The most formal garment made specifically for men is the suit. We will focus on the various hats to wear with suits as a result of the abundance of options in the current market.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the hottest and trendiest hat styles to pair with suits and formal wear. Keep reading!
10 Best Hats to Wear with Suits
Here are 10 popular hats you can wear with suits.
1. Flat Cap
Flat caps, also known as beanies or driving caps, are short, soft hats worn by men of all ages in cool weather. Flat caps are usually made of wool material such as tweed or donegal and usually have a wide band (also called a crest) around the circumference. They can be customized for formal and informal use.
Flat caps first became popular in Britain during World War I, when soldiers used flat caps for practical purposes; however, decades after their revelation on James Bond’s head, they became popular worldwide gained popularity within.
Today, flat caps are often paired with business attire for an elegant look. Even if you’re just shopping at Walmart or Tesco, these kinds of items can make you look like an MI6.
2. Trilby
Trilby is a fedora-style hat with a small brim and an elegant design. This design makes it a great choice for men who want a hat to match a suit. If you want variety, you’ll need more than one, but it works with almost any color suit, especially dark suits in blue, gray, or black. It probably won’t go with every outfit, but chances are you’ll use it for almost any semi-formal occasion. You can wear this hat anywhere as long as your tie isn’t too fancy (or bright).
While its versatility gives it an advantage over some other types of hats, there are many other attractive options worth considering.
3. Newsboy Caps
This traditional men’s hat dates back to 1860. The crisp look of the newsboy cap is perfect for more formal events, while its three-quarter length lets you show off your suit and tie.
These hats are available in a variety of colors, so you can easily find one that matches your suit and tie (or even your belt) at most department stores and stores like H&M or Zara.
4. Pork Pie Hat
A pork pie hat is a soft, flat-brimmed felt hat, usually with a rounded top and a thin strap. During Prohibition, the style became popular in the United States, replacing top hats for a time as the headwear of choice for the upper class.
The classic look is perfect for pairing with a classic or vintage suit. This hat is best for those with short hair that goes below the ears but is not too long.
If you decide to wear a pork pie hat in your suit, you can also try adding some counter-cultural elements to your outfits, like cufflinks or necklaces, to complete an overall laid-back look.
You may also want to wear more loafers so you don’t overdress as you’ll be pairing fancy shoes with casual wear. Several celebrities have made this hat quite popular, including Ben Affleck, Gene Hackman, Clark Gable, and John F Kennedy.
It’s also a popular style choice for many famous musicians, including Bob Dylan and Slash. If you’re looking for a way to add classic elegance to your business attire, you can’t go wrong with a pork pie hat and suit!
5. Fedora
The fedora is a narrow-brimmed hat popularized in the 1950s by gangsters and “mouse gangs”. Today, the style has evolved into a sleeker, more sophisticated accessory. Fedora hats are suitable for both formal and informal occasions and can even be paired with casual clothing.
Today’s styles include fur felt, wool felt, and straw. The choice of material comes down to your personal preference, but also keep in mind that different materials suit different seasons.
Many people think that a Tribby and a fedora are the same, but that’s not entirely true. The difference is that Trilby looks plump, while the fedora looks elegant.
Related Post: How To Wear A Fedora?
6. Homburg
This hat style is a bit longer than most hats and has a wider brim on one side. The narrow brim of the hat should always be facing up, which is ideal for men who prefer both colors.
The homburg has a similar brim size to a fedora, but with few changes and a deeper top. As with the fedora, it looks best with a coat and top coat but can be worn without it.
In the US, it is common for men to wear a homburg hat with a suit. Make sure your clothes fit well; if you choose to do so, avoid anything that is baggy or wrinkled. You know, you look more like a businessman than an aristocrat!
7. The Boater
There are so many versions of flat-brimmed hats, but if you’re a typical person, why not choose a navy or black boat? They go well with light-colored suits. Wear it when you want to look like you just stepped out of an old sailing magazine. It dates back to the early 19th century and is characterized by a long shape and a wide crown. In the past, men dressed to protect their necks from sunburn and their eyes from the sun when they were dressed on hot summer days. These days, however, most people rock these bad boys in yacht races and regattas.
