The 17 Best Men's Hat Styles in 2022

Hats occupy an odd place in our culture. They can be expensive custom creations, practically disposable costume toppers, or rugged utilitarian models. When worn, as they are, right on our heads, they make a statement about our personalities, our careers, or our intentions faster than any other single object of clothing and apparel. Once a required part of every gentleman’s wardrobe, since JFK was president they were kicked aside in favor of a perfect haircut. Maybe that’s for the best: Now that we aren’t required to wear them — except where obliged by a uniform or custom — we can really celebrate the medium, building hat collections suited for the seasons, our fitness activities, or as vacation mementos.

Contents

Felt or Straw Hats
Cut and Sewn Hats

Here we’ve put together a guide to some of today’s more common silhouettes, although from sun hats to sombreros, captain’s hats to flight caps, berets to balaclavas, there are so many variations and evolutions of styles we couldn’t fit them all. Picking one out can be a tough decision. Pay attention to proportion: A hat should complement your face, not hide it. Round shapes like bowlers and beanies will emphasize a rounder face, while the longer, taller lines of a fedora may complement those features better. Wider brims will exaggerate wide faces, and can make narrow faces look even thinner. Watch out for extreme styles that you may buy for fun, but only wear once or twice. Spend some time in a hat shop with an expert salesperson and a mirror. But most of all, relax and have some fun with your new friend.

Felt or Straw Hats

Although the base materials — straw and felt — couldn’t be more different, the way most common hat styles are shaped is basically the same. Straws are woven materials of everything from, well, actual wheat straw, to palm leaves to paper to polypropylene. Felt forms are made from fur — often rabbit, but beaver is considered the highest quality — or wool. Manufactured as more or less conical discs, the forms are then steamed into shape, stretched over blocks to be molded into their final silhouettes.

Fez

The simplest hat of all is probably the classic Fez or Tarboosh, a basic flat-topped cylinder, usually with a tassel attached. With its roots in the Ottoman Empire, it’s most often worn by men from Morocco (the hat takes its name from the Moroccan city). Here in the United States you might be able to pull off wearing one for fun, but in an age where cultural appropriation is frowned upon, it may be best to leave this style to the Shriners.

Boater

Now, take that basic cylindrical shape and add a brim, and you’ve got a boater. Since the fashion world is abuzz with the talk of a new “Roaring ‘20s” this Jazz Era favorite may be about to have a moment. The simple, elegant silhouette has always been a favorite for the Kentucky Derby crowd, but we also like it for summer weddings, or anytime with a pair of white jeans and a navy t-shirt.

Amish Hat

Exaggerate the proportions of the Boater a bit further and you’ll have the favorite of Amish men. Favored in black felt for winter, or straw for summer; it actually has a bit of a hipster vibe, and we’re all for the straw version’s wide brim for SPF protection.

Top Hat

Flatten the top, raise the cylinder, and decrease the brim size for the ultimate expression of formality, the classic Top Hat. Generally speaking you’ll only wear it when invited to a white-tie gala where you’ll also be required to wear a true tuxedo complete with tails. But seek out a rakish version a la Robert Downey, Jr.’s Dolittle, and you’ll be onto the perfect head gear for leading your merry troupe on an adventure, even if that escapade is an unruly night out on the town.

Bowler or Derby

The Bowler, or Derby as it was more commonly known here in the United States, is another variation on the theme: Just curl up the brim and round the top. Featured prominently in The Age of Innocence as well as A Clockwork Orange, while we think the silhouette is elegant, it’s still considered to be a bit much for anything short of a costume party. Wear it at your own risk.

Fedora

The classic Everyman hat from the 1950s, the Fedora — or it’s close cousin the Trilby — is the style we associate with Frank Sinatra, Indiana Jones, and Johnny Depp. Note that you may also come across “snap brim” descriptions, which means that the brim may be worn down or “snapped up” as a choice. Either way, you’ve got to be confident to pull off wearing a Fedora, but if you can wear it well, the style bestows an instant aura of distinction.

Panama

The straw Panama hat is the elegant summer version of the Fedora. Despite the name, the authentic style originated in Ecuador, gaining the moniker when Teddy Roosevelt made the hat famous by wearing it while touring the under-construction Panama Canal.

Pork Pie or Stingy Brim

The Fedora’s jazzier cousin, the pork pie is named for its round crown, with a flat top, but a single crease of varying severities running around the circumference of the top. These hats have had quite a ride since the ‘aughts, including a “starring role” on Bryan Cranston’s head in Breaking Bad, and might be considered a bit passé at this point. On the other hand, they’re easy to wear.

Cowboy

The cowboy hat is yet another style that can take some major cojones to pull off, but if you can, there is not another headwear choice short of a hardhat that says, “all man.” From classic styles that are rodeo-ready to rolled, distressed ones more suited for a country rock stage, the basic silhouette is really a fedora on steroids. While most forgo the peak in the front, the wider brim is designed for more effective protection from the elements.

