HATS ON Snapbacks vs fitted caps
Snapbacks made their name during the 1950s and have since stood the test of time, especially in Bangladesh. Despite a resurgence in popularity during the hey-days of Run DMC and Grandmaster Flash during the 80s and then during the East Coast/West Coast hip-hop beefs of the early 90s, snapbacks are now seen as more Old School than in.
Baseball caps, also known as 'fitted caps' have now taken over. While most headgear's popularity depends on ramp trends, caps rely on sports stars and rappers to determine their "fashionability". Since the Slim Shady-Allen Iverson days and so on from 2000, fitted caps took over and it has stayed that way since. However, those that do prefer snapbacks or strapbacks, it's acceptable in the winter but come summer, it's time to turn to truckers, which are like snapbacks but with mesh and foam instead of the sweat thirsty cotton.
All kinds of these caps can be found in huge numbers in New Market and Farmgate Hawker's market, ranging from Tk.80-220. Make sure to bargain. For a larger collection, Bongo Bazaar in Dhaka has the answer.
Berets, beanies and bowlers
All three are no-no's unless you can scrounge up a complementary outfit. Unlike caps and hats that fall under casual and formal respectively, berets, beanies and bowlers are difficult to execute. The easiest to sport from the three are the beanies, but even then it's a fine line between playful and pauper.
Loose fitting rags can pull off beanies, while berets require not only the right outfight but also the right build and look. We are thinking turtle necks at this point.
Women can pull off a beret easier, wearing it loose with jeans and a loose T-shirt or sweater having complementary dark shades. Beanies can work in the same manner. Bowler hats on the other hand should just be kept far away. Beanies are available widely all around. Men should opt for tight-fitting beanies while any woman can pull off dainty and desirable with loose-top beanie.
Hat on Hat
Just focusing on hats can throw up numerous options but in Bangladesh the options are less and thus easier to choose from. Cat's Eye has a large collection of Santana's. Different from top hats and resembling the famous Stacy Adams more than anything, these hats ooze class and fashion. Best worn when going black and with a vest, matching or otherwise, it's your headgear that can lead to turning heads. While such hats should never be worn when casual, it's also prudent to colour co-ordinate even in semi-formal or semi-casual.
Top hats, pure ones, are best reserved for full formal appearance. The Fedoras should be left to the ladies, at least this season, along with leather caps and newsboy caps. In the summer, all can be shared among the genders. The reason is, given the types of layers that are about, it's easier for the ladies to pull off with what they wear than the men. Such hats are also available in large numbers in Bashundhara City and range from Tk.500 upwards.Don't forget the cowboy hat as well, which remains ever present.
So there you have it. Keep this guide in mind and help revive a fashion that we are being deprived of. Check out Doors and Cat's Eye, with their extensive hat collection priced from 1100 tk and upwards! Hats off to a hats on revolution.
Model: Nahid and Farhan
Hats: Cats Eye and Doors
Wardrobe: Models' personal
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BRIMMING WITH STYLE
Be it the deerstalker made famous by Sherlock or the Mad Hatter's top hat, headgear have made their impact felt in all spheres of life. With the rebels sporting fitted caps and the elites donning sophisticated top hats, head gears have often been more than mere style statements; they also have their own identities, with each standing for a rank and place in the social ladder or just as a social statement.
With winter spreading its chills in all places uncovered, it's time to bring back hats in style in Bangladesh. Why let everyone else have all the fun? With so many styles to choose from, this week Star Lifestyle zeroes in on the cream of the crop, in the world of headwear, and tells you what's hot and what's not. For more see centre.
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed, Model: Nahid, Hats: Cats Eye, Wardrobe: Nahid's personal
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