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Blog 40+ Different Types of Hats – Complete Guide
different types of hats

40+ Different Types of Hats – Complete Guide

Hats have transformed men’s and women’s style for decades, and they remain just as impactful today. There are various caps or hats in the market, and it seems difficult to think about where to start. With so many options, you can style yourself and lead the way. You can choose any style as per different occasions, holidays, events, or your attire. They are a great source of making a fashion statement that no one can ignore. In this modern era, you are free to customize the hats around your choice, including style, size, design, comfort, and appearance.

It is overwhelming to figure out the right hat type for you. Should you go with a classic fedora? A casual baseball cap? Or perhaps a wide-brim sun hat? In this blog, you will get to know the most popular types of caps or hats that let you make the perfect decision. How to choose the hat as on your face shape.

Multiple Types of Hats and Styles

Hats are designed to accommodate different styles. There is a huge variety of stunning hats in the fashion industry. The right choice is a game-changer for transforming the whole outfit look. Let's break down the types into categories from classic dress hats to everyday essentials, functional hats, western, and unique hats.

A. Classic Dress Hats

classic dress hats

Classic hats are suitable for formal dresses, which is why they are called classic dress hats. They are a perfect piece for formal occasions. Here are 8 types of the classic ones:

Top Hats

Mostly, rich people wear this hat because it symbolizes their wealth. These hats are recognized by their narrow brim and tall crowns, which indicate royalty. People discovered it in the 19th century. But there is no false statement if we say today’s generation loves wearing it for vintage-inspired looks.

Bowler (Derby) Hats

Derby hats are linked wth the British gentlemen. These hats are rounded from the crown and have a stiff brim. It balances practicality with a polished, structured style. The upper class preferred wearing it on special occasions like horse races, etc, in the past. They gained popularity among horsemen.

Homburg Hats

This hat has a tall crown, deep center dent, structured hat band, and a curved brim. Have you ever heard about the God after hat? Homburg hats are those. Businessmen and dignitaries liked wearing these hats.

Fedora Hats

After the 19th century, fedoras became famous in the mid-20th century. The reason behind its popularity is its versatility because it goes with every casual and formal outfit. They are designed with the pinched crown and medium brim. These fedoras are known for their soft brims, pinched crowns, and versatile materials. Masculinity, sophistication, power, and timeless elegance are the traits of this hat type.

Trilby & Pork Pie Hats

Trilbies and pork pies both served modernism and a stylish twist on classic designs. Trilby hats are characterized by shorter brims angled down in front, while pork pies feature flat tops and narrow brims. Both offer a modern, stylish twist on classic designs.

Cloche Hats

It is the most liked type among dress hats for women in the 1920s fashion staple. Cloches are featured with a bell-shaped crown and a close-fitting. This hat covers the ears and forehead, providing a fitted look.

Pillbox Hats

This hat is also called a small cylindrical and hexagonal case. These small hats with a flat crown, straight, upright sides, and no brim are worn by Jackie Kennedy. They are also adorned with net neils and embellishments for a chic appearance.

Wedding & Occasion Hats

These hats are manufactured to make a statement due to their dramatic crown and wide-brimmed designs. Brides usually carry it with their formal gowns or attire to add elegance and flair.

B. Everyday Casual Hats

everyday casual hats

For daily wear, balancing comfort, practicality, and style is a difficult task. But causal hats are versatile for daily use. These are the following types, starting from basketball caps and ending with visors:

Baseball Caps

These caps are the world’s most recognizable hat style. The design of baseball caps is simple, with a rounded crown and stiff visor. But modern baseball hat styles include so many other features. Here are the styles of these caps listed below:

  • Snapbacks: Adjustable with snaps, structured, and popular in streetwear.
  • Fitted Caps: Sized to fit snugly, often worn in sports.
  • Dad Hats: Relaxed fit with a curved brim for a casual vibe.
  • Flat-Brim Hats: Edgy, urban look with a wide, flat bill.
  • Leather Baseball Hats: A luxury twist that blends casual with upscale fashion.
  • Performance Caps: Lightweight, sweat-wicking, designed for athletes. With so many types of baseball hats, there’s one for every occasion, from gym sessions to date nights.

With so many options, baseball caps remain versatile from gym sessions to date nights.

Trucker Hats

It is another subtype of daily-wear caps. Truckers are familiar with baseball caps. They are also called netback caps or mesh caps. The net or mesh back panel is used for ventilation or breathability, and a structured foam or cotton front.