8. Panama
The Panama hat can be traced back to Peru in the mid-18th century. Manuel Espinosa is said to have invented it after he lost a straw hat from a ship on his way back from a trading expedition. He brought a new type of fabric back to Panama (hence his name) and used them to make hats similar to his lost hat designs.
These hats have become so popular that they are exported from Panama around the world. It has since become a popular fashion item for celebrities and business people.
As such, it’s a great addition to any men’s wardrobe, especially for those who prefer a high-quality wool suit with a rugged look.
9. Bowler
The bowling cap is a classic hat that dates back to England in the 1850s. It is a status symbol that was once considered a must-have for men. They’re less common now, but still, look great with a suit. Pair one of these with pinstripes for a retro look.
In cooler weather, wear a fedora or newsboy hat with jeans and boots for more casual occasions like the bar or lounging in the yard in summer. If you decide to rock a bowler, we recommend choosing one with a suit, rather than rocking it next to a cowboy.
As for color, choose dark shades like navy or black. If you’ve bought a white suit that’s trendy right now, make sure your suit matches well! Bowlers look best when worn on their heads just above eye level; they also won’t compliment your face shape if you tilt them towards your chin or forehead.
10. Top Hat
You can’t talk about hats that go with a suit, let alone a classic top hat! Available in different varieties (small fringe version or large fringe, oversized version), it can be easily paired with any suit. Celebrities like John F. Kennedy, Fred Astaire, Jimi Hendrix, etc. made this hat very famous. This is one of your best bets and it has been since 1850!
You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t recognize when they see a top hat.
Tips for Wearing a Hat With a Suit
- Choose the appropriate hat style.
Needless to say, not every hat fits into a suit. While your ball cap may match the color of your bouquet, tie, or pocket square, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s formal enough to qualify. Remember that suits are usually formal, which means that the hat you choose should have some degree of etiquette to match your suit.
The best choices for hats to match with suits are fedoras, trilbies, yarmulkes, and pork pie. All of them have a sophisticated sense of fashion that has stood the test of time, and they have many ties to older, classic looks that make them perfect to wear on your head when you’re wearing a suit.
Pork pie in particular, which offers a sharp, understated option that can really stand out from the crowd, is one of many comeback hat styles.
- Coordinate colors between hats and suits.
It’s one of the most obvious tips on this list, but it’s a little darker than picking a black pork pie hat to go with your black tuxedo or a brown fedora to go with your brown suit. For example, if you are going to wear a hat with a chin strap, this gives you the opportunity to double coordinate.
If you’re wearing a black suit with lilac square pockets, consider finding an identical lilac for your hat strap. This will add more elegance to your outfit.
- Consider texture
Then again, it depends in part on what kind of hat you choose, but a linen hat paired with a linen suit will coordinate your outfit perfectly and keep you cool at outdoor events like a beachfront wedding.
The right texture will really determine the fit between your hat and suit, so take some time to think about texture while considering various hat styles to pair with your suit.
Keep a comb in your suit pocket. If you’re going to a formal event like a wedding, you might find yourself dancing or needing to take off your hat at some point in the evening. Carrying a comb in your pocket will ensure you look neat with or without a hat.
Conclusion on Hats to Wear With Suits
If all these funky hat styles make you feel inappropriate, you’re not alone! Hats, in general, are on the rise, and there are sure to be more and more trendy hats at formal events.
Don’t get behind the trend! Be sure to grab a stylish hat ahead of your next big event!
FAQs
Can You Wear a Hat With a Suit to a Wedding?
Not only is it okay to wear a hat to a wedding, but a wedding is one of the few places where wearing a hat won’t cause raised eyebrows.
What Color Hat to Wear With Suit?
Hats in shades of white, light grey, beige, and very light brown go well with black suits.
Can You Wear a Flat Cap With a Suit?
Despite what you call it, the flat cap is easier to pull off than a fedora and looks better with a suit than a snapback.
