Women's Designer Brimmed Hats | Which Hat is Best For You? The Complete A-Z Style Guide
Are you looking for a designer hat to suit your unique style?
With a creative eye for shape and proportion, expert milliner Karen Henriksen offers a range of playful brimmed hats, including fedora and trilby designs and some unisex styles. We cater for all head sizes from small to large.
In this Style Guide we take a closer look at each design and share Karen’s hat-wearing recommendations.
As a general guideline, if you have an oval or heart face shape, most styles will suit you. But we also have plenty of styles recommended for square and round face shapes.
Not sure what your face shape is?
Please take a look at this handy guide.
Things to keep in mind, beyond face shapes
Glasses
Glasses wearers will be glad to know that most brimmed hat styles work well with glasses.
Your Forehead
How high is your forehead? Regardless of your face shape, your forehead could be high, medium or low. This could impact your choice of hat, for example taller crowns are less suitable for low foreheads. If you do have a low forehead, look out for shorter crown styles. Higher foreheads would suit taller crown shapes.
Hair Styles
-Curly Hair: Embrace wide brims and wider fitting crowns to flatter your curls. Narrow fitting styles are less suitable.
-Straight Hair: Most hats can be worn with straight hair! In particular it looks nice tucked behind the ear(s) while wearing your hat.
-Short hair: Small brimmed trilby-style hats work well with short hair, choose a style with a short brim for an effortless androgynous look.
Our Brimmed Hats, Trilby Hats and Fedoras : Find the best style for you
Aubrey
style anatomy
Aubrey echoes the classic trilby shape with an interesting twist, using contrasting fabrics for a casual everyday hat.
Wear Aubrey straight on for a relaxed androgynous look, or wear tilted for a more feminine look - have a play with the brim to find your own style.
This is a fairly shallow fitting style with a slight taper in at the top. The silhouette is softly shaped with a reasonable amount of width.
recommended for
Oval and heart face shapes, and squarer, angular features. This hat will work for low foreheads too.
probably less suitable for
Round face shapes, or face shapes with rounder features, also very high foreheads.
See all Aubrey designs here >
Aubrey with trim
style anatomy
Aubrey echoes the classic trilby shape with an interesting twist. An androgynous style with a dandy side flourish.
This is a fairly shallow fitting style with a slight taper in at the top. The silhouette is softly shaped with a reasonable amount of width. Have a play and find your own way of wearing.
recommended for
Oval and heart face shapes, also squarer, angular features. This hat will work for low foreheads too.
probably less suitable for
Round face shapes, or face shapes with rounder features, also very high foreheads.
See all Aubrey designs here >
Bergman
style anatomy
Bergman is an unusual, asymmetric fedora style. The generous proportions echo Annie Hall’s playful gender twisting style.
A retro style with both width and height. Tailoring detail on the crown adds interest at the top.
recommended for
Longer face shapes.
Curly or wavy hair.
probably less suitable for
Smaller faces, and very round face shapes.
See all Bergman designs here >
Broadwick
style anatomy
Fedora inspired design with distinctive angled panel at the front, and a structured, square silhouette.
Flattering everyday style, with a relaxed androgynous feel.
The brim is a little wider at the sides than the front.
recommended for
Heart, oval and round face shapes.
Curly or wavy hair.
probably less suitable for
Very square face shapes.
See all Broadwick designs here >
Cavendish
style anatomy
Elegant asymmetric trilby/fedora hybrid with a refined waisted crown, this is a dapper unisex style with a well-defined outline.
Evolved from the Broadwick, the crown has a shallower fit and slimmer silhouette. It shares the same brim, wider at the sides than the front.
recommended for
Heart, oval and round face shapes.
probably less suitable for
Very high foreheads.
See all Cavendish designs here >
Corinne
A refined and elegant take on the bucket hat with minimalist detailing. This is a versatile style with a sharp finish.
The crown is quite deep-fitting with a contemporary, sloping back silhouette.
This wax cotton version will elevate a rainy walk - perfect for expolring the great outdoors in style!
RECOMMENDED FOR
Most face shapes, including longer faces.
Wear to one side if you have a heart, square or round face shape.
PROBABLY LESS SUITABLE FOR
Low foreheads.
See all Corinne designs here >
Crawford
style anatomy
Add some drama to your look with this sculpted, asymmetric fedora style.
Wear further back for a contemporary laid-back style, or more forward and tilted to channel classic Hollywood elegance. Play with the asymmetric brim to find your own way of wearing.
