A hat can take a fall outfit from boring to iconic. It's an accessory that's both fashionable and practical, making it a seasonal essential. Once you master the styling, throwing on a hat will feel as natural as putting on a jacket in fall.

This guide covers the five hat styles every fall wardrobe needs, then shows how each one can be styled with anything from jeans to a dress in ten different ways.

Why a Hat Is the Ultimate Fall Styling Shortcut

A hat solves more outfit problems than any other accessory. It covers a rough hair day, adds a finished layer to a plain sweater and jeans, and works with almost everything already in a fall wardrobe, since most hats come in versatile neutrals.

A wide-brim felt hat can turn a slip dress into a daytime outfit. A beanie can make an oversized sweater look pulled together and a bucket hat can add an element of playfulness to a monochrome ensemble. Instead of a full outfit change, a hat is often the missing piece that completes a look, and keeps you warm.

The 5 Fall Hat Styles Every Wardrobe Needs

The Fedora

A fedora or wide-brim felt hat is the most versatile hat in a fall wardrobe. It holds its shape through a full day outdoors and pairs equally well with a slip dress as it does a canvas jacket and jeans. Stick to neutral colors like taupe, camel or brown, and it will match nearly every fall item already in the closet. Browse the Fedora collection or the full wool felt hats.

The Beanie

A ribbed beanie can transform a whole outfit. It works with hair tied back or let down, and it layers nicely under a hood when the temperature drops further. A beanie in a rich color or pattern, like burgundy or leopard print, is sometimes better than a neutral one, since it becomes the accent piece that enhances the rest of the outfit. Shop the Beanie collection.

The Cap

A corduroy or sherpa baseball cap moves the piece out of athleisure and into everyday ensembles. It works best with denim jackets, oversized flannels and other casual pieces. A muted color like taupe or navy keeps it from reading too sporty. The cap is the pick for low-key days that still call for a finished look. See the Cap collection.

The Bucket Hat

A bucket hat swaps out a stiff fedora brim for something more casual, while keeping the same brim coverage. While it's often associated with summer outfits, a sherpa or teddy version makes a perfect cold-weather accessory. It pairs best with a simple, cozy outfit that lets the hat's texture stand out. Browse the Fall and Winter Bucket Hats.

The Balaclava

A knit balaclava, or hood scarf, combines a hood and a scarf into one piece, which cuts a step out of getting dressed on a cold morning. It covers the neck and much of the head at once, so it works best over a simple sweater or cardigan rather than competing with a busy pattern. Between a beanie and a full hood, it's the middle ground for days that call for more cozy coverage. Try The Perfect Balaclava.

Accessories That Complete the Look

The Scarf

A long knit scarf adds color and texture without changing the rest of an outfit. Wrap it once and let the ends hang for a casual look, or knot it at the neck for something a little more polished. A scarf in the same color family as a beanie ties a whole outfit together seamlessly. See the Scarf collection.

The Fall Bag

A woven or leather tote grounds a fall outfit the way a hat finishes it from the top. Straw and jute totes carry over from summer and pair naturally with a wide-brim hat, while a structured leather bag works better with a cap or beanie. Browse Bags.

10 Fall Outfits

Wide-Brim Hat with a Flowy White Dress

A wide-brim felt hat turns a slip dress into a casual daytime outfit instead of a dressed-up one. Draping an oversized denim jacket or cardigan over the shoulders rather than wearing it buttoned keeps the look relaxed, while the hat adds structure to balance out the softness of the dress.

Teddy Bucket Hat in Head-to-Toe Monochrome

A shearling bucket hat adds a playful element when layered over a monochrome outfit. Cream on cream — cardigan, denim and hat — lets the texture of the hat stand out rather than throwing in a contrasting color. A bucket hat should complement a soft ensemble.

Cozy Hats with Plaid Wraps

Two hat styles can share an outfit formula without matching outright. A ribbed beanie works with a plaid scarf just as well as a sherpa bucket hat. They both add the stylized element needed when an oversized sweater is paired over a flowy dress.

Wide-Brim Hat with a Utility Jacket

A felt hat balances out a utility jacket's boxy shape, adding a soft curve above a structured silhouette. Straight-leg jeans and flats keep the rest of the outfit simple, so the hat and jacket carry the look.

Matching Beanie and Scarves in Color-Block Knits

A beanie with a matching scarf, worn over a sweater in a contrasting color, makes the accessories the main focus of the outfit. The scarf should drape loosely around the shoulders to keep the heavy knit combination from looking overdone. Choose a sweater without any patterns to get the color-blocking effect.

Corduroy Caps with Oversized Denim

A corduroy baseball cap softens the look of an oversized denim jacket, keeping the outfit from reading as too utilitarian. Worn with hair down, the cap becomes a neutral finishing piece rather than the outfit's main statement, working well both with light wash denim and dark indigo.

Wide-Brim Hat with a Wrap Cardigan

A felt hat adds structure to a chunky wrap cardigan. Tied at the waist, the cardigan gives the outfit volume and style, while a woven tote and rain boots keep it practical. It's the perfect balance of a snuggly ensemble with crisp details.

The Balaclava-and-Sweater Combo

A knit balaclava hood worn over a cozy sweater combines two cold-weather pieces into one adorable look. Adding some interest to a standard pullover, the hood becomes the outfit's main texture, so the rest of the pieces can stay plain. Choose a color that's different from the sweater to give the top more interest.

Beanie and Scarf, Set to Match

A ribbed beanie and a long scarf in the same color is a styling decision that pulls the look together. Worn over a black cardigan and a cream skirt, the matching set adds warmth and color at once. Matching gloves make it look even more intentional.

Straw Bucket Hats with Boots

A woven straw bucket hat pairs naturally with rain boots and a canvas jacket, carrying a summer material into cooler weather without looking out of season. The boots add a perfect contrast to the woven hat.

Fall Hat FAQs

What hat styles are best for fall?

The five hat styles every fall wardrobe needs are the fedora, the beanie, the cap, the bucket hat and the balaclava. A wide-brim felt fedora is the most versatile of the five, since it pairs with everything from a slip dress to jeans and a jacket.

Can you wear a bucket hat in fall or winter?

Yes, a sherpa or teddy bucket hat works well as a cold-weather piece. It swaps the classic canvas or straw for a warmer texture while keeping the same shape, so it carries over past summer without looking out of season.

What hat goes best with a dress?

A wide-brim felt hat is the easiest match for a dress. It turns a flowy or slip dress into a casual daytime outfit and adds structure that balances out the softness of the fabric.

What's the difference between a balaclava and a beanie?

A balaclava covers the head and neck in one piece, while a beanie covers only the head. A balaclava works like a hood and scarf combined, which makes it a faster option on a cold morning, while a beanie is easier to pair with a separate scarf.

What color hat matches every fall outfit?

Neutral colors like taupe, camel and brown match nearly every fall outfit. A hat in one of these tones works as a foundation piece, so a richer color like burgundy or a pattern like leopard print can be saved for when the hat is meant to stand out.

Shop the Fall Hat Edit

Ready to build a fall look around a new hat? Browse the Fall/Winter collection for fedoras, beanies, caps, and the scarves and bags that pair with them.