by Maria Bellotto @thecashmerediaries

Elegance, charm and a classy touch: the hat has been for ages an essential accessory in the world of fashion. No matter if it is for men or women, the gous gous are well aware that opting for headwear gives a unique allure to the look… as long as it is chosen with consciousness and worn with that kind of savoir-faire that, yes, makes the difference.

Since their birth, hats have been considered a must-have piece, that offers protection from the sun and the cold. Over the centuries they have become style accessories, other than status symbols, but let’s go with order and see together the icons that have made the history of headwear and which we can still define as très chic and synonyms of elegance. Oui?

Talking about the Roaring Twenties without nominating the icon cloche is truly impossible. Characterized by its recognizable bell style, from which the name of it comes, it has a tight fit and suits perfectly with the hair-tied-up à la mode of Eton, which is the most emblematic hairstyle of the Twenties. What do you think about this Cloche Velour in the shade of grape must?

And for the gou gou man? A style classic that saw the start of its popularity at the beginning of the twentieth century is, ça va sans dire, the Fedora by Borsalino. Symbol of the made-in-Italy hat, the story of Borsalino begins in a small artisan workshop and earns an incurable success, enough for entering the history of cinema with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the unforgettable final scene of Casablanca. We love it worn both by him and by her, possibly in a wide-brimmed in a cigar shade or in the forest green shade of the niche brand Atome, paired with an over-size trench and a pair of menswear-inspired trousers.

For the more daring we recommend a Pork Pie hat, a companion to the adventures of jazz musicians of Duke Ellington’s calibre – we like it in wool, with a narrow, turned-up brim and made strictly by hand.

Ah yes, we especially like it on Jude Law.

Maybe summer is still far away but dreaming is always allowed, especially if you are picturing yourself on the Côte D’Azur with a straw hat or a Panama.

From the models with the chain by Ruslan Baginsky to the ones exceedingly wide-brimmed by Montegallo, from the bucket hat by Celine to the original basco by Anperfect, few thing are exquisite as straw hats for (pour) les filles in summer. And if a colorful silk foulard is knotted over them… j’adore!

Imagining a summer hat for (pour) l’homme without immediately thinking about the Montecristi by Borsalino (encore!) is impossible – hand woven, for the realisation of a single exemplar more than 8 months of manufacturing may be necessary. We like it medium-brimmed and with a black or blue peacock canneté band, to pair with a linen suit for the long days under the riviera sun. What else?

If Nancy Sinatra said that “These boots are made for walking” to “These hats are made for…” she would have added “true cowboys!”

Galloping along sun-drenched beaches of Andalusia or driving a Royal Enfield in the city centre, this accessory is a must-have for all the free spirits, those who would never give up on their classy touch.

To the eccentric artists’ Alec Hats, the unconventional dreamers Guifriday, the savage hearts Handle With Freedom… to the gou gou girls whose hearts melt hearing their lovers’ engine rumbling instead we suggest a wide-brimmed hat Diorodeo. Its name will be a perfect conversation piece to make them fall for you and your brackets.

Mon dieu, if anyone knows how to make an accessory iconic, it is the French: indeed here we are talking about the basque, the classic hat that can’t be missing in a gourmode closet. Make it felt, woollen or leather like the Dior one or with an inscription that never goes unnoticed as the Atome one, the basque is the essential hat, which saves us from a bad hair day or a sudden rain – even if in that case a waterproof bucket hat by Prada is even better, of course.

But let’s concentrate again on the basque… to be worn slightly on the twentieth-rees, fits everyone and every hairstyle; and for him? A classic Bonnet d’Oltralpe, also known as Coppola, in tweed as the Barbour one is perfect for a day in the countryside in spring or autumn.

And finally comes fresh weekend air, craving for outdoor sports and leisure time.

If a Chanel visor can be said to be necessary to protect the gou gou tennis and golfers (which you will give us the permission to call goulfists for the occasion) cheeks from the sun rays, a collection of headdresses gourmode can’t be defined completely without a Baseball Cap, which, unisex and fun, we can guarantee, can be worn with charm.

We like timeless and elegant materials as in corduroy by Sport and Rich and especially in cashmere by Loro Piana or in relaxing and pastel colours such as the iconic “a righe” by Ralph Lauren and the new hit by Aimé Leon Dore – the gou gou does never disdain fooling himself with a slightly ironic baseball cap as the vintage-style ones and al little dad-core with the name of its Provencal favorite wine. Cin cin!

In other words, if you are both a sporty and classic lover, a hat is that specific accessory that will distinguish you and will give you a uniquely stylish twist, denoting the “boungusto” that you have in your DNA. Maybe we cannot wear a crown – dommage! – but a hat is the perfect… cherry on top!