Hats

Back to women's accessories, this time hats. I like the idea of hats, but always thought that they didn't really suit me, and I tended to wear them just for fun, or as head protection in bad weather, rather than as serious fashion statements. I think you'll agree that I don't look my best in these examples from 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016:

I consider these hats - seen here worn in 2015 and 2016 - to be credible wear for cold conditions. But only for that:

Over the years, I accumulated a series of pictures of myself larking about in all kinds of daft hats. Here's a selection from 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015:

As you can see, it was often an hilarious experience! One or two of those hats weren't complete jokes. I rather liked the one I was wearing at Cragside in Northumberland (third picture down, just above), and the cheeky hat I put on in Kirkcaldy Art Gallery in Scotland (fifth down).

More recently, in 2016, this hat of a local friend, though not quite 'me', got me thinking that I could get away with wearing something on my head that looked half-decent:

  

And then, the other day in Canterbury, I spotted this black sun hat by Bronté in the Fenwick department store:

I was with my cousin Rosemary. She thought it looked very good on me. I bought it.

Well, does it work? Here's a few very recent shots of myself with said hat on. Personally, I reckon it looks the best of all of them, but whether it really adds charm and allure is debatable. However, it's comfortable to wear, certainly does well as a sun hat, doesn't compress my hair, and won't blow off in the wind (I've sewn in a thin elastic chin strap for windy conditions):

One person I was eating with last weekend thought it looked a bit like a witch's hat. Hmm. I see what they mean. Oh well, my cousin Margaret - an ace genealogist - did discover a sixteenth-century witch in the family. I'm probably a modern reincarnation!