Best Mens Fashion Hats For 2021

Column:CAP Time:2021-05-07 Author: Nana Kodjo Otabil Browsing volume: 2825
shared:
In the world of menswear, 2020 saw the maximalism of the 2010s officially meet its twilight. Yet, rising up out of this is an appreciation for classic, timeless heritage styles.

Best Mens Fashion Hats For 2021


In the world of menswear, 2020 saw the maximalism of the 2010s officially meet its twilight. Yet, rising up out of this is an appreciation for classic, timeless heritage styles. Workmanship holds greater weight, as do versatility and materials. As such, the clothes you purchase today aren’t meant to be flash-in-a-pan trends and, instead, should deliver greater longevity.

Accessories like hats get grouped in with this arc. Reflecting this pattern, men’s hat trends for 2021 are expected to pick up from this classic foundation. Beyond just the construction and materials, an appreciation for heritage design offers a partially nostalgic perspective – one that not only looks fondly at but appreciates the practicality of headwear from the first half of the 20th century.

Whether you’re an avid hat collector or someone just starting to experiment with headwear, here’s what should be on your radar for the upcoming year:



Anything Made from Wool


For a couple of decades now, performance materials have been associated with synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon and spandex, treated for flexibility, water repellency or warmth. That said, older materials – among them, tweed and wool – have not just been getting more attention for their heritage appeal but also for the natural properties.

Wool particularly does double duty. In winter, the fibers hold onto body heat without adding extra weight, and by summer, wool helps with controlling moisture and odor. Just as peacoats experienced a resurgence for this reason, wool as a hat material is experiencing greater demand for these aspects.




Fedoras


On the subject of wool, fedoras package the three-season material into a structured, classic form that’s fairly accessible due to its versatility. As with all men’s dress hats, a structured shape with a mid-width brim and dented crown define the fedora, allowing it to frame the user’s face or add angles. A wider brim extends its usage, providing a greater degree of sun protection without compromising style in a world where skincare takes greater priority than it used to.




The Bucket Hat


The bucket hat derives from a classic fisherman’s style while offering a less-structured, almost floppy appearance that covers the wearer’s face.

The late 2010s could be characterized as a love of all things 1990s, and while particular retro-based trends have come and gone, the bucket hat remains an essential not just for its old school dance music connotations but for its ease of wear and style.




Berets and Flat Caps


Headwear purists will note that these are two distinct styles, and we definitely agree. For 2021, however, their resurgence comes from the same place: casual, informal hats with classic roots that provide an alternative to the ball cap.

Here, the beret has a structured base that fits on or to the side of the wearer’s head. Just as with many menswear trends, its roots go back to the civilian adoption of military style. A flat cap, by contrast, provides a greater degree of versatility due to a wedge shape and structured bill that can be worn in front or turned in back. Both last saw their heyday in the early to mid-’90s, so a revival is par for the course.




Panama Hats


At least in menswear spheres, 2021 is predicted to be all about the hat – from the style to its more practical wear. Come summer, your wool-based headwear might retain too much body heat, so it’s time to change up materials without compromising your tastes.

The Panama hat, styled with the same silhouette as a traditional fedora, fills this role precisely with a body made of toquilla palm straw for a lightweight sensation and greater breathability.




Six-Panel Cap


On the subject of classic style, we’ve seen various iterations of the ball cap return in recent years, be it trucker caps over a decade ago, snapbacks through streetwear or the unstructured, faded appearance of the dad cap meant to evoke nostalgia.

With a return-to-form ethos predicted for 2021, the traditional six-panel cap – partially structured, with a loop or strap adjustment in the back – presents a more timeless perspective that will be a staple of your wardrobe for years to come.



*

Ready to up your hat game for 2021? Find an expansive and varied array of men’s hats at Hats in the Belfry, including from our own American- and Italian-made in-house brands and the rest of our quality, curated selection. Explore it today.