Hats are a unique accessory that can't be painted with one wide brush stroke. In fashion alone, the short word, "hats", is packed with nuances that include mens, ladies, functional, dress, and casual. In trends, we are going to skip functional, which is hats worn to keep warm, and concentrate on ladies fashion hats. Even these fall into two major categories of dress hats and casual hats.

Ladies Casual Hats
Designers, fashion shows, and fashion magazines can move apparel trends and jewelry trends, but they only make small ripples in hat trends. Events, celebrities, movies, and TV play a bigger role in shaping hat trends. The last hot trend bid enough to make the radar screen was cowboy hats – a trend started by music celebrities. This fall the main hats seen on the runways are ladies wide brim fedoras, over-size tams, and carbary hats (a closer fitting version of the newsboy). These runway looks will probably have little effect on hats that sell because of the comfort level lades need to don a hat.

In casual hats there are no hats ladies feel more confident wearing than swingers, kettles, cowboy hats, and ball caps. From classic movies to current celebrities, the attractive look of these hat styles has been demonstrated. When female celebrities appeared on MTV in roll-up cowboy hats, the MTV generation said cowboy hats are no longer just for guys and a trend started that spread like wildfire. Hat trends do not move with the speed of apparel and jewelry. The hot sellers remain swingers, roll-up cowboy hats, and ball caps. After that come kettles, newsboys, and fedoras. The next big trend in casual hats will come from the movies, TV, or celebrities rather than from the runways.

Ladies Dress Hats
Trends in dress hats move even slower than casual hats and fall trends have less innovation than spring. Fall dress hats are mainly felts. The biggest market is church hats and they require a traditional and elegant look worthy of the occasion. The classic shapes of wide brim swingers, kettles, and wide rolled down brims are most popular.

Crowns shapes completely change the look with rounded, flat, or angled hat crowns. Trims are important and grosgrain ribbon, feathers, and felt rosettes provide elegance and style. The colors of black and winter white sell every year. Shades of brown from camel to coffee are big. The family of greens will be good this season. Grey and deep colors in hues of blue, red, and purple will be stylish. Hats that match ladies suits are important. Think classic and traditional in ladies dress hats.