Shopportunities

Shopper Alert

After 175 years as America’s perhaps most recognizable jeweler (blue boxes, anyone?), Tiffany & Co. has unveiled its new RUBEDO collection. Crafted from a new jeweler’s metal and designed to combine the richness of gold, the brilliance of silver and the warmth of copper, the pieces are lightweight yet strong and flatter a variety of skin tones. Prepare to swoon, then peruse the collection at Tiffany & Co. at Waterside Shops or online at tiffany.com.

—Jennifer Freihofer  

Hat Tricks

Cheryl Lampard, founder of Style Matters International, answers your questions each month.

Dear Cheryl,

This summer I have several special occasions to attend, all of which require me to wear a hat. I have no objection to wearing a hat—in fact, I’m looking forward to it—but I’m clueless about the style and shape I should choose.

There is something about a hat that elevates an outfit from “great” to “wow!” An accessory with such powers of transformation must therefore be selected with care, as the wrong hat can mean the difference between looking fabulous or frightful. With as many shape and style options as there are hats to choose from, here are some guidelines to steer you through the millinery maze:

consider the shape—not only of the hat but of your face and features. If you’re fortunate enough to have chiseled, angular features, you can pull off most hat shapes, although those with angular, crisp lines will define your assets even more. Faces with softer lines and features need some balance; anything too floppy will emphasize roundness, whereas a taller, straighter crown will help elongate a short face.

a hat needs to be in scale with your height and frame.
A small hat on a large-boned woman will only serve to make her look larger, whereas an enormous cartwheel hat on a petite woman will be overwhelming.

the most common faux pas is wearing a hat too far back on the head. For a hat with a brim, pull it down to just above your eyebrows, then tilt it slightly to one side.
The sides of the hat should fit snugly against the sides of your head.

the wind is a hat wearer’s enemy, so small concoctions that perch precariously on the top or side of the head need to be secured via elastic hidden under the hair at the nape of the neck, a stylish hat pin or an invisible comb that can be wedged into the hair.

on hat hair: don’t let your hairstyle fight for attention with your hat. Take it to your hairdresser so he or she can create a style that works for you and your headwear. This is the time to let the hat do the work as your crowning glory!

—Gail, Port Charlotte
 

Submit your questions for consideration to jenniferf@gulfshorelife.com.