With The Avengers blasting box office records, superheroes are in the forefront of pop culture, media and entertainment. But which helmet would YOU wear? The super soldier’s helmet with WWII detail and style? The high-tech mask with a digital assistant built in? Or maybe the helmets of myth and legend fit for demigod royalty? Regardless, all the beings have one thing in common: fabulous headwear! While they may not be everyday fedoras or sun hats, you have to admit: They have style!

Hunter S. Thompson, the Gonzo journalist and author of The Rum Diary and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is known for many things…including his famous bucket hat (pictured above). Get the same look with some of these great styles from hats.com!

Kangol Canvas Lahinch

Country Gentleman Hampton Bucket Hat

1. Kangol Bubble Bombin

The Kangol Bubble Bombin is a lightweight straw bowler with unique hatband created with a “bubble dying” technique. Available in two colors: Glory Blue (pictured) and Pear.

2. Pantropic New Hope Stroller

The Pantropic New Hope Stroller is a classically style Panama fedora with a sturdy leather hatband. Available in two colors: Mustard (pictured) and Natural.

3. Betmar South Beach Fedora

The perfect eco-friendly summer fedora is here! Made from 100% straw with an open weave and oozing with style, the Betmar South Beach Fedora has a burlap hatband and teardrop crown. Available in four colors: Black, Cocoa, Magenta and Turquoise (pictured).

4. Bailey of Hollywood Flen Hat

Perfect for a rugged afternoon outdoors, the Bailey of Hollywood Flen Hat is a water resistant bucket hat. Available in two colors: Black (pictured) and Tobacco.

5. Kangol Hiro Trilby

Lightweight and comfortable with a wide sweeping brim, the Kangol Hiro Trilby is inspired by David Bowie. Available in two colors: Charcoal and Kale (pictured)

6. Tilley Weatherproof Hat

Developed for the outdoors, the Tilley Weatherproof Hat is waterproof, guaranteed for life, has a secret pocket and even floats! Available in Khaki (pictured)

7. Kangol Bamboo Long Pull On

One of our best sellers, the Kangol Bamboo Long Pull On is a soft, eco friendly slouchy pull on in a comfortable lightweight knit which is wearable year round. Available in eight colors: Black, Cafe, Chambray, Grey, Kelp (picutred), Natural, Shell and Tumeric.

8. Kangol T-Linen Flexfit Ball Cap

Made of lightweight linen and Flexfit® Comfort technology, the Kangol T-Linen Flexfit Ball Cap is a soft and breathable cap to keep you looking great on even the hottest of days. Available in two colors: Charcoal and Natural. Currently not available in Lt. Blue as pictured.

9. hats.com Beachcomber Sun Hat

A wide brimmed sun hat is a must-have for summer fun! The hats.com Beachcomber Sun Hat is a wide brimmed Panama sun hat with a pinched crown and leather hatband. Available in Natural (pictured).

10. Kangol Plaid 504

The Kangol Plaid 504 features the comfort of a Flexfit® baseball cap and the styling of an ivy cap. Made of soft cotton with classic paneling, this is a comfortable and stylish topper for all your summer fun. Available in three colors: Bold Plaid, Fence Check and Linen Plaid. Pictured color option no longer available.

Aerosmith front man and TV personality, Steven Tyler is no stranger to the fashion spotlight. Know for his cross-gender fashion choices and unique hats, he’s been in the spotlight for years. Try some of these great styles to get his look!

Kangol Swirl Wool Siren	Pantropic Panama Player
Bailey of Hollywood Redwood Fedora	Pantropic Classic Fedora

Our photoshoots are a process involving multiple members of the hats.com team! The first step in development is a model search in the local area. We compile a bunch of applications and start the approval process. Once we have a model chosen and contacted, the fun begins! We reserve a location and start planning.

Our marketing associate (and photoshoot stylist/assistant), Mel, goes onto hats.com into the applicable men’s, women’s or children’s category. Hats are selected on one or more of the following criteria: brand new styles from our brands, top sellers, and fashion trends from the runways and magazines. Colors are selected to correspond with the model’s hair, skin and eye color; and shapes are chosen based on the model’s face shape. An average shoot has about 30 – 50 hats chosen, with some shoots having upwards of 75 styles planned!  The list of desired styles are passed onto the Merchandiser, Cynthia, who places a photo sample order. Once the hats arrive, each product must be unpacked, have tags and stuffing removed, and then organized by brand and shape on the photoshoot cart. The prep work for a photoshoot combines to hours of work for one afternoon of photography, but the organization and prep not only makes things easier: we couldn’t do the shoot without it!

On the day of photography, the model arrives and we head to the location. Shooting begins almost immediately from arrival – lasting 1 1/2 – 3 hours. The whirlwind of activity requires two staff members: the photographer and an assistant – both armed with cameras. Each hat gets 5 – 20 photos before switching to the next style. The shoot is organic, moving from one spot to another, adjusting for light, backgrounds and variety. As Jesi snaps image after image – directing the model and adjusting for the elements – her assistant is choosing the next hat, carrying a stack of pending styles, snapping behind the scenes images and helping with anything she needs. The fast-paced afternoon is exhausting for staff and models alike, but the mood is always light and fun… and filled with smiles and laughter.

Once the shoot is finished, goodbyes are said and the staff returns to the office, Jesi downloads all of the photos from the camera and clean up begins. Carts of discarded hats are cleaned up and put away, boxes are sent for recycling or reused, model information and paperwork is filed. Discs are burnt and images are gone through, a handful of the final images are posted to Facebook, Twitter, tumblr and flickr. Graphics are begun and work returns to normal. But for a few days, the whirlwind of activity overtakes the office and excitement brews. And the final result?

The popular character-driven drama, Downton Abbey, returns us to the days of proper cloches, bowlers, homburgs and wide brimmed hats. Now, return to the days of proper society when you never left the house without a hat with some of these great looks:

Plaza Suite Cambridge Fascinator	Helen Kaminski Ciara Cloche
Bollman Collection 1890s Bowler	Bailey of Hollywood Jamison Homburg
Kangol British Ripley	Bailey of Hollywood Mason Fedora

A vintage classic, The Lone Ranger is a tale of a masked lawman and his Native American counterpart fighting crime in the wild west. With a new reboot coming soon starring Johnny Depp as Tonto, this western tale resurfaces.  As every western lawman needs the perfect hat, The Lone Ranger sports a pale felt cowboy hat above his mask. Try these great styles to get the same look!

Bailey Western Stampede

Relentless by Bailey® Big Iron