Brimming With Confidence, Modern Woman’s Crowning Glory Is to Wear Many Hats
If a woman wants something that will accent an outfit, make her stand out and feel good about herself all at the same time, she should buy a hat.
“Hats look great on many women and often make them feel really special,” says Barbara Rickmers, store manager of Etcetera in Newport Beach. “Though many women feel awkward when they first wear hats, once they get accustomed to them, women are often hooked.”
When it comes to accessorizing and adding flair to a wardrobe, hats are particularly useful. “Hats can make just about any outfit come alive,” says Jackie Westenberger, salesperson at Burkewear in the City Shopping Center in Orange.
Shop for a hat today and you’re likely to find a wide variety. “There are hats to fit just about every occasion,” Westenberger says. “You can find conservative hats for business clothes and more flamboyant hats that really get attention.”
It’s a wish to be noticed that has made hats one of today’s most popular women’s accessories, says Casey Bush, executive director for the Millinery Information Bureau in New York City.
“The estimated retail dollar value for women’s hats in 1991-1992 was $578 million; this figure has been rising approximately 15% every year since the mid-1980s,” she says.
To find a hat that will make heads turn, consult this sampling of local stores:
*AMES
This store carries a variety of hats from really dressy to fun and casual, says store manager Tess Marquez. Here you’ll find a sombrero-style straw hat ($48) that comes in cream, gold or black. This is accented with matching flowers and bows and has a pink rose on the side.
They also have a straw hat with a low crown and a wide brim ($64). This comes in cream, black, navy, peach or red. It has a ponytail opening in the back. For a more casual occasion, there is a Western-style straw hat with a wide brim and a high crown ($78). This comes in a combined black and natural color with sequins.
Brea Mall, (714) 990-0792.
*BURKEWEAR
At this store you’ll find a large-brimmed straw hat ($20) that Westenberger says goes well with casual wear. This Italian-made hat comes in a variety of color combinations, including blue with a royal blue ribbon around the crown; gold with a dark gold ribbon; tan with a dark brown-tan ribbon; black with a jet black ribbon; light blue with a baby blue ribbon; medium red with a dark red ribbon, and orange peach with a brown-orange tinge ribbon.
If you want something for business or pleasure, Westenberger suggests the small-brimmed, red felt hat ($30). This has a twisted ribbon around the crown that is red at the top and pales to a white-pink. In the front center of the hat there is a yellow/pink rose with two yellow flowers on each side. The brim curls up slightly.
Another felt hat is great for business clothing. It is medium-brimmed and comes in black with a lighter black ribbon circling the crown ($30). It has a flat black bow on one side and black elastic that goes under the chin.
The City Shopping Center, Suite 108, Orange, (714) 978-6181.
*CLOTHESTIME
At these stores you’ll find a natural-color straw hat with a medium brim with a black ribbon around the crown and a medium-sized black chiffon bow in the back ($8-$11). For more casual occasions, they have a feminine black felt cowboy hat ($20) with a medium brim. This has a small crown with silver studs encircling it.
The blue denim fisherman’s hat ($11) has a medium to small floppy brim that is pinned up in the front. Attached are yellow, white or blue sunflowers.
2245 W. Ball Road, Anaheim, (714) 533-7453; 2058 E. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, (714) 956-5172; 5630 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim Hills, (714) 777-0479; 8132 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Suite 170, Anaheim Hills, (714) 282-7566; 835 E. Birch St., Brea, (714) 257-1120; 8331 La Palma Ave., Suite F, Buena Park, (714) 228-0637; 1835 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, (714) 722-9634; 33611 Del Obispo St. No. D, Dana Point, (714) 661-6040; 13008 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, (714) 537-4071; 3800 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, (714) 559-1863; 23827 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, (714) 768-7775; 127 Orangefair Mall, Fullerton, (714) 738-1953; 1495 W. Whittier Blvd., La Habra, (310) 697-7751; 27281 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (714) 643-3754; 28221 Marguerite Parkway, No. 7, Mission Viejo, (714) 364-3326; 27825 Santa Margarita Parkway, Suite B, Mission Viejo, (714) 454-2918; 777 S. Main St., Orange, (714) 550-9709; 1511 E. Katella Ave., Orange, (714) 532-2601; Orange Mall, (714) 974-8065; 136 E. Yorba Linda Blvd., Placentia, (714) 996-4160; 3701 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, (714) 546-3328; 17255 17th St., Tustin, (714) 544-6080; 2801 El Camino Real, Tustin, (714) 838-0386, and 15232 Golden West, Westminster, (714) 898-1112.
