The best bucket hats to turn heads in this summer
Bucket hats – the trend you thought died in the 1990s – are back and better than ever. Moving from the heads of boy bands to just about everyone, there’s no better time to invest in this head-turning headgear
As essential to your festival style as your shades and wellington boots, we're about to enter peak bucket hat season and we couldn't be happier. Characterised by its 360° brim to provide some shade and its easygoing pull-on style, the bucket hat is a pillar of any comprehensive summer wardrobe.
First conceived in the 1900s as a garment of function for outdoor workers such as fishermen and farmers, the bucket hat has since ascended to high-fashion ranks. Hitting a popularity peak around 25 years ago, recent times have seen the bucket hat on the heads of men's style icons such as Timothée Chalamet and Justin Bieber, proof that – like overdyed jeans and chunky trainers – it's no longer a nineties relic. Moving on from the Kangol classic, recent seasons have seen the bucket hat materialise in the shows of Prada, Celine, Burberry and Versace, to name just a few.
Here to guide you through the jungle of streetwise headwear, we've put together an edit of the best bucket hats to put a lid on fashion-forward 'fits this season. From tie-dye, logo-laden picks to muted, tailored accessories, you can rest assured that there’s a bucket hat for every aesthetic…
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1/12Arket
Not every bucket hat carries implications of Dark Fruits Twitter: some, like this cotton twill number by Arket, is actually rather grown-up. It’s simple, it’s understated and it’s in a shade that we can absolutely see Richard Attenborough’s Jurassic Park character John Hammond wearing. £29. arket.com
2/12Jacquemus
Jacquemus is in many ways synonymous with the bucket hat: classic yet controversial. Here, the French label plays with the simplistic tradition of the thing, presenting a clean black silhouette with subtle branding. The twist? A cotton twill tie detail. £79. At matchesfashion.com
3/12Ami Paris
You’ve heard of double denim. You’ve heard of the Canadian tuxedo. And now we introduce a step even further into the annals of denim delirium: wearing a denim bucket hat along with your denim jeans, shirt and jacket. Wearing it as a solo statement denim piece? That's always an option, too.
£120£84. amiparis.com
4/12Bode
Trust Bode to try something audaciously new. Here, in its take on the bucket hat, the brand plays with texture and colour, painting mint turquoise on an exaggerated amalgamation of canvas and corduroy. On paper, it shouldn’t work, but boy, does it in reality. £320. At matchesfashion.com
5/12Lacoste
Logomania’s back with a tasteful update thanks to this bucket hat from Lacoste. Known for its unique twist on wardrobe staples, the brand presents this bucket hat in a plain black hue and sleek, minimalist shape. In fact, we'd say this piece can go anywhere from a wander in the park to a night at the bar. Just grab it and go. £50. lacoste.com
6/12Burberry
These stripes speak for themselves. In the brand's signature Icon Stripe print, designed by Riccardo Tisci, this bucket hat from Burberry is instantly recognisable. Wear with denim and neutral tones to stand out and make Tisci proud. £310. At farfetch.com
7/12Coach
Coach’s unorthodox shopping call to action of “I want it” is particularly prescient in the context of this dusty pink bucket hat, a simple top-stitch and logo detail piece that exudes Ken-ergy. £125. uk.coach.com
8/121 Moncler x JW Anderson
Have you ever woken up mid-sleep in a cooling puddle of sweat and thought, frantically: I wish I could look like a whimsical fashion toadstool? Say no more, for 1 Moncler and JW Anderson have your back with their polka dot knitted wool bucket hat stamped with logo patch. Twee, yes, but incredibly cool. £330. At matchesfashion.com
9/12Gucci
You might think that lacquered faux leather isn’t the best material for a summer hat you’ll be wearing in the heat of the day. You’d be right! This is a bucket hat to be donned by those with serious fashion chops (and by those who don’t mind a touch of scalp perspiration). £395. At matchesfashion.com
10/12Champion
Bucket hats may have begun as a practical workwear accessory, but they have certainly come to represent festival culture in all of its raucous glory. For a hat that more closely toes that party line, Champion has the Gallagher-adjacent hat for you. And how to use that little pocket? You’ll just have to use your imagination…
£32£22.40. championstore.com
11/12Prada
A modern cut with a classic finish and also available in a vibrant yellow hue, this piece from Prada is sleek as can be. And with outside meet-ups still encouraged, its nylon construction could come in handy for both rain and sunshine. Let's hope for the latter. £520. At farfetch.com
12/12Kapital
And now, something different. Add a colourful twist with this bucket hat from Kapital and its patchwork bandana-inspired print. Following American workwear, where the bandana print features prominently, this piece is here to take your SS22 looks up a notch. Time to pledge allegiance… to the bucket hat.
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