THE FALL RUNWAY SHOWS GLORIFIED HATS, NOW JOHN CALLANAN TELLS THE CONSUMER HOW AND WHEN TO WEAR ONE

Ellegirl.com asked Callanan some relevant hat questions, and this hat designer and marketer (from Dorfman Pacific) answered them perfectly. Because consumers are watching their favorite celebrities don hats it’s natural that they would want some hat information.

Photos by Jennifer Cooper

Here is the interview with Callanan that appeared on the www.ellegirl.com Internet site:

CROWNING GLORY:
If you think you’re not a “hat person” think again.

Hats dominated the fall runways, with styles ranging from the unexpected (we saw more than a few top hats), to the adorable (nothing beats a classic beret), to the more avant-garde (equestrian hats seemed to be the hat du jour). Everyone from Sonia Rykiel, John Galliano, Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui topped off their looks with hot hats, which made us wonder-can we really pull off a hat?

After all, wearing a hat takes some guts. First off, it's not like nobody will notice, so you have to be ready to make a statement when you walk in a room. Secondly, they're a tricky accessory; you have to find the right one for you and, most importantly, feel comfortable in it. There's no need to just jump on every trend. Believe it or not, there is a technique to wearing them. John Callanan, the head designer of the hat company Dorfman Pacific, explains how to wear a hat without looking...well...stupid.

ELLEgirl: How does a hat virgin go about finding the right hat?
John Callanan: Everyone is a hat person once she finds the right shape. Like any fashion or hairstyle, you have to find a style that enhances your natural beauty. Short statures should avoid large brims so that they don't look like a mushroom, and tall girls should keep away from small brims to avoid looking like a pin head. If you are short, look for a hat with an upturned brim as the admirer's eye will always go to the highest point, so it is a tricky way to add height. A girl who feels too tall should wear a downturn brim to illusionary subtract a few inches. Girls with beautiful oval faces should avoid baseball caps and rounded cloche (bell) shapes. A round cap on an oval shapes is just one big circle. An oval face should wear a fedora style as the creased brim and crown will help to break up the oval.

EG: What are the big hat trends for fall?
JC: Faux fur troopers are still hot, [as are] newsboys and small brimmed fedoras for clubbing.

EG: Any tricks to avoid "hat hair"?
JC: If you are going to wear a hat, then let the hat become your hair. Slick your hair back in to a low pony tail at the nape of the neck. This will show your beautiful swan neck. The hat will frame you sparkling eyes.

EG: You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of hat she wears. What do some of the different styles say about a person?
JC: Fedoras have a mysterious look. Often worn at a jaunty angle so the viewer only see one eye, it says 'I am not revealing everything all at once.' The newsboy says 'I am casual, sporty and one of the boys.' The cloches say 'I am a diehard romantic.'

EG: Is there a universal hat that just looks good on everyone?
JC: Probably the newsboy. It has enough volume to allow the wearer to play with it until she finds the shape that works with her face or mood. The visor gives enough shadow for the mysterious look. Newsboys are really a stylized beret with a visor.

So you can wear a visor AND be stylish? Who knew...