The tapered crown is quite close-fitting.
recommended for
Oval and round face shapes
probably less suitable for
Angular and square face shapes
See all Crawford styles here >
Denham
style anatomy
Smart unisex trilby hat inspired by 1950’s noir crime film, tailored from interesting fabrics. Unlike traditional felt trilbies, this hat is virtually uncrushable.
The crown is quite deep-fitting with symmetrical styling.
recommended for
Round, oval and heart face shapes.
probably less suitable for
Long face shapes.
See all Denham styles here >
Garbo
style anatomy
A compact everyday trilby hat with an understated retro vibe.
This hat has the same close-fitting crown with asymmetric tailoring detail as the Crawford - but made from lighter weight wool, it has a softer outline.
recommended for
Round, heart and oval face shapes.
Short hair.
probably less suitable for
Long face shapes.
See all Garbo styles here >
Greta
style anatomy
Vintage feel perching trilby style hat. Wear it angled for enigmatic Hollywood elegance.
Inspired by Greta Garbo this is a great style for instant modern glamour, with all the practicality of a soft hat but with the elegance of a couture style.
This has a shallow fit, designed to be worn a little higher on the forehead. It is held in place with an elastic, that sits at the nape of the neck.
recommended for
Most face shapes.
Round or square face shapes: wear it angled.
Curly hair.
Works great with long hair ‘up-do’ at the back.
See all Greta styles here >
Hannah
style anatomy
A versatile everyday style which comes as a rain hat or a sun hat.
The rounded shape crown has echoes of a classic bowler hat, but with flattering seam detailing.
The structured upturned wide brim has an easy and natural elegance, and is perfect for those who prefer to have their brim set in place for them.
recommended for
Angular features and square face shapes.
Long face shapes.
probably less suitable for
Round face shapes.
See all Hannah styles here >
Ilsa
style anatomy
Tall 1920’s cloche inspired style, balanced with a wide brim and a dramatic side flourish.
Wear your own way by playing with the brim.
Make a statement with Ilsa - this powerful hat will elevate a casual look or coordinate with a more formal outfit.
recommended for
Most face shapes.
High foreheads.
probably less suitable for
Long face shapes.
Low foreheads.
See all Ilsa styles here >
Ingrid
style anatomy
A versatile, easy to wear style, offering plenty of sun protection. The generous proportions have a flattering structure with a relaxed asymmetry.
If you like an upturned wide brim, this style will bring you effortless chic.
recommended for
Oval, round and heart face shapes.
Long face shapes.
Curly hair.
probably less suitable for
Square face shapes.
See all Ingrid styles here >
Lianne
style anatomy
Compact style inspired by 1950s Hollywood, with a structured down turned brim and a feminine detail to one side.
Refined and unusual but easy to wear, with its enigmatic asymmetry and elegant styling. Wear it to elevate a casual style or to complement a more formal outfit.
recommended for
Round, oval and long face shapes.
A-listers who like to hide from paparazzi.
Also works very well as sun protection.
probably less suitable for
Very square face shapes.
See all Lianne styles here >
Lorna
style anatomy
Wide rain hat with echoes of a classic Sou’wester. The crown is quite rounded with tailored detailing.
Very generous brim - wear upturned in your own unique way.
So much more elegant and unusual than a standard rain hat, perfect for exploring the great outdoors in style.
recommended for
Most face shapes.
probably less suitable for
Very small and/or round faces.
See all Lorna styles here >
Pickford
style anatomy
A cloche hat with a wide, asymmetric brim, that can be flipped up close at the back, or extended a little to increase the cloche feel.
This hat has lots of feminine flair, great for teaming with a slightly more edgy or androgynous coat or jacket.
recommended for
Oval and square face shapes.
probably less suitable for
Rounder face shapes.
See all Pickford styles here >
Sarah
style anatomy
A cloche hat with retro feel - inspired by the Bloomsbury set and the fashion of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Tailored seams, contrasting fabric and button detail to one side give this short brimmed hat a refined finish.
Comes in two styles: two tone version / leather version.
recommended for
Square face shapes or more angular features.
Short hair styles for a ‘gamine’ look
probably less suitable for
Round face shapes or more rounded features.
See all Sarah styles here >
Sedley
style anatomy
An asymmetric, unisex trilby style to wear with attitude.
Unusual design with sloping look, for a casual androgynous style.
This is one of Karen’s most long-standing designs, first created in 2010.
recommended for
Round, heart and oval face shapes.
probably less suitable for
Square face shapes and angular features.
See all Sedley styles here >