I don’t know what possessed me, but last week I wore my bowler hat for the first time in years.
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I knew I wanted a hat (potential for rain, hair not styled as I caught a crazy early o’clock train) and looked through my (somewhat vast) hat collection for the right one to go with this outfit. At first I put the bowler hat aside, as I always do… then stopped and thought about it.
Why NOT wear the bowler? I knew it wasn’t very “now” (you can’t get them at Asos, that’s always a good measure of what’s on trend), but that wasn’t a reason to reject it. So I decided that Operation Bring Back the Bowler would be my most important mission for 2020.
(Of course I’m not actually serious. Operation Sort Through All My Clothes and Get Them Organised is hard enough for me at the moment.)
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SHOP THE LOOK:
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The last time I wore this hat was around seven years ago – and the last time it appeared on the blog was in October 2013 (scroll down to see the 5 Ways to Wear, with some very old outfits!). I must have been right to decide it needed bringing back (yes, I’m fully aware that I’m making it sound like I have Kardashian-style “influence”, as if #eyeroll), because on the train a lady told me she thought it looked fabulous, and that bowler hats need bringing back.
So there you have it – if a stranger on the train said Let’s bring back the bowler, who am I to argue with her…?!
The other star of the show is that ughhhhhhh-my-god-it’s-so-gorgeous Nordic sweater. (I got it in the sale at Warehouse, but there are only a few small sizes left so hurry if that’s you; another size is available here.) Orange and olive green are colours I have all over my house, so of course it was totally coming home with me. Or just arriving in a box via a courier driver, I should say…
Paired with my coral coat (similar), the recently seen ‘Crocodile Rock’ platform boots and olive green trousers* (similar) and I was done.
Bold, warm, winter outfit? That mission was definitely accomplished.
Have you ever been a bowler hat wearer – and if so when did YOU last wear yours? Or what is your go-to hat style? Comment below!
P.S. Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!
Bowler hat: Asos (very old, similar, 9 colours & lots of sizes available)
Sweater: Warehouse (on sale! Also one other size here)
Coat: La Redoute (similar)
Trousers: Next* (similar)
Boots: Asos (on sale!)
Bag: Next* (similar)
Sunglasses: Old (similar)
5 ways to wear a bowler hat…
Here are some of the other ways I’ve worn my bowler hat so you can see the different ways it can be styled:
Original posts: Top middle / Top right / Bottom middle / Bottom right
Pin for later!
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This is my new favourite blog. Your style makes me so happy
Author
Oh wow Nina thank you!!! That’s so kind of you #daymade
The bowler hat is absolutely ACE!!! It is so unexpected and fabulous with that sweater. I love the Hobbs orange coat, darn you for making me aware of its existence!!
Author
Thanks lovely Lisa… and sowee about the coat, I should have warned you in advance…! 😉
This outfit is fabulous on you! I love your bowler hat!
I hope you are having a fabulous week so far!
Amber
Author
Thank you so much Amber, happy Monday to you! x
Your bowler hat makes the entire outfit fun! And I love the bold colors for winter.
Michelle
Author
Thanks Michelle – that’s the best way to describe a bowler I think 😉
Wow how beautifully you have added the Bowler hat in this whole look. I will totally try this <3
Vaishali
Author
thanks so much Vaishali! x
Hm…I don’t think I have ever worn a bowler hat actually, but I did rescue two of them – properly made; probably 1930’s – from the dusty corners of a wardrobe clear-out of my village amateur dramatic society! I am very inspired to clean out the mouse poo and give a bowler hat outfit a try. Thank you for the inspo!
Thank you for hosting. 🙂
Helen x
Author
Oh wow if they’re vintage Helen you HAVE to wear them!!
Ah love this look! Yes to the bowler hat, You look great 🙂
Allie of
Author
aww thanks Allie 😀
I love it! Catherine you’ve done it again, showed me a new look I hadn’t thought of. Woman, ya still got it ✌
Author
Bless you MT – thanks mate xoxo
That Hat is making me very happy!
I’ve seen a couple of coloured bowlers online Catherine…. an electric blue and a red…squeal!!
Unfortunately, I can’t squeeze my big “Baw Heid” into the women’s styles and the gents tend not to be bright colours.
Curses.
XXX
Samantha
BTW… totally agree about hats and their ability to “style” hair ;oP
XXX
Author
that’s true 😉
Author
Samantha the bowler hat I linked to here is a man’s one – in all those colours – it’s available in all sizes from small to very large!! Go check it out!!!!!!!!!!
Another brilliant mix of colors, Catherine! I love the bold coral in that Nordic sweater and the coat is gorgeous. Hey, we can wear a bowler hat if we like, right? Yes, do bring it back…
xx Darlene
Author
Thank you Darlene – yes the coral (and green) was what drew me to it…!
Catherine, the stranger on the train was completely on point! You definitely need to bring the bowler hat back! It looks amazing on you. And Ugh is right…this sweater is so freaking fabulous! I love the orange and olive green combination, too. Simply brilliant. Your entire outfit is magnificent straight down to your feet and that adorable messenger bag, too.
Shelbee
Author
Oh bless you lovely Shelbee, thanks so much hon x
I love reading your blog each week because I love the unexpected looks you come up with and they are always on point and very fashionable. I love all the different ways you wore your bowler hat: so cute!
Author
Oh Mireille sweetie that’s so kind of you! Thank you so much!!
Gorgeous colours in that jumper Catherine. I’m envious that hats look so great on you. They look awful on me! xx
Author
I think they probably WOULD look great on you Laurie – sometimes it’s just about whether you feel comfortable wearing them. And if you don’t, then they’ll never convince YOU that they look good, no mater what anyone else says! I believe there’s a hat style for everyone though 🙂
(and thank you)
I’m so glad to hear you say that about the bowler hat. I think that about my beret too. And even my faux fur vest. Yet I love these things so I don’t always want to be swayed by trends. Just like you always say….I will wear what I like!!
XOOX
Jodie
Author
Oooh you’ve made me want to dig out my faux fur vest (waistcoat) now, Jodie!
Love the colors in the sweater. Especially the olive green with the orange! Lovely!
Author
Thank you Jess – your kinda colours, I bet 😉
That hat is so CUTE!!!! The color of that coat though…PERFECTION!
Author
Thanks so much Lisa… I’m kinda in love with the coral colour too!!
Oh Jodie wore a similar sweater on our The Good Buy/Good-Bye Book series with sweaters last week. She had knitted it herself. I said that these kind of sweaters are the real winter sweaters! This is how a sweater should look like!
Author
Thanks Nancy – how amazing that she knitted it herself?! I can’t claim to anything like that 😉
OMG those colours together are absolutely DIVINE!! And YES…. bring back the bowler hat because they’re FABULOUS!
Hugs
Suzy xx
Author
Oh wow Suzy THANK YOU my darling!