Do you have a fedora hat in your closet that's gathering dust in your closet because you're unsure how to style it in a natural way? Ladies, if your answer is yes, this is a guide for you.

After reading this, you'll know how to select a fedora that compliments your haircut or hairstyle and how to style it with your outfits. You'll be wearing your fedora with confidence in no time. If you think they are only relevant in the colder months, you are greatly mistaken. Read on to learn more!

What is a Fedora?

Let's start by understanding what a fedora is. Interestingly, the term fedora originated from the play in 1891, after its main character, Princess Fedora, who wore a soft brimmed hat. Soon afterwards it became a symbol of the women's rights movement. 

This hat has a soft brim and a dent at the top. It started as felt but now uses different materials like straw. Beyond being able to elevate your style in seconds and no effort, it serves as a practical accessory, as it offers protection from diverse weather elements such as rain and sunshine.

Fedoras with Different Haircuts and Hairstyles

How to Wear a Fedora with Short Hair?

A woman wearing a light beige straw fedora hat with a blue band and a light beige linen top, smiling in a sunny outdoor courtyard.

If you have short hair, it's important to choose a hat for your face shape, that will complement your face shape and size. Fedoras are especially flattering for round or heart-shaped faces. Thanks to their higher crowns, they create a slimming effect. The wider your face, the broader the brim you should choose to balance it. Conversely, if you have a smaller head, opt for a fedora with a narrow brim.


With short hair, you can easily adjust how the fedora sits–wear it straight on or slight tilt for a stylish look. If you have bangs, place the fedora slightly back from your forehead to avoid flattening them.

How to Wear a Fedora with Long Hair?

Long hair gives you endless styling possibilities with a fedora. After choosing your hat, play with different hairstyles to make your outfit pop.

Woman with long dark hair wearing black fedora hat.

Wearing your hair down creates a relaxed look with a fedora. Leave it straight for a clean, effortless vibe, or add waves for more volume and movement. Beachy waves pair especially well with straw fedoras, giving a romantic, carefree feel.

A smiling woman wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and a cream-colored lace-trim blouse, posed outdoors in front of potted plants.

For a boho look, make one large braid or two smaller ones. This hairstyle also means you won't have to worry about messy hair afterward.

How to Wear a Fedora with Curly Hair?

A woman with curly blonde hair wearing a gray felt hat and a navy blue sweater, photographed against a plain white background.

Women with curly hair often struggle with hats, but fedoras are a good choice because they have a spacious crown. A wide brim can balance out fuller hair, while a narrow brim might suit less voluminous curls. 

Fedora Hats and Styling for Different Seasons

You can style fedoras in numerous outfits and seasons, as the right material makes all the difference. 

Straw and raffia fedoras are natural materials perfect for the summer heat. They're best for casual outfits, but styled with the right accessories, they can be elegant too. If you want to learn more about raffia, check out our blog What is Raffia? 

For winter, we reach for felt fedoras. Made from natural felted wool, they keep you warm and work best for more polished occasions, though casual styling is absolutely possible. Once you match the material to your season, everything else falls into place: straw naturally flows into breezy, casual looks, while felt anchors more intentional, layered outfits.

However, with the right outfit we can do both – casual or formal. Below, we break down how to wear fedoras in casual and formal styling ideas for each season.

How to Wear a Fedora in Summer? 

For summer, straw is your material of choice. A straw fedora protects your face from sun and heat while maintaining effortless style. Opt for a UPF 50 rating for the best sun protection! Hat Attack carries several styles to make shopping for one easy.

Casual Summer Styling

Woman wearing long red dress and wite summer straw sunhat.

Pair a white straw fedora with a lightweight long floral dress for an easy, breezy look that works throughout the warm weather seasons. The long length keeps things relaxed and romantic, while the white hat adds a crisp contrast. This works equally well for summer beach days and spring outings, just adjust the dress weight based on the season. This styling is perfect for casual days when you want to look effortlessly put-together.

Woman with long dark hair wearing jeans, white shirt and white straw fedora

Straw fedoras work just as well with jeans as they do at the beach. Style a wide-brim white straw fedora with a light top and jeans for a casual, put-together look. Add a mini straw for an effortless finish. Whether you're going slim-fit jeans or wide-leg, the straw hat keeps the outfit feeling summery and relaxed.

Elegant Summer Styling


For a polished summer look, pair a white straw fedora with an elegant white tailored dress. The straw fedora shades your face while maintaining elegance. This works perfectly for outdoor formal and semiformal occasions, such as garden parties or outdoor dinners.
A woman stands outdoors on a grassy lawn wearing a sleeveless pink midi dress with a V-neckline, a thin brown belt at the waist, and a beige wide-brim straw hat. She is holding a glass and standing beside a white table set with plates and flowers.

You can also combine it with a more colorful dress to pop. A belt detail adds structure and keeps the silhouette defined. 

A woman stands in a rose garden wearing a sleeveless emerald green romper with a brown belt, a straw hat, and white heeled sandals.

