The Best Designer Hats from Bazaar’s Fashion Closet

For the fall/winter 2024 season, the Bazaar fashion team is tipping our hats to all of the designers who showed headwear in their collections. These days, hats tend to fit into one of two categories: Either they’re a functional accessory worn as a part of our outerwear uniforms, or they’re a statement piece worn to a formal event. This season, however, hats were reimagined as the new “It” accessory for day wear, meant to be styled in a way that expresses the wearer’s personality.

Not only did hats make a runway comeback this season, but celebrities gave us a head rush over viral looks with out-of-the-box headpieces. From Beyoncé (who wore cowboy hat looks throughout her Cowboy Carter promotion cycle, including this incredible ensemble at the fall Luar show) to Greta Lee (who wore a white cap with a matching head-to-toe white suit by The Row on the red carpet last fall at SCAD Savannah Film Festival), hats are showing up everywhere, and in every style.

The best part is that there’s something for everyone. Do you lean more polished and minimal? Try Altuzarra’s take on a Jackie O pillbox hat, worn with elegant monochromatic daywear that easily transitions to evening. Want to make a statement? Look to Chanel’s oversized pastel sunhats with brooches, worn with classic day-wear separates and colorful ruffled dresses.

All of the season’s best hats—from major designers as well as heritage specialty hat brands—came through the Bazaar fashion closet for our recent fall and winter print-issue photo shoots. Below I curated 25 of my favorites across six categories.

Statement Hats

Steal the spotlight with a shot-stopping topper. From Chanel’s oversized wide-brim straw hat in a perfect shade of pink to Jil Sander’s metallic mesh fringe headpiece, these bring exactly the right touch of drama. As we saw in Louis Vuitton and Chanel, they look coolest with tailored day-wear separates or flowy fall dresses.

Louis Vuitton Knit & Resillé Square Hat

Pillbox Hats

For the ladies who hat, pillboxes have resurged in a range of options that feel more modern and fun. Loro Piana and Gigi Burris put forth classic styles with new textured details, while Mains De Vapeur’s colorful range comes with a subtle built-in brim detail. Whether you wear with a monochromatic pencil-skirt-and-blazer outfit or statement long-sleeved knit dress, these are sure to give your look a polished finish.

Mains De Vapeur Après Hat

Equestrian Hats

Cowboy and equestrian hats are no longer just for Western settings—just look at Beyoncé at Fashion Week. Designer Willy Chavaria has always made the case for cowboy hats, which are a staple accessory in his collections season after season. The best ways to wear these are with elegant suiting or a midi statement dress like at Prada, for an opposites-attract approach.

Willy Chavarria Don Julio Straw Hat

New Bucket Hats

Bucket hats are often seen as a daywear accessory for the warmer spring/summer months, but this season, designers pushed the boundaries, creating evening options with crystals and feathers along with cashmere and shearling fall/winter beanie alternatives. I love the idea of wearing one of these as a statement for a night out with your favorite cocktail dress.

Brunello Cucinelli Rib Knit Bucket Hat

Brunello Cucinelli Shearling Bucket Hat

Beanies

We’re seeing beanies in a new light with new shapes and surprising details. From heavily embellished toppers to Schiaparelli’s tribute to Elsa Schiaparelli’s original shoe hat, these obscure versions make a great conversation-starter at any social function. The best part is that they look coolest with your typical uniform. Whether you’re a jeans-and-a-t-shirt girl or lean more tailored, they just work!

Louis Vuitton Knit & Resillé Square Beanie

Paperboy Hats and Berets

These streamlined, artful hats are classics, and designers are really leaning into the details that give them that much more pizzazz. Truly, what’s more glamorous that Dior’s leather beret with gold studs, or Dolce & Gabbana’s added mesh veil? I love the idea of going full-out for a statement and wearing one of these with a leopard-print coat (the new neutral for the fall!). But they would be just as chic with your favorite wool wrap or scarf coat.

Dolce & Gabbana Flat Cap with Veil

Bottega Veneta Wool Felt Hat

Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen is Harper’s Bazaar’s Senior Fashion & Accessories Editor. Outside of the office she can be found downtown with her twin sister, figure skating somewhere or on the hunt for the perfect striped top. Follow her on Instagram @jaclynalexandra