Recently in Hats Category

Since so many of us are traveling now that it's finally summer, I thought I would highlight another popular European chain of boutiques. You wouldn't know it from the outside, but Uterque is owned by the same folks behind Zara. The boutiques have the same minimalist-sleek decor as Zara stores, but they're a lot darker, sexier, and have significantly less merchandise clutter. In fact they're so dark and minimalist, you might walk by one of the boutiques thinking it's closed! Prices are about double what you'd find at Zara and they have everything from ready-to-wear and handbags to shoes, jewelry, hats, and gloves. You'll find Uterque locations in Spain, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Belgium, among others (see their website for full list) and they're most definitely worth going out of your way to check-out. The quality-for-price is great and they always have a slew of everyday staples I want to wear straight-out-of-the store!

I went to Madrid a few months ago to visit a friend who moved there for work. While the gorgeous city has got every designer brand you could think of (and many of them are conveniently close to the city's major museums!), the best discovery I made while I was there was Bimba & Lola. I keep meaning to start a Facebook group "Bring Bimba & Lola to the US!". The store has an amazing selection of affordable (think about double the price of Zara), ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. They have a slew of boutiques around Spain and recently expanded to Asia (they have locations in Portugal, France, and a few other countries as well...). If you're traveling to Europe or Asia I urge you to look at their site to see if there's a Bimba & Lola boutique in the city where you'll be! The boutique targets 20 to 40-somethings and they've got a slew of original pieces that will take you from the office to the bar. The over-all aesthetic is feminine, but understated and most of the designs come in both neutral as well as popping colors.

Clearly there's a woman out there daring enough to wear one of these eccentric Prada summer hats! I stopped in my tracks and had to snap a few pictures of these hats as they were so unique and so embellished--and weighty--that they resembled more works of art than actual accessories to be worn. Do you see all the shells attached? It definitely takes some chutzpah to pull off such an outrageous hat, but if worn the right way--simple and streamlined--it can be a fabulous summer accent. You certainly will garner plenty of attention; just be careful not to stand still too long or you may find yourself becoming a bird's nest!

$1265 and $1670, available at Prada SoHo (212-334-8888)

I'm a huge Sonia Rykiel fan and I can't wait til her H&M line hits this Saturday! I just picked-up this Sonia Rykiel beret at the designer's Madison Avenue boutique in NYC. The retail price on it is only $125 and most of the boutique is marked down 40% already (prices also seem a lot lower this season than they have in seasons past). The Fall/Winter 2009 collection was very strong for Rykiel, but there's nothing that can top a classic Rykiel beret! Thin, warm and accented with Swarovski crystals, this hat is totally adorable (and just what I needed to get me mentally prepared for the cold months ahead). For a long time I thought that I couldn't pull of the beret look, but wearing this hat loosely so that it just barely touches my ears actually works for my face (probably because this version isn't stiff, but rather light and flexible. It's 100% wool.).

Stop by a Sonia Rykiel store ASAP (849 Madison Ave, New York - (212) 396-3060), for great discounts on the F/W 2009 collection!

I'm obsessed!! My mother and I went to an MCM event at Saks during Fashion Week and I came across these hats in the DVF section (they were the highlight of DVF's F/W 2009 collection!). Of course I wanted to buy the black one immediately ($150), but my mother looked at me like I was crazy (this is why its best to go shopping alone sometimes!). The red one ($200) is a bit too clownish for me and my head is too small to pull it off, but the black one is just right and I'm already planning on heading back to Saks this weekend to pick it up. 

Are you loving these DVF hats as much as I am?

Maybe it's the 13 years I spent at the French Lycee in NYC that makes me yearn to be able to pull-off a beret (not that anyone I went to school with wears one! The big thing with my French friends is actually scarves -- no matter the weather, they always have a chic scarf wrapped around their neck!). I'm still in France at the moment and I can't pass a Sonia Rykiel store without wishing that somehow I could pull-off the effortless Parisian-chic-coquette look. Try as I may however every time I put a beret on I get the feeling that I look uptight and pretentious! I came across this fabulous black beret with scattered colorful rhinestones -- it was so hard to accept that I looked ridiculous wearing it! What do you think about berets? Can you pull them off?

From left --Violet Wool Beret from Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, $56.10; Miu Miu Angora-blend beret, $120

Ikat, in the Malay language, literally means "to tie" and it refers to a style of weaving that uses a resist dyeing process (most commonly known resist dyeing process is tie-dying), on either the warp or weft (warp is the set of lengthwise yarns through which you weave the weft), before the threads are woven to create a desired design. This weaving style has inspired a countless chic looks and a number of contemporary designers (including MJ and Tory Burch). I would encourage anyone to go see a textiles museum in their area to learn more about this technique! Most of my knowledge on the breath of weaving techniques is long-gone, but they were among the basic things I learned in my textiles classes at Cornell and it's truly fascinating to see all the techniques at textile designers disposal come to fruition. I've always found that pairing these tribal-esque prints with simple pieces are great for summer and casual lunches. What do you think about ikat and ikat-inspired prints?

Clockwise-

• Marc by Marc Jacobs Ikat Cotton Skirt, $265
  
• Fab Blurred Ikat Skirt, $10.50
• Silk Ikat Bow Sandals, $249
• Eugenia Kim Honey sun hat, $290
• Echo Cover-up, $28
  
• Jemma Sparkle Hemp Skirt, $117.90

I've never been into Frye boots, overalls, or cut-offs, but it seems that cowboy chic is sweeping the scene when it comes to major summer trends. There's the good, the bad, and the downright ugly! Couture Snob Tina has already discussed fringe, now, check-out some of these other Wild West inspired wears. Are you going cowboy chic this summer?

sass & bide The Desired Result Jacket

We have the ultimate gift guide for the ultimate mom! We are giving you fantastic ideas so you can be sure to get your fantastic mom (or your baby mama) the gift she deserves. There is something for every kind of mom, all Snob Worthy of course =) Also, share some of your good ideas and some gifts you have given from past Mother's Day that were a huge hit.

Click here for The Ultimate Mother's Day Gift Guide.