Another option is a straw fedora with a short green silk jumpsuit. The sleeveless design keeps you cool, while the belt and gold jewelry elevate the outfit from casual to refined. The natural straw hat softens the structured jumpsuit, creating the right balance. This works for garden brunches and casual summer days where you want to look chic.

How to Wear a Fedora in Winter 

For winter, felt fedoras are your choice for warmth and style. Select colors that complement your existing wardrobe. Lighter shades like taupe and beige work for casual everyday looks, while deeper tones like charcoal and navy pair better with more polished outfits.

Choose an undertone of color that complements your outfit and skin tone. For more guidance, read our blog Winning Hat Colors for Every Hair Color. 

Our felt hats are hand-blocked by local workers in our Stamford, CT factory. We're proud of our made-in-USA products.

Casual Winter Styling

For a casual everyday winter outfit, choose a lighter felt fedora. Fedoras in earth tones will look look effortless and sleek with every outfit, making it the perfect quick accessory pick. 

Woman with long dark hair wearing fedora hat.

Wear it with layers like a contrasting denim shirt or cardigan without making your outfit too formal.

For a semi-formal look, pair a felt fedora with a navy blazer and a contrasting light grey hoodie underneath. The structured jacket and defined hat create a polished outline without feeling overdressed.


Felt fedoras also pair beautifully with plaid pieces, such as a plaid tote or scarf. Connect one shade from the plaid to your hat color to create a cohesive look!


Woman wearing a beige coat with black buttons and a brown hat on a light gray background

For a casual winter look, pair a cream wool jacket with black toggle buttons and a brown felt fedora. 

Elegant Winter Styling

For an elegant look, choose more premium pieces. Pair your felt fedora with accessories like elegant knee boots or cashmere pieces.

A woman walking in a snowy cobblestone street wearing a brown double-breasted coat, matching hat and scarf, black tights, brown knee-high boots, and carrying a brown handbag.

For a polished look, select a felt fedora in neutral or dark hues like black, navy, or deep brown. Pair it with well-tailored pieces such as a structured coat with clean lines and elegant knee boots or cashmere accessories.

A woman wearing a dark green wrap dress, black wide-brim hat, and black ankle boots sits at a cafe table with a cup of coffee, with a snowy street scene visible in the background.

If you love details, consider a felt hat with a subtle chain detail. This adds sophistication without overwhelming the outfit. Complement it with delicate jewelry in matching metals – gold with gold and silver with silver.

Staw Fedoras, Felt Fedoras Also for in-between Seasons

In between seasons, you have more flexibility. Felted wool is both breathable and natural, so your head won't overheat. For straw hats, choose a darker shade, and it pairs beautifully in fall outfits. And if you're thinking ahead to fall, don't rule out straw hats. Instead, read more on styling straw hats for fall.  

Final Checklist: How to Wear it The Right Way

A fedora can easily elevate many outfits, but needs to be chosen carefully. We have prepared the final checklist of what to keep in mind.  

  1. Consider your face shape when choosing brim width. If you have a long, oblong face, a very narrow brim can elongate it further. If you have a round face, a very wide brim can make it appear rounder. For more tips, read our blog Find Your Ideal Hats for Your Face Shape.

  2. Match the formality of your hat to your outfit's vibe. A polished felt fedora belongs with tailored pieces, not sweatpants, oversized t-shirts, or beach wear.

  3. Choose a brim size that fits your frame. The brim should frame your face, it shouldn't extend well past your shoulders which could overpower your look.

  4. Coordinate your hat color with your accessories. If you choose a black fedora, echo that color in your bag, belt, or shoes. This creates a cohesive look instead of a scattered one.

  5. Position your fedora correctly on your head. It should sit back slightly, showing your face and forehead. This is especially important if you have bangs.

  6. Balance pattern mixing carefully. If your fedora has decorative details like leather trim or fringe, pair it with a solid-colored outfit. 

  7. Match your hat color to the season's palette. Stick to earth tones for fall and winter, and neutral warm undertones for summer. 

After reading this blog, you should feel ready to wear a fedora hat with confidence. By choosing a fedora that suits your hair type and pairing it with the right outfit, you can make your outfit outstanding in a way that no other accessory can. Don't be shy and let the fedora be a part of your style!

More stories

How to Travel with a Hat and Keep It Like New

How to Travel with a Hat and Keep It Like New

Traveling with a hat can be a pretty overwhelming experience. We know the struggle - that’s why we prepared a beginners guide on how to travel with a hat, so that you won’t have to leave your hat at home while traveling ever again.
Cooper cooper@hatattack.com ·
A woman with sun hat facing away from the camera.

Finding the Best Sun Protection Hats

Hats are a convenient way to add sun protection to your wardrobe, as they make for accessories that are not only style statements, but are also tools that can make a huge difference in your health and wellness. So wait no longer, and dive into our guide and find the best sun protection hats.
Cooper cooper@hatattack.com ·

Collections