THE NEW YORK POST SAYS HATS ARE HIP

Since it’s important to know what the media is saying about hats we thought we would run this recent article about headwear. Let us know what you think. I can be reached at: diane.hatlife@gmail.com or dfyoga@aol.com.

HATS ALL, FOLKS
New york post
By MARINA VATAJ
January 8, 2007 -- TIP your cap to the hat industry - it's having a moment.

But in this teeming world of toppers, it's not always easy to find what suits you best - unless, of course, you're Sienna Miller, J.Lo or Lindsay Lohan, the cap-clad celebrities best known to mix, match and look magnificent in everything.

For the rest of us, trying to maneuver through the mounds of headpieces at local department stores can be stressful.

The trick: Use more than your head, according to Eugenia Kim, headgear guru and author of the new book headgear guru and author of the new book "Saturday Night Hat."

"Not everyone is a celebrity and can look good in everything. It's important to realize that it's not just how it fits on your head that counts," says Kim, a chapeau designer whose styles are sold at Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue and online at eugeniakim.com. "Your skin tone, your hair color and, most importantly, your face shape are what determine what looks good on you."

Kim says she first started wearing hats about 10 years ago because she got a bad haircut andwanted to hide it - something most people do to conceal a cut. But after wearing her first set of hats, she realized they don't just hide hair, they can accentuate it.

"People are getting more experimental with haircuts these days, and hats are great for emphasizing a new hairstyle," she says. "Women with bangs or long hair tend to look better in berets, while women with short hair, which is huge right now, look amazing with cloches because they really accent the chin and are dynamic."

Kim also notes that blond-haired babes look best with white hats. Meanwhile, if you have olive skin, stay away from greens and browns. "In cases of skin tone, opposites attract," she confirms.

Another fashion piece to keep in mind (and on your head) is the fedora - it's the celebrity favorite, gangster-esque accessory.

"This hat is originally a man's hat, but it looks super sexy on a woman," Kim says. "It looks especially great on women with long hair and round faces."

And it's practical - unlike those sun and cocktail hats usually donned by famous faces such as Victoria Beckham and J.Lo, which should be avoided at all costs.

"It's totally impractical to try to squeeze into a subway with a tremendous thing on your head. It just doesn't make sense," Kim claims. "The only person who can really get away with a sun hat is Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" - and, of course, J.Lo, who somehow manages to pull it off.

The Fedora
Fans: Ashlee Simpson, Kate Hudson

Best for: Girls with long locks. "This hat isn't really great on girls with short hair because then it tends to look too boyish," says hat designer Eugenia Kim. Wear it at a tilt at the same angle as your jaw line to highlight your cheekbones.

Get the look: Cha Cha's House of Ill Repute fedora with talisman charms, ravinstyle.com, $195. Kim's "Josephine" leopard fedora, eugeniakim.com, $155. Fedoras similar to Ashlee's and Kate's at villagehatshop.com

The Newsboy
Fans: Jessica Simpson

Best for: Long-faced gals with long locks and dark hair. Less structured than the Engineer Cap. Don't pull your hair back when you're wearing one.

Get the look: Alfani's light blue knit newsboy cap, Macy's, $32.

The Floppy
Fans: Liv Tyler, J.Lo

Best for: Women with long faces, and if it's bright colored, especially great for women with pale skin. "If you're insecure that your face is too long, bigger brimmed hats shorten the appearance of your face," says Kim, adding, "pink and red look great on pale women because it acts like blush." Don't tilt it back or you'll look like the Flying Nun. Short women should also avoid; a strong gust of wind will carry you away.

Get the look: Patricia Underwood's "Giselle" red felt hat , Bergdorf Goodman, $475.

The Beret
Fans: Rachel Bilson, Alicia Keys

Best for: Babes with bangs. "Bangs and berets definitely compliment each other," Kim says. Don't pull it too far down over your forehead, and don't tilt it. Be warned: French people don't even wear them anymore. You have to own it.
Get the look: Anna Kula's floppy beret (below), girlshop.com, $145.

The Knit
Fans: Lindsay Lohan, Cameron Diaz

Best for: Small faces with long or short hair. "Small faces look the best with these caps because they aren't overwhelming," Kim says.

Get the look: Banana Republic's wool/cashmere button beanie (below), bananarepublic.com,
$14.99.

The Trapper
Fans: Lumberjacks, anyone at the Sundance Film Festival

Best for: Everyone brave enough to wear it, minus girls with long faces.

"Because it'll lengthen your face even more," Kim says. Make sure your hair shows, or else you'll look like Elmer Fudd. Stay away from loud patterns if you have a large head; play it safe by getting gray.

Get the look: Hat Attack's navy sweatshirt trapper, girlshop.com,

$64. Eric Javits' leopard trapper hat (below), Saks Fifth Avenue, $575.

The Engineer
Fans: Sienna Miller, Kate Winslet, Thomas the TankEngine

Best for: Women with round faces and short hair. "Short haired girls should opt for engineer-style caps," Kim says. If you have long hair, match the color to your hair - black hair, black hat.

Get the look: Tracy Watts' plaid scooter cap, Barneys New York or tracywatts.com, $212. "Parker" pleated engineer cap, eugeniakim. com, $165.

Hats off to them
Four women who shined in signature hats Jackie O smuggling a bouffant in her '60s pillbox, Ingrid Bergman from "Casablanca," looking mysterious and sexy in a low-slung fedora; Patty Hearst in her brainwashing beret; and Diane Keaton's elongated bohemian bowler in "Annie Hall.