We know that the wide brimmed felt floppy is part of every fashionistas wardrobe today but did you know this is not the first time this iconic fashion statement has been reverred?
1970’s Resurrection
The big floppy hat was uniform for the hippie-girl crowd in the 1960s, but when actresses and style icons Faye Dunaway and Bridget Bardot began wearing soft, solid-color felt, face-framing styles in the 1970s, big floppy hats took on a sexy flair.
Bridget Bardot style
White floppy hats became popular with women walking down the aisle in the 1970s, including celebrity-brides Bianca Jagger and Farrah Fawcett. Adorned with pretty ribbons or lace and made of lightweight fabrics ranging from felt to straw to let the soft lighting shine through, this change in headwear marked the modern women’s alternative to the tradiotonal white veil.
From Veil to Floppy
Fast forward to the wedding of this decade to celebrity couple George Clooney and Amal
Alamuddin. Amal immortalised again the wide brim hat as part of the modern bridal wardrobe.
Weddings of Amal Alamuddin 2014 and Bianca Jagger 1971
Floppy hats in pale pastels and embellished with silk flowers were paired with floral cotton dresses for garden parties. Wide bands of grosgrain ribbon and subtle hints of tulle gave a classy look to floppy hats paired with linen suits for lunch with the ladies. The big floppy hat ultimately became de riguer as a 1970s fashion essential. Movies like “Love Story” with Ali Mcgraw had audiences falling in love with her hat fashion. The floppy hat and maxi dress became part of the uniform worn by the robotic queens of conformity in the 1975 film “The Stepford Wives.”
Fashion Revival
The love of 70’s has made a steady resurrgance since the millenium, showcased by popular TV show – That 70’s Show & celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe who is often photgraphed wearing large brimmed floppy hats or knitted caps from that area.
Brixton – Celebrating the Music Festival Cutlure
The re-birth of the music festival where the youth-inspired travel across country to reach farms or deserts, stake their camp site and dance for days to scores of famous bands has also inspired the rise of the new boho-chic phenomena which inturn has inspired hat brands like Fallen Broken Street, Goorin Bros, and Brixton to create the perfect headwear.
Reminescent of the wonderful women of 70’s music, think Joni Mitchell, Carly Simmon, Janis Joplin, Aretha Fanklin, Stevie Nicks, Tina Turner and Diana Ross many of whom had their first big break at a 70’s music festival, fashion today is now looking back happlly to their style and celebrating their love of soft, flowing, natural Eastern and artisan inspired couture including headwear.
Carly Simon – musician and 70’s fashion icon.
Season Must-Have:
Our fashion trending hat brands have offered us an amzing array of felt floppys this season making it a diffucult but fun decision choosing the right one for you. The choice is incredible so if its as simple as colour or price lets show you some hats that may just fit all your styling requirements:
JENDI – BRAID FELT FLOPPY
Recap the boho look and feel with this gorgeous felt floppy hat from Jendi.
The multi colour braid brand around the crown gives the solid hat colour a 70’s twist and a fashionable update.
Available in 3 colours, black, wine and mushroom.
RIGON – CATRIONA FEDORA
Catriona, a stunning felt fedora is right on the mark for this season’s fashion must-haves.
Catriona is a beautiful fitting wide brim fedora with co-ordinating ribbon trim.
Available in colours black, cream and rose.
KOORINGAL LADIES – WIDE BRIM – SANTA CRUZ AQUA
Add a little colour and a lot of sun protection with Kooringal’s gorgeous wide brim floppy – Santa Cruz.
Available in aqua and navy.
BRIXTON – DALILA HAT
The Dalila is a medium floppy brim felt hat with a grosgrain band. Beautifully crafted as all Brixton’s headwear this fashionable floppy style gives a relaxed fit and look.
Available in colours grey and black.
Source : http://thehatstore.com.au/blog
The Hat Store 