If you take almost any culture in the world you can find some hat that’s symbolised power or status. Some hats suggest religious authority, while some are about being part of a system, such as in the military. In the face of this, hats fell out of fashion during the 70s, when it was less cool to fit with the past. But there are hats that have found there way back into the mainstream today.

The baseball hat is an item that divides opinion. It’s become associated with being a yob in England, and it is kind of the uniform if you’re looking for trouble. As such it’s lost a certain amount of its innocence and cool, but there are ways they it retains its fashionability. The Kournikova look for girls, with hair pulled back in a ponytail with a white or similarly plain baseball hat is still a cute style for summer.

Students are leading the way as seamsters and self-aware hipster types embrace the edginess of wearing a hat. It’s ironic that it’s gone from being the biggest symbol of conformity to the new rebellious look, but no matter. Grabbing a trilby or fedora seems to do the trick, especially with a neatly trimmed beard. Of course for the all-out drama student a scarf or cravat is an option too. For women out to look professional but playful a grey flat cap with black outfit has a certain footballer’s wife chic, but it’s hard to pull off.

Of course hats really appeal for retro purposes too. Using a cloche really looks different now, even though it was practically a uniform of women in the 20s. The same goes for gatsby hats. Men can pull off an outdoor retro look with bucket hats. For nocturnal wear that says burlesque fascinators are perfect too.

Hats aren’t out of date by any means. In fact it seems like the most obscure designs keep getting revived. We might be a fair way off from top hats, but there’s definitely still plenty of life in practical and stylist headwear.

Take the time to find a pair of mens casual shoes that does you justice.