Today marks the beginning of summer, and along with it come this season's new beach and summer looks. Although the heat arrived months ago, depending on where you are reading this, today is the official start of summer, and for that reason, we want to bring you an accessory that will surely be a must-have during the summer of 2019: the Panama hat.
Although Panama hats may seem to be from the country that gives them their name, they are originally from Ecuador and are made from woven palm leaves called "paja toquilla." The Panama hat is also known as jipi-japa. Its name comes from the fact that they gained prominence during the construction of the Panama Canal when thousands of hats were imported from Ecuador for the use of the construction workers. Later, Theodore Roosevelt himself wore a hat from Panama during a visit to the canal, which further popularized it.
Panama hats hold the distinction of being Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These hats never go out of style and give the wearer a distinguished air. The secret to their success is the material they are made from. The fineness of the fiber will determine the price; the finer it is, the longer it took to make, and therefore, the more expensive it will be.
As you may know, these types of hats never go out of style. The most well-known Panama hat is the 'Monte Carlo'. This classic hat was worn by Clark Gable in 'Gone with the Wind'. A detail of this hat is that its brim ends in a curved shape and its crown has a circular indentation. As an anecdote, the most expensive and most demanded hats are the Montecristi.
These types of hats are mostly used as a summer accessory to add an elegant and glamorous touch to an outfit. Panama hats are also worn with more formal looks. They are perfect for combining with suit jackets or simple dresses. We should never wear these types of hats with evening gowns.
How to wear a Panama hat
For men, combining a Panama hat is simple. They are easily paired with guayaberas or linen shirts. They also go well with ties, jackets, and even shorts. For women, combining this garment is even easier. Always leaning towards simplicity, it will look great with long blouses, t-shirts, jeans, beach or casual looks, and even simple or single-colored dresses, and sandals.
Discover Panama hats in our catalog.