The Best Sites for Women's Travel Sun Hats
Sun Protection - Pack a Tilley Straw Hat, Solumbra Crushable, & More
Jul 18, 2009
Here are some of the best sites for women's travel sun hats. Get sun protection with a packable wide brim straw hat from Tilley Hats or a Sun Precautions Solumbra crushable hat. Try out a gorgeous Kaminski or a cheap, but groovy, Scala made by Dorfman Pacific. Online hat stores carry fabulous styles for hat lovers, women with thinning hair, and gals with sun-sensitive skin.
Internet hat sites are fabulous. They bring the latest styles to everyone with a shipping address. But, while this is great news, each hat needs to be experienced, in the real world, to see how it looks on the wearer. Hats are very personal.
Yes, just like sunglasses, each woman needs to try an individual hat on. And, that can be achieved in the comfort of one’s own home. Online shopping rocks.
As a General Rule:
- Tall women can wear bigger floppy or wide-brim hats.
- Petit women should wear smaller brimmed hats
The problem with a general rule is that there are so many exceptions. Some shorter gals can wear big floppy hats as long as they don't have enormous brims. And, some tall women look silly in huge hats. The general rules are not as important as how the hat, and the color, looks on each individual woman.
Hat shopping advice:
- Make sure a hat can be returned.
- Most internet shops allow returns within a specified period of time (like 20 days), but double check. Return policies are often found under Customer Care.
- Some of these hats (and others online) do not provide full sun protection. Women with pre-skin cancer should talk to a physician about appropriate hats.
Tilley Hat - Cute Raffia Straw Hats for Sun Protection
The Tilley Hat site has two exceptional straw hats (raffia) for great sun protection, the R4 Wide Brim and the R2 Tilley hat. Both block 98% of UVA/UVB radiation and have the highest UPF rating. Both pack flat, in the bottom of a suitcase, and have these features:
- Great Fit - Four Sizes
- Wind Cord (great for deck-side cruising)
- Secret Pocket for Stashing ID
- Tilley Insurance Against Loss. Either hat will be replaced at half the catalogue price for two years.
The basic differences between these two hats seems to be that the Women's R4 Wide Brim Raffia Hat has a wider brim (4-inches), which makes it better for shade, and sometimes better for taller gals. The R2 Tilley Raffia Hat has a 2-&-3/4-inch brim, which is often better for shorter gals. The R2, with the black band, can be turned up ala Madeleine (the book), which could be adorable on petite or younger ladies. The R2 crown also looks rounder.
The only way to choose the best hat is to pick one and try it on. When a woman is desperate for time, get both and send one back. (Check the policy.) Both hats will match any outfit if a scarf is tied around the brim. Look at other websites for sales, but always check the return policy. (Most websites allow returns.)
Sun Precautions (Solumbra) - Cute Crushable Fabric Hats
The Solumbra Cloche Hat is the best stashable hat in the world for women who need to stay out of the sun’s rays, and Sun Precautions hats were recommended to the author by a physician. This fab hat fits in most pockets or purses, and has a wind cord.
The only thing that would improve upon this wizard of a hat would be if it came in more colors, though scarves improve its versatility. What a fabulous hat!
Kaminski Hats at HatsInTheBelfry.com
For movie star looks try a Helen Kaminski hat with a scarf tie, like her Shani or Zaria styles. Add sunglasses. Wow.
Both styles are at Hats In The Belfry (summer 2009) but search for “Kaminski hats” to find sales. Her hats are expensive, but are beautifully made and should last forever. And, Kaminski floppy hats are stunning on the right woman.
Hats that lose their shape through repeated packing can often be coaxed back into style in a steamy bathroom. Check with manufacturer for info.
Read more about Boomer's Travel Clothing.
Read about cute and fabulously comfortable hats.
Scala Lanikai Sunhat at VillageHatShop.com
Scala Lanikai (Dorfman Pacific) is a great summer hat for older gals who need the right color near their faces. And, this baby comes in 24 colors. The right color will soften wrinkles, require the wearer to use less makeup, and make a woman look younger and hipper.
In a pinch, these, and other hats without a strap, can be held on using a snug headband as a hatband. The price is really right for this inexpensive chapeau, but a google search often yields better prices.
Read more articles about travel clothing and shoes.
These are four of the best sites for women’s travel sun hats. Find sexy sun protection at Tilley hats and Sun Precautions. Check out Kaminski and Scala hats, too. Oh, there is so much more out there, but these styles are a good place for Boomers to start their love affairs with hats.
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