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Which hat for which face?
The world of millinery offers many forms of headwear for men. From fedoras and bowler hats to bobs and caps, models vary in style and comfort. Faced with such a wide choice, the question arises: which hat for which man's face? While hats are a timeless fashion accessory, they should always be chosen according to the shape of the face, to balance out the wearer's features.
In this guide, we'll first look at how to identify your face shape, before exploring the hat styles most suited to your morphology. You'll also discover that choosing a hat is not just a question of face shape: silhouette and style also play a decisive role.
The essential step: how do you determine the shape of your face?
Looking for a new hat to add to your wardrobe or complement a specific outfit? Before you fall for a particular model or trend, start by defining the shape of your face. The aim: to find the perfect balance between its unique lines and those of the hat you're going to choose. Everyone needs to go through this phase of reflection, as each face has its own characteristics.
The method consists of standing in front of a mirror, hair pulled back, and observing several lines:
- face length ;
- forehead width ;
- chin and jaw line;
- the presence of cheeks and cheekbones.
This observation allows you to determine the type of morphology you correspond to.
- Oval face: balanced proportions, length slightly greater than width, rounded forehead and jaw, discreet cheekbones.
- Round face: almost equal width and length, full cheeks, rounded forehead and chin.
- Square face: strong, pronounced jaw, broad forehead, straight cheekbones, angular appearance.
- Rectangular face: length clearly greater than width, high forehead, square jaw.
- Heart-shaped face: broad forehead, pronounced cheekbones, thin, pointed chin.
Once you've identified your face shape, all that's left to do is choose a hat that balances and enhances your features.
Which hat for which face shape?
Each morphology has its own affinities. Each face type finds its balance in certain models. So not everyone can choose the same hat shapes. IBELIV specializes in handcrafted RAFFIA hats, and offers you its best advice on the subject. Find out which models are best suited to your face shape.
Hats for oval faces
The oval face is considered the ideal morphology, because its balanced proportions work well with all types of hats. With this face shape, you have the freedom to experiment. Nothing is off-limits. We therefore recommend that you choose your hat according to the circumstances: a walk in the sun, formal wear, a jaunt in town, and so on.
Hats for round faces
This face is characterized by its roundness and total absence of angular lines. You need to choose a hat that will bring verticality and contrast to break up the overly rounded effect. Our recommendation for a round face: choose wide-brimmed hats with structured caps, such as the fedora, to restore visual balance. The trilby is also interesting, as the crown gives verticality and the structured brims create contrast. On the other hand, avoid overly rounded headgear that would accentuate the roundness of the face.
Hats for square faces
You can soften your features with a hat if you have a square face! Choose a soft-brimmed hat with a slightly rounded crown to add softness to your face. The safari hat for example, is perfect for balancing your features.
Hats for rectangular faces
With this face shape, you need to try to reduce the impression of length by adding volume on the side. We therefore recommend a wide-brimmed fedora, with a medium cap that adds structure without stretching the head further. The low-crowned Panama hat is another option, since its round volume and horizontal lines effectively break up the vertical effect. Men's caps and cloche hats have the advantage of adding no extra volume to the top of the head.
Hats for heart-shaped faces
Not sure which hat to choose with a heart-shaped face? The top of your face dominates the bottom. So you need to balance your features by visually reducing the width of the forehead and enhancing the lower part of your face.
As a result, you'll want to choose a headgear with a low crown and short brim. A cap, for example, is ideal because it doesn't add too much volume to the upper part of the face. With its rounded cap and drooping brim, the revisited cloche hat for men is also a good choice, as it refocuses the gaze towards the middle of the face. As for the trilby, its short brim and city look add structure without widening the forehead.
Beyond the face: two other factors to consider when choosing the right hat
While taking into account the shape of your face is essential, the choice of a man's hat is not based on this element alone. As with any fashion accessory, a hat accompanies a silhouette and completes an outfit. Two essential elements that must influence your choice at all costs!
The silhouette
A hat doesn't just dress the head. It accompanies the entire silhouette. A tall, slender man can wear a wide-brimmed hat without the risk of diminishing his presence. A shorter man, on the other hand, will prefer a more discreet brim, so as not to crowd his silhouette.
The style
A hat doesn't just cover your head and hair to protect you from the sun. It adds an extra touch of style to your outfits. Always match the shape of your hat to your current look. For example, the bob-style cap and cloche hat go best with casual wear. The trilby, with its urban allure, is perfect for enhancing your everyday looks. Versatile, the fedora hat can be worn in town or in the country.
Far from being a simple accessory, a hat completes your look and enhances your overall style. Now that you know which hat to choose to enhance your body type and style, you have the information you need to explore our selection of hats in RAFFIA from Madagascar. This includes a unisex collection in which you'll find hat shapes perfectly suited to your features. If you're still unsure, feel free to browse our hat guide, which will provide you with additional information to help you narrow down your choice.