For a hip-hip look, simply wear a plain black bucket hat or white bucket hat with your outfit. For a funkier spin, choose a tie-dye bucket hat or patchwork bucket hat. A corduroy bucket hat or faux fur bucket hat is perfect for adding warmth to your ensemble during winter, while a crochet bucket hat or wide-brim bucket hat looks more feminine. Bucket hats with animal prints such as cow print or leopard print look bold. To up the cute factor, sport a version accented with animal ears. Bucket hats are also versatile enough to wear for grander occasions, or for outdoor sports depending on the materials used. To get two different looks from one hat, try reversible bucket hats, which can easily be switched from one design to another by flipping the hat inside out.
The bucket hat is said to have first appeared in the 1900s as an everyday hat for Irish fishermen and farmers. Commonly made of heavy-duty fabric such as wool or tweed with a high content of lanolin, this downward-brimmed hat is waterproof and washable. The foldable design means it can be easily tucked into a coat pocket. The crown protects the skull, while the narrow brim protects the face from the sun and rain without obstructing one’s vision or movement. A bucket hat with a stiffer brim, known as the boonie hat, was also worn by US Army servicemen during the Vietnam War.
The utilitarian all-weather bucket hat did not become fashionable until the 1960s when golfers began to wear it as an alternative to the cap. It also entered the mod subculture alongside the pillbox, newsboy and cloche hats. The bucket hat turned into a mainstream streetwear staple in the 1980s. Rocked by B-boys, B-girls and rappers, it became synonymous with hip-hop culture .
Bucket hats have never really went away. It's often spotted on the streets, and the versatile headwear appears on runways and in movies and TV shows From time to time. Many celebrities and fictional characters have contributed to its popularity.
In popular culture, the fictional character Inspector Clouseau in the film The Pink Panther (1963) wears a bucket hat. It’s also the headwear of choice for Gilligan in the American sitcom Gilligan’s Island (1964). Henry Jones Sr. (played by Sean Connery) sports a tweed version in the adventure movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
Singer Rihanna has donned bucket hats in snakeskin, tropical print, PVC and khaki. Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish is also a big fan of bucket hats, and has been seen wearing monogram print and tropical print versions, as well as lime green-colored designs that match her signature green and black hair.
Like most hat designs, bucket hats are unisex and can be worn by men and women alike. Bucket hats can be very feminine when incorporated with elements of lace, crochet or straps. They can also be toughened up with frayed hem, denim, washed fabric or camo print.
Bucket hats are always in season. You can wear a canvas, lace or tie-dye bucket hat for a summery look, and switch to a fleece, felt, knit or corduroy bucket hat in winter for added warmth and protection.
Measure the circumference of your head – the longest measurement starts from your forehead to the back of your head. When measured from the bottom, the hat’s inner circumference should be 2-3cm longer than your head’s circumference. The brim end should be just above your brows when viewed from the front, and just above your nape when viewed from the back.
The original bucket hats worn by Irish fishermen and farmers were made from waterproof wool felt or tweed. Over the years, all sorts of materials have been used to fashion this hat, ranging from the more casual twill and denim, to the more luxurious leather and fur, to sturdy materials like wicker and PVC.
Bucket hats are usually worn slightly slanted towards the back to cover the ears, though sometimes people wear them leveled or slanted at the side instead. You can wear a bucket hat with braids, a low-bun or simply with your hair down. It's common to leave some hair on both sides of the face when wearing a bucket hat, as the hair frames the face to make it look smaller for a more symmetrical and balanced look.
With accents: Some bucket hats are accented with appliques, logos, smileys, metal eyelets, hoops, pins, three-dimensional frog eyes or animal ears. Some versions are made with drawstrings at the chin for better security. There are designs with a clear PVC shield for additional protection against water and UV rays.
Feminine: A bucket hat made from soft and lightweight woven material, such as a wicker, lace or crochet bucket hat, tends to look more feminine. A ruffled or wide brim bucket hat evokes similar appeal.
Tough: Denim patchwork bucket hats, as well as those with distressed detailing such as a frayed hem, create a more gender-neutral look.
Animal prints: Look cute with a bucket hat featuring allover zebra, leopard or cow print!
Wintry: For a wintry touch, wear a bucket hat made with leather, corduroy, felt, tweed or quilted material. As it gets colder, keep warm by sporting headwear made from thicker fabrication like fleece, shearling or faux fur.
Patterns: Checkers, plaids, camos and tie-dyes are common and evergreen patterns for bucket hats, but don’t limit yourself to just these styles – there are an infinite number of choices out there!
Reversible: Want to create two moods out of the same hat? Get reversible bucket hats so you can switch to another pattern or fabric simply by flipping the hat inside out!
As a staple of hip-hop and skater styles, bucket hats are a popular streetwear choice. Bring a bucket hat along for outdoor activities, such as fishing, hiking and golf, to block the sun and rain. The versatile accessory can also elevate a feminine look. Fashionable and functional, it’s headwear that you absolutely can’t get enough of!