Flat Caps & Newsboy Caps

These caps come up with different names, but the famous one is the Peaky Blinders cap. The casual look after wearing this cap stands out from the crowd by offering vintage charm. Newsboy caps have a rounder, fuller crown, while flat caps are sleeker. Moreover, the cabbie caps are characterized by a low, flat crown and a short brim.

Beret Hats

This type was famous in France and Spain among artists and politicians. Berets are known as soft, round, brimless hats with a flat crown. This unisex accessory bridges vintage sophistication with modern streetwear.

Beanies (Knit Caps)

Beanie caps are best for everyday fashion and providing warmth in winter. They are manufactured with features like Close-fitting. These knitted caps come up in cuffed, slouchy, fisherman, and pompom styles.

Visors

These caps don’t have a crown but feature the brim of a hat. They are used for the protection of the eyes from the sun or bright lights. Visor hats are perfect for sports like tennis, golf, and running.

C. Sun Protection & Beach Hats

sun protection and beach hats

These hats have two functions, including fashion and practicality, in sunny climates.

Floppy Hats / Boho Hats

These hats are used at festivals and beach parties. They have wide and soft brims. Bohos represent a carefree attitude and a bohemian lifestyle.

Beach Hats / Sun Hats

They are made up of usually straw or raffia. These materials are lightweight and breathable. So, your hats also serve the same purpose.

Boater Hats (Skimmers)

These hats gained popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. They have a flat-crowned, stiff straw hat with a circular brim and finished with a ribbon.

Bucket Hats (Boonie Hats)

For outdoor adventures or travel, these hats are exceptional. They are crafted with a soft material like cotton, canvas, nylon, or wool with a downward-sloping brim. These hats also look like an inverted bucket.

Safari Hats

These hats have two famous types, like mesh-covered safari hats and gable all-weather safari hats. They are perfect for hiking, the beach, and camping. A spongy plant material called sholapith is utilized in their manufacturing. European and military accounts first put them on their heads in the mid-19th century. They are best for the jungle and desert climates.

Panama Hats or Jipijapa Hats

They are crafted with the handwoven straw hats from Ecuador. Panamas keep the weather cool in the summer.  A tight weave, delicate construction, and lengthy manufacturing process are required. They are stiff and therefore not foldable.

Gambler Hats

These hats are designed with an oval-shaped crown and with wide brim. The history started in the Western America during the 19th century. Fine wool and leather are the top-tier materials for these hats.

Pith Helmets or Safari hats

These hats are originally worn by the explorers, military personnel, and adventurers traversing hot regions. These safari hats have a round crown. People use them for protection against scorching heat and UVA-UVB rays.

Also Read: Trucker Hat Vs. Baseball Cap? Which Fits Your Style & Comfort

D. Western & Outdoor Hats

western and outdoor hats

These hats are worn against harsh environments. The durable styles are designed to cater to extreme temperatures, water, and humidity. These are the following outdoor and western hats:

Cowboy and Western Hats

The most enduring outdoor hats feature a tall crown and a wide brim that curves upward at the sides. These hats were first created for cattlemen of the American West. The brim covers the face from the sun and rain, and the strong felt or straw makes it hold up to rough handling.

Outback Hats

These hats are made from water-resistant oiled cotton or leather. Practical, they have broad brims for shade and rough material resistant to rain and wind. Outback hats frequently have chin straps to keep them in place while riding or when walking into the wind.

Sombreros

These hats gained popularity in Mexico, which is why called Mexican hats. They are renowned for their incredibly broad brims, commonly so wide that they can provide shadow over the whole upper torso. Classic hat styles are decorated with add-ons like embroidery, beads, or colored stitching, but working models of straw are light and practical for many hours in the sun.

Gaucho Hats

The hats were worn by ranchers known as gauchos. They have a flat crown and a wide, flat brim. These hats create an unmistakable silhouette. Someone who wants functionality and style, like covering the head while providing an air of quiet authority, gauchos hats are perfect for them.

Field / Military Caps

A low, flat crown and a short, rigid brim are the design of military caps. They are functional, light, and structured, but provide minimal protection compared to wide ones. These field caps are useful for workers and military soldiers.

E. Unique & Cultural Hats

unique and cultural hats

These caps have profound cultural, religious, or symbolic significance. Cultural hats are a sign of different traditions. Each culture has something unique to wear:

Fez / Tarboosh

Tarboosh is also called a fez, which is a close-fitting, brimless, felt or cloth hat, typically red with a black tassel. These caps are shaped like a truncated cone. They originated in the Ottoman Empire and North Africa. Its simplicity makes it recognizable as a marker of culture.

