At New York Fashion Week, Jaunty Little Hats Are the Most Important Accessory

Brr—it’s cold outside, isn’t it?

New York Fashion Week has kicked off, and showgoers are currently running from one fashion show to the next in some seriously-crisp wintery conditions. But if day one proved anything yesterday, it’s that frigid temperatures aren’t stopping them from flexing their best statement looks for the street style photographers.

In fact, it has been quite the contrary: Bold coats, elegant gloves, and colorful scarves have all bolstered this season’s answer to cozy-chic dressing. But few accessories are working overtime in the way the little jaunty hat is. From structured pillbox hats—a big hit on street style stars lately—to fuzzy bucket styles, the fashion set is keeping their ears warm with striking toppers that complete the outfit.

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

At the Collina Strada show, many attendees leaned into the label’s quirky, furry hats. (If you want a disco topper with bits of hanging yarn, Collina Strada has got you covered.) It was all about hats with personality. Oft-snapped Chloe King donned a gingham pageboy cap, while Vogue’s very own fashion market director Naomi Elizée sported a knit beanie with built-in ears. Love it or loathe it, there has also been plenty of fuzz and (faux) fur too, with fashion VIPs leaning into plushy silhouettes.

Photographed by Phil Oh

If you think about it, making the hat a focal point during a wintery fashion week is just downright smart. If you are going to keep your head warm, you might as well have a pragmatic accessory work double-time, and provide a whimsical statement in the process. Even near the end of New York Fashion Week, when editors and influencers get tired of putting together impossibly-cool outfits, you can bet that a fun-and-wacky chapeau will transform any ensemble into instant street style bait. Plus, there shall be no frostbitten ears! Win-win.

Below, more of those jaunty hats from New York Fashion Week so far.