As promised in Tuesday’s outfit post, I’m bringing you 12 outfits that can be worn with a genuine Panama hat.
For me, it’s the ultimate summer hat and can’t be beaten. Yes, I do love a floppy straw hat (and to be fair they ARE the best style for keeping the sun off) and even a boater or similar looks good with the right outfit, but what goes with pretty much ANY type of summer outfit?
Yep, a Panama.
It’s why older gentlemen wear them (especially to go and watch the cricket). It’s why young girls in their 20s wear them (well, I think/hope they do). It doesn’t go out of style, and if you get one of the genuine ones woven from straw [in South America], then you’ve got a hat for life.
(Just don’t get them wet or drop them in the sea as I did. Like a book if you drop it in the bath… bye-bye, Panama hat.)
[Reading time: 3 mins]
Disclosure: This blog uses affiliate links (at no cost to you). Full disclosure
I’ve included 12 outfits I’ve worn over the years with my Panama hats (I say hats plural because the sea-dropping incident meant there was a second version. And I also say “there WAS a second” because hat number two got caught on something and unfortunately got ripped. So I need to order the Genuine Panama Hat With Black Ribbon III. I also have another Panama with a different colour ribbon that will pop up as the years go on that you’ll see in the outfits below. So far it’s still dry and unripped, that one).
I HONESTLY think that a Panama works as well with a fabulous summer dress that you’re wearing to a garden party as it does with jeans and a t-shirt. (You can’t say that about a floppy straw hat.) I know that many people are just NOT hat wearers – I’m the opposite, I wear All The Hats Most Of The Time – but if you’re thinking of starting out in the hat-wearing world then I’d say star with a Panama. A genuine woven straw one with a black ribbon.
And how many hats look as good on a man as they do on a woman? Okay, so maybe they suit the likes of Anthony Hopkins or Prince Charles more than, say, Justin Bieber (sorry for the terrible “young person” reference there, but he was all I could think of).
But then, have you SEEN Viggo Mortensen in a Panama hat…?! NOW we’re talking.
Shop Panama hats:
(Or, go straight to the Panama Hat Company who do… you guessed it, Panama hats. There’s a stunning selection there.)
In case you’re wondering, the reason I say “genuine” Panama is because the best ones (best IMHO but I’m sure Panama hat aficionados would agree with me) are actually made in South America from toquilla straw. The toquilla plant (looks like a palm but isn’t a palm) is native to South America and used to weave Panama hats.
So it makes them a bit more expensive but for a classic I think it’s worth it. That’s my little bit of trivia for today for you…!
I’ll shut up now and show you my 12 outfits. Enjoy.
Are you a Panama hat kind of person, or do you think you MIGHT be (but are yet to take the plunge)? Comment below…!
Stay safe XOXO
Here they are…12 outfits to wear with a genuine Panama hat
1. With a patterned blouse, loose-fit pastel jeans and smart pointed flats
2. With layered vest tops, lightweight peg leg trousers and Stan Smiths
3. With a bold top, distressed jeans and black slip-ons
4. With a classic gingham fit n flare dress and smart pointed flats
5. With a graphic t-shirt, cotton joggers and chunky heeled sandals
6. With a vintage 80s stripe jumpsuit and sandals
7. With a denim sleeveless jumpsuit and red wedge espadrilles
8. With a pinstripe cotton sundress and red wedge espadrilles
9. With a patterned wide-leg jumpsuit and grey wedge espadrilles
10. With a black jersey jumpsuit, floral kimono jacket and metallic sliders
11. With a 90s-style strappy dress and t-shirt and flatform sandals
12. With a boho maxi dress and neutral slingbacks
Linking up to… Monday: Stylish Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Ageless Style Linkup (first Monday of the month), My Glittery Heart, On Mondays We Link Up || Tuesday: Style With a Smile, Trend Spin/Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Turning Heads Tuesday, Spread the Kindness, Confident Twosday, Happy Now Blog Link Up || Wednesday: Style Me Wednesday, WowOnWednesday || Thursday: Chic & Stylish || Friday: Neverending Style, Fancy Friday, On the Edge, Fabulous Friday, Fabulous Friday’s Link Up
I love hats and the panama hat goes perfectly with everything you featured. Great to see you back.
Author
Thank you Hilda – I think it shows that I’m a hat fan too…!!
You look so good in your genuine Panama hat. I’d love to look so chic. Unfortunately I seem to look terrible in every hat I try!
Author
Aww thank you Gail… I know it’s a lot harder to wear hats with short hair, I NEVER wore them when I had short hair. But sometimes it’s about feeling comfortable (whether you feel you look good in them) – I get that some people just aren’t comfortable in them in the same way I’m uncomfortable in shorter dresses and skirts. It doesn’t matter what anyone says, you don’t feel right in X so you feel X doesn’t suit you. And hey, that’s perfectly okay, isn’t it?!
So good to see you back in full swing Catherine and this is a great feature. With the gingham dress and striped jumpsuit, superb! I’ve always promised myself a genuine panama – now that we’ve booked a holiday at the end of the year (who knows of course whether we’ll actually get there) thank you for the prompt!!
Author
Aww thanks so much Pamela – if you can, treat yourself to a Panama anyway… it works just as well on a sunny day at home as it does on holiday! Hope you get to go away and have a lovely time 😀
I love a Panama hat during the summer months!
Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
Author
As you can probably tell… me too, Danielle!! 😉
These are all lovely. Now that I see the Panama hat worn with the black gingham dress it’s hard the picture that dress without the hat. I have a few gingham cotton dresses. I guess I need to get a Panama hat! (It will certainly be functional in Southern California!)
Author
Hehe thank you Liz… I honestly don’t think there’s a hat that would look better with it, and I own All The Hats 😉
It’s good to see you back. I’ve been away from reading blogs for a while as I’ve been diagnosed with severe depression. In fact, I’m waiting for my therapist now-LOL. But…………I want to thank you for WEARING THE HAT THE CORRECT WAY!!!! I’ve seen far too many women wearing tese hats way up on their foreheads. You are the first to truly know how to wear it! XOXOXOXO
Author
Thanks Catherine – I’m definitely back in the swing of things and have 100% got my mojo back and am back in the flow of things…! And tbh I didn’t realise anyone was wearing a Panama on the back of their heads; I mean, it looks silly if you push it back off your forehead (well it does on me, anyway)!!
You wear hats so well, Catherine! I especially love the Panama hat on you with dresses. Who’d have thought that it would look so good with a dress? I don’t wear hats very often (I’ve got two floppy ones that I wear by the pool sometimes), but my husband has a Panama hat that I just might have to pinch and experiment with after reading this!
Hugs
Suzy xx
Author
hehe thank you Suzy… my dad would agree with you, he ALWAYS compliments me when I’m wearing a hat. (And yes, go nick that Panama of your husband’s STAT!!)