Australian Lifeguard

Again, just one more step in the evolution, this import from Down Under takes the cowboy hat concept, widening and turning down the brim a bit more, to create what is practically a parasol for your head. The adjustable chin strap helps keep the hat in place on windy days and is also a handy keeper when you’re ready to hang it off your back after sunset.

Cut and Sewn Hats

Many of the other hats we wear are assembled in much the same way as a shirt or a pair of jeans. Fabrics are cut from patterns and then sewn together, and stiffening pieces like canvases, interfacing, or even cardboard or plastic in the case of a baseball hat’s bill.

Beanie

The knit (or crocheted) beanie probably gives the baseball cap some serious competition for the most worn hat style. Its ubiquitous form allows for a myriad of design possibilities, and, although originally more of a cool weather topper, can transcend seasons and climates. The simplicity of the style may make you think that the guy waiting for the valet to bring his lamb around is wearing the same hat as … well, the valet, but while one is cashmere, purchased from an upscale boutique; the other is a cheap viscose blend bought on the street. (Note that the Beanie may also be made from a soft cut-and-sewn material like polar fleece, flannel, or even down-filled poly.) Pom-poms on top are optional.

Bucket

While all things 1990s are having their turn in fashion’s retro wheel, the bucket hat is one that we’re welcoming gladly. It’s simple shape and construction means it’s easy to roll and stuff into a back pocket or glove box to keep it handy for protection from the sun or a light rain. Spanning classes and seasons, the style crops up in pricey designer collections and mass market stores, while fur versions keep our noggins warm in winter and cotton canvas or even performance fabrics.

Newsboy

From turn of the 19^th century street urchins to early 1970s pop icons, the newsboy cap offers the comfort of a baseball cap, but with a lot more style. Netflix’s Peaky Blinders series has given the hat a boost in popularity, but it’s roomy crown also comes in handy for stashing away out of control, longer locks. While the more traditional version is made from wool, more extravagant versions can also be had in cashmere or leather. Corduroy is also a favorite, but cotton twill or linen and cotton blends are lightweight alternatives that may find their way to the golf course.

Flat Cap

With a similar European background, the flat or driving cap has quite a history for such a simple silhouette. In 1571, the British Parliament decreed that, on Sundays and holidays, all “non-noble” males over six years of age wear woolen caps. Long after the act was repealed, the cap kept its status as the unofficial uniform of the working class. Here in the United States, it’s become a weekend go-to, with a sporty, 1970s vibe. Again, popularity for the style is further driven by period pieces like, again, Peaky Blinders, or even Downton Abbey and by celebrities like Idris Alba rocking the look.

Baseball Cap

Is there an American male who doesn’t own at least one baseball cap? Even if you’re not a fan of the national pastime, this ubiquitous silhouette has wormed its way into just about every other sport — even if only as part of the off-the-field uniform — from golf to tennis to football (well, it’s not likely that football helmets will ever be part of our everyday wardrobe). A sweetheart of the corporate premiums industry and a gold mine for licensing of all sorts, the cap has unisex appeal and, depending on fabrics or finish, can be dressed up or down. The bill itself may be flat or curved, depending on your personal style. While there are so, so many options available, we do endorse going for the ultimate expression of the style, in an actual sized version, your home team logo optional.

Snapback/Dad Hat/Trucker

See above but make it (small “d”) democratic. There is something appealing about one size fits all, especially when it’s adjustable so it actually might fit the whole team (or department, school, etc.). Another 1990s throwback, the Snapback was elevated to style icon when it was adopted by hip-hop entertainers. The Dad Hat version is more likely to be made from a washed-down cotton or cotton-like fabric, and the curved brim is pretty much a must. This normcore favorite should also have the nerdy Velcro adjustable strap in the back or a simple slide. Finally, the Trucker is like the silicone implanted Doppelgänger of the baseball cap, featuring a foam-supported crown section that will retain its shape through just about anything a monster truck rally can throw at it, with a mesh rear section to keep things cool and dry.

Trapper

While the classic trapper may conjure some comic moments — Elmer Fudd’s “Be very, very quiet,” or “… I guess that was your accomplice in the woodchipper,” from the movie Fargo — for those who venture into the cold, there is really no substitute. European fur trappers, who hunted the frozen territories of North America for beaver, originally wore the hats, using their handy ear flaps to ward off freezing temperatures and chilling winds. On warmer days, voila, the flaps can be tied up over the head and out of the way. Sherpa editions were later adopted by WWI pilots to for missions that took them high into the subzero atmosphere. These days softer, more luxurious fur linings, not to mention faux, vegan-friendly alternatives make the hat a favorite of both urban hipsters, outdoor enthusiasts, and supermodels alike.

The 17 Best Men’s Hat Styles in 2022