Hats: A Mad Good Time!

By Abby and Elle

We love hats, but Abby’s the lucky one because hats (seriously, like all hats, even army helmets) look like they were made just for her. Elle, on the other hand, has a surprisingly small head, so unless she’s wearing a hat designed for a toddler, it immediately falls down over her eyes. We’re not kidding.

So in an attempt to find the perfect (adult) hat for Elle — and to see what this hat business is all about — we, along with some old friends and new friends, ventured out to Studio St. Marie in Rocky River, which is owned by Lee St. Marie. We share what we saw and what we learned below!

PS: Elle bought the grey cloche.

PPS: Leave us a comment and let us know which hat is your favorite!

Cool chicks dig hats (but we already knew that). Photo: Stephen Travarca

A straw topper in hot pink makes anyone kissable. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Don’t feel obliged to remove your hat indoors. Hats are for wearing all the time! Photo: Stephen Travarca

Choose a milliner if you have a hard-to-fit head or if you need help choosing the right hat. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Hats are designed to frame your face. Photo: Stephen Travarca

They’re also designed to bring out the eyes. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Wear lip color or clear gloss to enhance the look. Photo: Stephen Travarca

How to know which way to wear a hat? Seam goes in the back. Photo: Stephen Travarca

These floppy wide-brim hats are made from jacketing material, perfect for wet fall weather. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Fascinator made from a Christian Dior necktie. Photo: Stephen Travarca

That’s the finest fez we’ve ever seen. Photo: Stephen Travarca

This has flowy dress and picnic basket written all over it. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Shades of straw (and, no, not 50). Photo: Stephen Travarca

Cloche is French for bell. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Cloches were popular in the 1920s. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Downton Abbey has helped popularize cloches again. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Part of the summer collection. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Touch of the Far East anyone? Photo: Stephen Travarca

Love the satin and feather embellishment. Photo: Stephen Travarca

The bulk of embellishment should be worn to one side. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Understated elegance. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Lee modeling a simple pullover cap. Photo: Stephen Travarca

A perfect frame. Photo: Stephen Travarca

Find Lee’s studio in Rocky River. Photo: Stephen Travarca