Hats off to the weather

As if we needed another reason to love the sunshine, one of my favourite reasons is that I have every excuse not to wash my hair.  For a start I can't, as if I do, you can see my hair from space.  Monica in the Caribbean has nothing on me.  But then there's the sweaty head... Sweaty AND dry and coarse and verging on its own postcode is just cruel. 

A hat is the answer.  I love love love a hat in the Summer.  I've never *quite* mastered (actually there's no quite about it - I mean *haven't remotely*) the hat in the Winter bar a wooly hat and that's not entirely lunch out appropriate (assuming it's not pelting down with snow).  A mission for this Autumn right there then. 

But in the meantime, I am on a hat mission.  

Summer hats - as well as being ridiculously useful for disguising a rough head of hair are also fabulously functional.  Sensible sentence from me now which isn't something you hear v often.  They protect your hair from the sun (mine is probably beyond any form of protection - I genuinely am one hair cut off wig) but perhaps more importantly, they protect your skin.  

I have turned into that person, only a couple of years ago I thought was a lame dullard.  I don't put my face in the sun at all.  Chanel fake tan on the face has been my saviour.  And when I'm feeling the need for a bit more of a glow, I whack a slick of the Cocoa Brown Dark mousse.  I am browner within an hour than I would be from sitting in the sun for two days. 

Is anyone else a Summer hat convert?

I currently have a couple - one from Fat Face which is older than my 7yr old and still going strong - and one I bought two years ago from Zara Men. 

Which leads me onto my next issue.  Yes folks, I am back in the men's department as I have a massive bonce.  Big headed, that's me.  To be fair, at 5ft 10, if I had a normal sized head, I would look frankly odd, but it does mean that unless the hats come in different sizes (Very Large being one of those sizes as opposed to a teensy small and merely a poky medium) they perch in an unattractive manner atop my head.

But one in multiple sizes, I have found at H&M.  The large is PERFECT for me. 

Straw Hat in natural white £9.99

It was a toss up between the one above and the more beige natural one with a burgundy ribbon.  (I went with the white and black).



In my experience, if a hat is one sized it's perfect for normal people.  

One size now from Warehouse. 

Wide Brim Panama Hat from Warehouse was £20 now £10



I am GUTTED this one isn't in the large for my massive bonce as I adore the yellow and would order in a second. 

Straw hat from H&M £7.99


Whilst shopping yesterday in M&S (for jamas for the boys - oh the glamour), I happened to wander into the men's department (if anyone is interested, the pics of David Gandy in his pants and other states of undress are very near to the hat section.  Just saying.  Small tip mind you - if you hang around in the men's section for too long and take photos, the Security Guard will take an interest in your behaviour.  Fact.) to try the hats there. 

And I came up trumps with a couple.  Actually all the panama style hats were gorgeous BUT they're not cheap.  As the lovely Sales Assistant explained to me, it's because they're actually from Panama.

Luxury Panama Hat from M&S £49.50  This is the Medium (and that's me holding my Zara one from last year that I wore yesterday).







However I have to say, it was the £25 one that I loved.  Don't say anything to anyone from Panama, but it was much sturdier and I thought better quality.... Again this is a Medium.  The large was enormous. 

Oh and this is the Security Guard, deeming me a person of interest...  And my Uniqlo bags are full of coats that I snaffled in the sales for the two boys.  £15 for winter coats which are pretty much identical to the new stock £30 ones.

Weaved Ambassador Texture Hat from M&S £25






Larger hats I love.  Alas, they don't love me.  They normally only come in one size which means that they twist on the rim which is a sign they're too small (and look daft).  Funnily enough there aren't many men's hats with wide Audrey Hepburn style brims.  Can't think why?   

If you have a smaller head, please buy this and wear it so I can be ridiculously envious.

Taffy Black/Cream wide brim hat from Reiss in the sale was £60 now £40



Actually I'm now lying.  I did try this one on yesterday in H&M (when I bought the trilby one) and I looked just wrong diddly in it.  On the other hand, my friend who was with me looked epic in it and bought it (wearing it straight out on the school run afterwards - that's my girl).

Wide Brim Panama Hat in Black £12.99


And I would love to say I've found loads more but I haven't.  Well, I didn't find any others to try that I liked and rated on the high street - so those are the best that I have. 

Except.  If you have a big head, head to Zara Men's and pick up a bargain in the sales.  Here I am today with my £5.99 special from yesterday.  Zero left online alas.  Cannot recommend highly enough and had two people ask today in London (neither of whom were security guards, can I just mention) where I got it from. 

Day in London for meetings. 



Hat - Zara Men
Porcelain midi shirt dress - & Other Stories
Tan sandals - Forever 21
Whiskey Medium Marcie Satchel - Chloe

And the day finished with me changing into harems and a tee for a TWO hour walk with the children.  Love/hate relationship we've developed with Pokemon Go.  I hate it, they clearly love it.  The fact one of them didn't collide with a tree is a miracle.  The dog clearly thinks it brilliant though.  Two hours let loose in the woods. 

Last day at school for the 11yr old tomorrow.  Leaver's Assembly.  I have a handbag full of tissues at the ready....