Kippah / Yarmulke

Jewish skullcap worn as a sign of respect, reverence, and awareness of God's presence. These caps indicate that GOD is above all. The shape of these hats is rounded, and the size is small, which just covers the crown area of the head.

Turban-Type Hats

The fabric is draped to create a turban hat close to the head. These hats have highly detailed quilted top-stitching. Jewels or brooches are it to cover the whole head. This style combines cultural influence with contemporary styles.

Coonskin Caps

This headwear became associated with European Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Coonskin hats were identified with explorers and folk heroes such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. They represent adventure and pioneering spirit. These furry hats also provide warmth in the winter.

Steampunk Hats

Hats in steampunk fashion may include all kinds of headgear like flight helmets, bowler hats, goggles, brass, feathers, lace, clockwork, pith helmets, and pirates' bandanas. These hats symbolize self-expression for cosplay or alternative fashion inspired by the Victorian era.

Chef Hats (Toques)

Tall, pleated white hats that traditionally cover the head of chefs. The tallness symbolizes seniority. The pleats are said to represent the numerous methods a master chef can prepare an egg. They have a hygienic function and keep hair away from food.

Moreover, the toque is designed to allow air circulation, keeping the chef cool while working in a hot kitchen. The height helps to prevent sweat from dripping into food.

Section 3: Types of Hats for Women

types of hats for women

Women love styling themself with the accessories. Caps and hats are one of the coolest options for females among women. While most hats are unisex in this modern era, some of them are specifically made for them.

Dress Hats for Women

For wedding and formal dresses, women's dress hats are ideal. These hats come up in Cloche, pillbox, fascinators, and wide-brimmed styles for weddings and formal events.

Casual Everyday Styles

The options like bucket hats, Beret hats, floppy boho hats, and baseball caps are a great choice for daily wear styling.

Sun Hats

Women need more skin protection from UV rays, so these hats fulfill UV protection needs. The material choice is lightweight straw or fabric hats.

Modern Streetwear

When it comes to women’s fashion, there is no suitable choice for Leather baseball hats and oversized visors.

Tip: Look for hats with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating if you’ll be outdoors a lot. Pair them with light fabrics and breathable outfits for maximum comfort.

Find Your Perfect Hat Match: Style Tips by Face Shape

Not all hats flatter every face the same way. Use these quick style tips to find the hat that enhances your features:

  • Round Faces: Break up soft curves with structure. Go for fedoras, angled brims, or asymmetrical shapes to add definition.
  • Square Faces: Balance sharp jawlines with softness. Floppy hats, wide brims, or round crowns help smooth out angles.
  • Oval Faces: You’re in luck! Most hat styles from berets to baseball caps, complement your naturally balanced proportions.
  • Heart-Shaped Faces: Draw attention downward to balance a wider forehead. Baseball caps, berets, and medium brims are your best friends.

Wrapping Up

The timeless accessory, like a hat is a great mixture of function, fashion, and personality. We have discovered 40+ types of hats, starting from classic dress hats like fedoras and cloches, to the practicality of baseball caps, sun hats, and outback styles. Now, you can choose the right hat whether you want to make a bold statement at a wedding, protect yourself under the summer sun, or add effortless charm to your casual outfits.

With so many styles to choose from, the key is finding the one that not only complements your outfit but also matches your face shape, lifestyle, and comfort. Vel Clothing is one of the best apparel manufacturers in the USA. We manufacture premium hats in different styles to suit your choice. Email us at sales@velcothing.com or call at +804-294-1966 to get amazing hats at affordable rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Circular, teardrop, oval, and similar to a diamond are the common shapes of crowns or hats.

This hat is famous after the performance of Taylor sfiwtch in which she wears it during her song "22" on the Eras Tour. She also created a fan moment by giving it to a fan. The designer names as Gladys Tamez, customized it in classic black color and fedora style.

The part that protrudes horizontally from the bottom of the crown, circling the entire head to provide shade for the face, eyes, ears, and neck.

Crown, brim, hatband, sweatband, lining, and tip are the hat parts.

The brim can be curved, slightly curved, or flat, and comes in different shapes. The brim can also be called a visor, a peak, or a bill.

Panama, beach hat, bohos, bucket hats, and visors are a perfect option for summer because they are breathable and lightweight.