WAR OF WORDS: YES OR NO TO FLOPPY HATS?

From time to time, I write for the fashion section of my University’s newspaper. Recently I wrote a little ‘yes’ piece on why I love the floppy hat trend, and why I think you should too. The ‘no’ side of things was written by Lucy Snowden, and you can check out the original article here.

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YES: 

There’s a reason why bloggers, campus trend setters and ‘It’ girls can’t get enough of the floppy hat trend, and that’s simply because it looks GOOD. Brigitte Bardot et al were rocking them in the 70s golden days, all tousled hair, pouty lips and an undeniable sense of power, and now fashionistas everywhere are commanding the same attention with these wonderful felt toppers. First things first, hats are a tragically overlooked accessory – the distant cousins of shoes and handbags – which means that popping one on instantly adds a little something special to your OOTD. At this point in March, bundling yourself up in coats and scarves in an attempt to keep warm is growing a little old and if your wardrobe is  looking a bit lacklustre, the floppy hat is the easiest way to inject instant chic into your look. If you’re a bit like me when it comes to 9am lectures (perpetually late no matter how many times your alarm tone squawks) then the FH is your new best friend. Feeling a bit worse for wear and no time for repair work? Peek out from under the brim of a floppy hat. Terrible hair day and run out of Batiste? Throw on your hat with the knowledge that your secret is safe. The floppy hat is a versatile beauty and it can be used to finish off almost any outfit, making it the lazy fashion lover’s dream.

NO: 

A few quick questions: why would you choose to wear something that ruins your chances of a good hair day, becomes a source of embarrassment if blown off in the wind and potentially impairs your vision (depending on the size of the brim)?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty keen on the floppy hat trend, or at least the idea of it. I look at the street style sections in magazines where fashionistas have been snapped, effortlessly rocking the floppy hat. However, the issue I have is the reality of actually trying it out. Hats in general inflict quite a lot of fashion anxiety on me, with the age old issue of hat hair filling any vain twenty-something with the dread of discovering their perfect outfit can be ruined with just a poor choice of head attire.

Then there’s the dilemma of what to do with in once you get inside; you risk looking slightly ridiculous if you leave it on, but where’s the much needed hat rack if you fancy taking it off? Another fear is that if you make any sudden head movements there’s a genuine risk of whacking someone in the face with, the oh-so-stylish, but dangerously wide brim.

I think the best way to brave this trend is with bags of fame and fortune; however, for those of us who don’t live in New York, and instead frequent Newcastle University’s campus, the floppy hat should be left alone; it does not belong here.

What's your opinion?

Sara x