brim and how it sits on the head, angled or straight, can also flatter your face. For instance, prominent ears are minimized with a wide brimmed hat set at an angle.

The best way to find the perfect two tone hat is to try it on. Unfortunately, you will probably have to do some online shopping to find the right hat, so make sure the retailer has a generous return policy. If possible, order from a company that also offers free shipping both ways. It will probably be easier to shop online since many retailers allow you to sort inventory based on color and you will be able find two-tone hats without looking through the entire collection.

When you look at a hat, check the inside for good craftsmanship. The seams should be flat and even, and there should be no sign of fraying in the fabric of the hat or the lining. Embellishments should be well attached. If you plan to wear the hat outside in inclement weather, make sure it is waterproof or made from water resistant fabric. Check the cleaning instructions as dry cleaning can get expensive and spot-clean-only hats should be reserved for special occasions.

Finally, try the hat on. If you order online or from a catalog, you have the luxury of trying the hat on with various outfits and comparing the two-tone colors with your wardrobe. If you are shopping at a brick-and-mortar store, consider bringing one or two of your favorite items with you.

The hat should fit comfortably. If it is too small, the hat may cause headaches and "hat hair," and a hat that is too big will fall off easily. The fabric should be comfortable and should not cause itching. If you find that you are sensitive to certain fabrics or are prone to excessive sweating, try to stick to natural materials like cotton, wool, and linen. Synthetic materials are more likely to cause irritation and they do not "breathe" or allow moisture to pass through.