If there’s one thing I love about fashion, it’s the fact that what goes out must surely come back. In other words, trends never leave the scene entirely. They’re always recycled to return better than their earlier emergence. It’s the same for bucket hats.
This accessory seems to top the list of pop culture fashion. From the runway down to the street and even on social media, celebrities, style influencers, and random individuals pull off bucket hat outfits.
If you haven’t tried out this accessory, you should already.
Besides shielding you from the harsh rays of the sun as any hat does, this hat also adds more dose of style to your outfits.
This guide will show you how to accessorize any type of outfit with a bucket hat. You’ll also learn more about the accessory and see how to rock it like you just came off the catwalk.
Let’s dive in.
A Peek into the Bucket Hat Accessory
This headwear is also known as fisherman hat, session cap, or Irish country hat. Its names come from its shape which features a soft top that can be folded and a wide, downward-sloping brim.
The accessory was first conceived in the 1900s as a lightweight, portable form of protection for farmers and fishermen who worked outdoors. These hats could easily be folded into a pocket. And their main purpose was to serve as protection from the rain.
As written on Studio Courtenay’s blog:
“The downward sloping brim meant rain ran straight down and away from their face. It was then repurposed during the Vietnam war as a means of protecting soldiers’ necks from burning in the sun, and made of a lightweight cotton to help keep their heads cool.”
Afterward, these hats became a part of mainstream fashion from the 60s to the 90s. And celebrities weren’t left out in its adaptation.
For instance, rappers like Big Bank Hank of Sugar Hill Gang wore one during a performance of “Rapper’s Delight” on the TV show Soap Factory in 1979. This resulted in a new movement for the bucket hat.
As Andrea Cheng, Writer at CR Fashionbook, noted:
“It promptly launched a phenomenon, spurring others to embrace the hat, including Run-DMC in 1984 (the group’s headwear collection was so extensive, they were never seen without a bucket, a fedora, or a panama hat perched atop their heads), LL Cool J in 1985 (like who could ever forget his red Kangol bucket hat), and Jay-Z in 2000.”
Andrea Cheng
Bucket hats weren’t just a major part of ’90s hip-hop fashion. Today, this hat still hasn’t left the scene. While designers are adding it to their collections, celebrities like Rihanna, Cardi B, etc., are taking them off the runway, further solidifying the trend.
We’ve also seen variations from the regular cotton fisherman hats to include Adire, faux fur, leather, transparent PVC, plastic, crocheted, and jeans hats.
While the headwear is often worn with streetwear outfits, it also looks good with other wears as you’ll soon find out.
How to Wear a Bucket Hat
Just got this headwear or you’re planning to? Here are the best ways to style it:
1. Wear a Dress
If you love to wear dresses of any type, this option is for you. You can go for a floral print dress, a mini dress, midi dress, or maxi dress. You can as well make it bodycon or flared if you want.
The good thing is bucket hats suit every type of casual dress regardless of its fittings.
2. Pull off a Monochromatic Ensemble
Whether it’s an all-white ensemble or an all-black ensemble, it’ll look great when you add a fisherman hat to your look.
This ensemble can be anything from suits to co-ords, tracksuit, etc.
3. Go Streetwear
This is the go-to outfit for this accessory.
Whether you wanna rock a pair of jeans and tee or sweatpants, joggers, cargo pants, jacket, tracksuits, etc., you’ll always look great with a fisherman hat.
4. Make it Afro-urban
Afro-urban fashion is a blend of Afrocentric fashion and streetwear. It involves fusing African fabrics such as Ankara, kente, Adire, etc., with ready-made street style.
Afro-urban pieces paired with a bucket hat are a super stylish combo you shouldn’t miss out on.
On the other hand, If you don’t wanna pair your jean or cotton bucket hat with an afro-urban ensemble, why not wear an afro-urban hat instead?
This could be any fisherman hat made with African textiles. Or better still go for Adire bucket hats. The tie-dye design is unique and topping trends.
5. Try a Reversible Bucket Hat
This is a two-in-one option. Instead of buying one more fisherman hat, invest in a reversible one.
It’ll come in handy when you wanna switch up your look without repeating the same hat.
6. Layer Your Outfit
This hat also looks great with a blazer, jean jacket, coat, sweater, or any outerwear you wanna use to layer your outfit.
Feel free to try it out this bucket hat outfit idea the next time you’re dressing up.
7. Wear a Miniskirt or Shorts
Don’t just flaunt your fine thighs with your mini skirt or shorts. Grab on a session cap too.
It helps to accentuate your look and give you more stares of admiration.
8. Still Accessorize
I know your bucket hat is an accessory. But wearing it doesn’t mean you should forgo other add-ons.
So, wear your wristwatch, earrings, necklace, bracelet, etc. If you wanna add a pair of socks to your sneakers, go ahead. And if you prefer to rock it with a pair of formal shoes for men and women, there’s no problem at all.
Bucket hats are no discriminator of persons. They suit everybody.
