Hats off to fun headgear!

There is a simplistic elegance that fortifies the relationship between a man and his cap. Way back when, it was required that a man make his way through the world with a hat on. When out in the sun, a man would don his cap, regardless of social status. So, it is only in man's best interest that they bring back a part of history that allows for them to express individualism all while maintaining a fashion-conscious mindset.

It is important to realize that men have always fewer choices in the world of fashion. Albeit our extremely recent transition from traditional to nonconforming, we are heading into the forefront of a new era, charged with brighter colors, unique cuts and more cutting-edge fabrics, ultimately designed to give a tired mind a fresh take on menswear. From head to toe, we are slowly changing the look altogether. Why not start with the head?

The over-usage and redundancy of hats on runways is only matched with the lack of hats on the streets... until now. The fashionable men on the streets of NYC are looking for timeless pieces without looking so "old-timer". Yet, menswear has taken a keen interest in a good blend of the classic infused with modern. Thus, the new era of men's hats are born! If the 90's consisted of fitted baseball caps and Kangol newspaper hats, the new millennium brought the fedora, straw or twill. Mocked for its use in the hollywood scene, the fedora can be worn very inappropriately. Given the right clothing choices, it can become virtually impossible to screw up this look.

The fedora has so many functions and can be seasonally appropriate. Whether spring, summer or fall, this choice is seemingly flawless. It's no wonder that in the beginning of the year, people are starting to wear a good summer hat in the dead cold of winter. It just looks that good. Among some of its finer reasons to don a hat is the inexplicable ability to transform a casual ensemble into a cutting-edge outfit eithout looking cocky in the least. Another reason that fedoras play an integral part of fashion these days is becasue they are extremely unisex. Just as appropriate as a fedora is for a man, a woman can pull one off, too.

The key to pulling off a fedora, however, lies in the fact that the entire ensemble has the ability to scream, we just cannot allow for any individual piece to. By this, I am referring to the ever-so-important "keeping it simple" motto. A t-shirt, some great shoes, slim-fitting shorts and perhaps a killer bag. Stick with natural tones. To spruce it up some more, add a very bold colored item. When using this look, it is crucial to pay specific attention to detail, because, with the wrong hat, or slightly odd shoes, you could look more like a crusty jazz musician or a desperate hipster than a man with a killer outfit.

When menswear takes a quick turn from never-noticed to front cover, we should all become aware of its possibility to explode with new choices, infinite uniqueness and originality. We should embrace these trends and allow them to progress and transform themselves into something that we can all benefit from: men who just dress better. And with a hat, that is just one great place to start.