*DAISY SHOPPE
This shop specializes in bridal and Victorian style hats. Here you’ll find a charcoal gray straw hat with a flappy medium-sized brim. One side of the brim is tacked up with is a big wine red rose with baby’s breath and green leaves. Around the crown there is an ivory satin ribbon. This hat is custom made by Sheryl ($70).
Another custom-made hat by Kay is a straw prairie-style hat ($40) with a brim that turns up softly. It is ivory colored and has a three-inch wide piece of lace that circles the crown and trails off the back to the shoulder blades. At the back there is a pale pink and ivory paper rose with attached string loops made of ivory pearls.
The store also carries a Sonni of San Francisco straw hat ($59) with a small kettle edge brim. Look closely and you’ll see that this stark white hat is decorated in the front with a white lace bridal glove covered with two white silk roses. Around the crown there is three-inch floral white lace with tiny pearl beads.
Mission Viejo Mall, No. 168, (714) 347-1556.
*DAZZLE ME FASHIONS
At this boutique you’ll find a variety of unique hats that appeal to just about everyone, says store owner Brandi Caswell. The Trudy black stiff straw hat ($58) has a black satin band around the crown with a black satin bow at the back. “This hat’s soft brim frames the face and makes the features delicate,” says Caswell, who suggests wearing it for special afternoon occasions.
The store also has a very wide-brimmed hat by Sonni of San Francisco ($65) that Caswell calls an elegant “Joan Crawford” hat. This all white hat has a big bouffant of white tulle lace in the back centered by a white rose. Two white percale streamers hang down the back.
For casual occasions, the store has a baseball-style hat with a large duck-type brim ($12). There is a small bow at the base of the neck and a ponytail opening. The hat comes in khaki, white, black, red, fuchsia, turquoise and navy blue. It is 100% cotton and machine washable.
518 S. Brookhurst St., Suite No. 6, Brookhurst Square, Anaheim, (714) 991-1955.
*ETCETERA
This store carries a wide variety of hats. For a dressy occasion, Rickmers suggests the white straw boater-style hat ($52). This has a white ribbon around the crown with a white chiffon bow in the back. Underneath the bow is a ponytail ring.
For more casual wear, the store has a soft wide-brimmed white straw sun hat ($12). This comes plain but can be spruced up to complement any outfit. Add bows, scarves and headbands around the crown, or tack up the brim with a decorative pin, Rickmers suggests.
Another feminine boater-style hat has an unusually wide brim. It is natural straw color and comes with a white or black lace ribbon tied around the crown which hangs down over the back of the brim ($15).
Fashion Island Newport Beach, (714) 644-6950.
*LADY’S ACCENT
At the Laguna Niguel store, there is a Deborah wide-brim straw hat in lavender with white polka dots ($50). Around the crown there is a thin pink ribbon and at the back a big lavender and pink lace bow.
The store also carries a Deborah all white wide-brimmed straw hat with a white lace veil in the front and a big bow in the back ($60). In small hats, there is a Deborah multicolored straw hat in deep blue, red and peach. This small-brimmed hat has small black feathers on the side and a black veil in the front ($40).
2500 E. Imperial Highway, Brea, (714) 256-9281); 1441 S. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 871-5557; 27281 S. La Paz, Suite D, Laguna Niguel, (714) 643-8238, and 2905 El Camino Real, Tustin, (714) 838-0060.
