Hatsinthebelfry

All You Need is One Signature Hat

From dressy to casual, one thing remains constant - all you need to look hot for any occasion is one signature hat! What better look to take home than arguably one of the most classic of all hats, the fedora. What started as the must-have accessory for men years and years ago, is clearly the must-have fashion item for men AND women today!

My pick for your one signature hat is the Belfry Curtis. Offering a classic silhouette with a stingy brim, this signature fedora gives you a trendy look that goes from day to night with ease. What’s more - the Belfry Curtis fedora hat is one of the most affordable pieces I’ve found! At only $28.00, you will look the part without breaking the bank.

Take it from fashion icons like actor Brad Pitt and athlete Dwyane Wade who have added this signature hat to their dressy styles.

Or for a casual day relaxing on your boat or strolling through the city, follow the lead of some of Hollywood’s most fashion forward stars like P. Diddy and Zac Efron who sport their signature fedoras with casual ease.

And of course, ladies, I have not forgotten about you - a signature womens fedora looks just as good, if not better, on you than it does on men! Whether you’re looking to cover your “bad hair day” or for a stunning finishing touch to your smart attire like Victoria Beckham, this hat does it all!

-Katie

Pork Pie Hats are here to Stay

From Rude Boy Ska to Runway Couture

We’ve all seen the traditional rude boy ska style, whether your favorite bands include Reel Big Fish and The Specials or not. This fashion trend has been popular for years, but what you may not know is that this style is not just about thick rimmed glasses or thick sideburns; the essential accessory that adds the finishing touches to such a classic look is the pork pie hat.

And here’s a bit of news that may shock some of you - this casual men’s hat is now one of the hottest fashion must have accessories. As the models stepped out onto the runway earlier this year for a St. Louis fashion show, fashion headwear was the focus.

Pork pie hats provide an ultra sleek, super cool runway couture look that can easily go from day to night.

Take it from Chris Meloni, star of Law & Order SVU, who recently attended a fashion show at Bryant Park wearing a stunning gray pork pie hat.

Still don’t believe me? What if I told you this accessory has topped the head of soccer superstar David Beckham for a casual day of travel with his family?

What’s more - trendy ladies have been seen stepping out in these typical men’s hats. Fergie and Mischa Barton have been known to bend the rules before, so it’s not surprising that they’ve added pork pie hats to their funky celeb style.

Get these looks for less when you shop online at HatsintheBelfry.com. With a passion to provide the hottest styles and brands, their collection of porkpie hats is unsurpassed.

Belfry Street Butch Porkpie Hat

Belfry Street Chili Straw Porkpie Hat

It seems to me pork pie hats have sure made their mark on 2009 fashion as a trend that is here to stay. While I’m still unsure whether or not I’d wear one myself, it’s obvious for you fashion forward men and trendy ladies, these porkpie hats are a must!

-Katie

Straw Hat Day Nears, Time to put away the Felt

That’s right - Straw Hat Day is just over a week away which means it’s time to start boxing up your cold weather headwear and pulling out your spring straw hats. Usually celebrated at the ballpark, men in the stands would punch holes in their old hats and sail them out onto the field. Anyone wearing a felt hat would get his cover snatched and flung out too. And nowhere was this holiday more strictly observed than in Baltimore, the straw-hat capital of the world. A tradition dating back to the early 1900s when men wore suites and hats everywhere, from a Saturday afternoon stroll to a Sunday baseball game, today stands as true as the “no white before Memorial Day” fashion rule.

Belfry Street Barboni - Braided Straw Stingy Fedora

May 15 is the official start to your spring wardrobe, whether you’re ready with last year’s straw hats or looking to shop for this season’s hottest trends. I always trust the experts at HatsintheBelfry.com for my fashion accessories. Their passion for hats is unmatched, combining the best hat brands and designs to step out in style.

Belfry Arista - Organic Raffia Large Brim

Celebrate Straw Hat Day next Friday with men’s funky straw fedora hats or ladies straw hats from my favorite online hat store.

-Katie

Pub Caps Offer a Hip Spin on the Classic Old Man’s Hat

No one knows fashion better than A-List celebrities. I mean, let’s be honest, they pay enough for their personal stylists, so they better step out with the hottest trends of the season. That being said, it’s no wonder pub caps, or duckbill caps - the same hat known by a different name, have made their way onto the heads of fashion forward men across the globe.

Offering a young, hip spin on a traditional “old man’s hat,” stars like Ne-Yo, Usher and Brad Pitt to name a few, have paved the way for pub caps, this spring’s must have fashion accessory.

Usher made a bold statement in a sleek, all white pub cap for his album release celebrations in New York City.

To get this look for less, check out the Belfry Street Birdie - Classic Pub Cap to go with your natural style.

Ne-Yo, famous for topping off his sophisticated, urban style with trendy hats has traded in his fedoras for pub caps in recent appearances.

Add a bit of texture to your attire with the Goorin Minna Tigris - Embroidered Duckbill Cap featuring 1333 Minna’s signature satin interior lining

So where did the pub caps trend begin?

Some believe what is said to be the hottest accessory this spring started gaining popularity just over a year ago with Brad Pitt. One of Hollywood’s most respected actors and someone the ladies just can’t get enough of, Brad Pitt began selling these trendy hats for his “Make it Right” charity which aimed to build new homes for the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans.

As Pitt put his best face forward with a variety of pub caps, the popularity of this trend began to grow. Now pub caps, the more fitted version of traditional ivy caps, offer a brim with the perfect oval arch to frame your face and give you the hottest spring style.

The only question I am left with is when women are going to get an opportunity to take advantage of this hot style trend? I’m waiting for fashionistas like Alicia, Rihanna and Britney to join the men and make pub caps the universal IT accessory.

-Katie

“Murino Wool” - No, that’s not a typo…

You may have curiously looked at the Belfry Frankie - Murino Classic Snap Fedora, and wondered out loud “have these people ever heard of Spell-Check?” Well, thankfully I have (it has saved me from many, many typos before). Spell-Check has recognized “Murino” so many times that I just added it to the dictionary, because no, Spell-Check, that’s not a typo…

I’m sure many of you are familiar with Merino Wool. Wikipedia defines the Merino as “the most economically influential breed of sheep in the world, prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having the finest and softest wool of any sheep.” Because of its soft feel and fine texture, Merino Wool is used throughout the clothing industry, namely by quality retailers like Banana Republic and Express. The sweaters and coats made from this type of wool are popular because they are regarded as superior to regular wool.

The idea behind our Belfry Purple Murino Collection is just the same. When we decided to create our own line of better hats, we not only had quality in mind, but value as well. Instead of using fur felt or pure Merino Wool for our fedoras, we used the wool of sheep raised and sheared in Texas. Because of the warm Texas climate, the sheep there are sheared more often than regular sheep, ensuring that the wool is finer and softer. The wool is then brushed after it is woven, further adding to the silky soft touch and slight nap of the material.  With this process, we were able to deliver the same look, feel and quality of fur felt and Merino Wool, while still keeping the cost down and not harming any animals in the process.

The end product not only has a vintage look and incredible feel, but has a unique upbringing that you will not find in any other hat on the market. Murino has become a part of OUR dictionary, with a meaning that embodies the abstract idea behind what we are determined to bring to the fashion scene. With that said, we still think the hats speak for themselves.

- James