Regardless of gender or age, hats, especially summer hats, are becoming an essential item in daily life these days, partly due to the prolonged heatwaves. However, many people are unsure how to care for straw hats made from natural materials, and are unaware of the proper handling methods needed to maintain their beautiful shape.
So, this time, we asked fashion critic Takahiro Iino for some information about summer hats that you'll definitely benefit from knowing.

Essential knowledge and care tips for hats

*All items are for reference only.

What's the difference between a "hat" and a "cap"? There are two types of hats.

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Hats can be broadly divided into two types: "hats" and "caps." Many people probably learned about this in their middle school English classes.
Roughly speaking, a "hat" has a brim that goes all the way around the bottom, while a cap has a brim only on one side (like the front) or none at all. If you get confused, just remember "a bottle cap"! Caps don't have brims either.

Different shapes imply different characteristics and roles. In other words, hats give a glamorous and sophisticated impression, while caps convey a light and active atmosphere. This is undoubtedly a major reason why sports hats and uniform caps of various organizations are generally caps.

*All items are for reference only.

A Panama hat that can be used for both formal and casual occasions.

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When it comes to summer hats, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the "Panama hat." This hat is made by weaving together the thinly shredded, bleached or dyed young leaves of the Panama grass (toquilla), a palm tree that grows virtually only in Ecuador in Central America, and is characterized by its high breathability.

The most popular style today is similar to what's commonly known as a "fedora." The basic style is white or off-white with a black ribbon. This works perfectly not only for business attire but also with casual summer outfits like a T-shirt and shorts. It looks especially great over a white linen three-piece suit, really enhancing the summer vibe!
Furthermore, Panama hats in colors like navy or black tend to give a casual impression. A hat with a navy or regimental striped ribbon would offer a wider range of styling options.

There is also a type called "Optimo," which has a single groove running down the center in the front-to-back direction. This one is characterized by its ability to be easily folded and rolled up. Although the veracity of this claim is unknown, it is said that this shape was designed to be space-efficient and allow for large-scale transport when exporting from Ecuador to Europe and America by ship, and that this led to it being perceived as a luxury item that is convenient to carry when traveling.

▶On page 2, we'll explain more about flat caps and baseball caps that you should know about.