Fall 2012 Trend: Hats
Photos: Imaxtree
Looks from the Donna Karan, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors Fall 2012 Shows
So you're not a hat person? Smooth down your hair because if the designers at Fashion Week have anything to do with it, that's about to change. Oversized floppy toppers, tight military chapeaus, furry Zhivago-esque accessories—there's something for everyone.
Marc Jacobs' storybook-inspired range conjured up images of a certain doctor—Suess, anyone?—with his slouchy pilgrim silhouettes, that is, if the children's author spent some time on the Mayflower. But this was no Crucible-like austerity: fuzzy textures and a variety of colors showed these are not meant to be taken seriously.
Meanwhile, the designer took a different approach to Marc by Marc Jacobs with a more buttoned-up, streamlined crew of toppers. The pervasive combat boots showed the audience the models meant business, and military at that. The drum hats and Army-inspired numbers are good for the revolutionary sorts.
Fancy a more utilitarian look? Yigal Azrouël's enormously lush fur hats had a romantic, Bolshevik feel. But temperatures that cold dictate something more than a mere beanie. So they were large and in charge. The big, furry look was repeated on the runway again as Michael Kors showed off his take on "rugged elegance." The first designer to become an IPO never met a fur he didn't like, so it was no surprise that he, too, looked to the animal kingdom for accessory inspiration. Evidence? Pairing a black strapless dress with a luxurious black hat. Well, they do say you lose almost 50 percent of your body heat through your head…
Perhaps Tommy Hilfiger is as invested in Lady Mary and Cousin Matthew's will-they-won't-they relationship as we are, because refined equestrian tailoring—familiar to Downton Abbey lovers—was on the designer's mind. Riding helmets with a menswear feel straight out of the stables took to the runway. Paired with riding boots and cinched double-breasted coats, the looks are absolutely equine, without any of the uncomfortable hay shoveling.
On the more ladylike end of the sartorial spectrum, Donna Karan included Stephen Jones-designed hats, just perched just north of each model's temple. The chapeaus look precarious, but the look is anything but delicate.
So come next Fall, get used to a bit of hat hair. We'll all be covering up.
