Shop Your Closet / Reader Q: Baseball Hats! (And Other Hat Baby-Steps)

Reader Question:

Hi Ain't No Mom Jeans --

I love reading your blog, and I have a burning fashion question. In recent years my eyes have become super sensitive, and I find myself wearing a baseball hat with sunglasses almost every time I have to stand outside for a long time. I'm thinking there has to be a cuter way to shield my eyes, but I'm a little bit afraid of a fashion statement hat. Any hat suggestions to stand in for my sloppy baseball hats?

thanks!!

- ali. (bay area, CA)

 

 

Answer:

Ali - Thanks for writing in!  Baseball hats are so crazy-relevant right now that I say, keep wearing 'em!  Seriously!  Want some inspiration?  Try this...

 

(photo credits, clockwise from top left:  J.Crew | Style Activist | Sartorialist for Style.com | Philly Weekly Style Blog)

 

Personally, I'm kinda loving the look of keeping your hair down with the cap (like that cutie in the glasses), or in a low, messy pony (like the J.Crew image above).   I'll bet a romantic half-up/half-down do' would work also. 

Here's my take:

 (wearing: Levi's denim leggings, Frye Carmen 3 strap boots, J.Crew factory chambray shirt, J.Crew sweatshirt, Anthropologie poncho)

See that "C"?  It's for the Coopertown Padres, Mamas.  

You're lookin' at the newest little slugger on the Coopertown Padres.  

 

T-ball for four year olds?  HYSTERICALLY ADORABLE.  I mean seriously:

It's not even fair how stinkin' cute they are.

But I'm getting distracted, Mamas.  Please bear with me - this is our first year doing (semi) organized sports.  I'll be less obnoxious next year.  I hope. 

Back to Ali!!  And hats!!  We're talking hats!!   And if I recall correctly, Ali was hoping for some additional suggestions.  Hat baby-steps, if you will.  Not a fashion statement hat.  So we'll save this one for later:

(photo credit: gaetano navarra)

Next summer, Ali.  Next summer.

But for this summer, you could try a military-inspired cap.  They are a slightly more fashion-y (wow - really?) version of the baseball cap.  One of my BFF's, Sarah, always looks both casual and chic in hers.  Luckily, I found a pic from last summer:

Isn't she cute?  Love that girl.

Lastly, you've gotta try a fedora.  Especially in straw.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy or special, and I typically wear mine with comfy old jeans.  Ah - I found a pic:

(wearing: Gap destroyed boyfriend jeans, woven Sperrys, Stylemint tee, Salt sunnies, straw fedora from Kohls)

For more summer hat inspiration, check out M's article on Homesteading Style (she featured some seriously chic, sun-blocking hats) or last year's article Summer Hat Picks to Wear Now and Into Fall. 

Ali, thanks again for writing in!  And stay tuned - I have a feeling we'll be doing a hat roundup at some point....

xo,

S