Trendsetter: Hats

Published

This story was updated on August 30h, 2023 at 05:30 p.m.

Tis’ the season for an abundance of accessories, where New Yorkers take every opportunity to spice up their outfits, whether it’s something as simple as a black beanie or as funky as a devil horned hood. Hear from New School students and other NYC fashionistas on how to best sport a hat this fall, and other trends to look out for.

Lauren Kahn posing with pink crochet hat, graphic t-shirt, and patchwork pants.
Lauren Kahn @laurenhkahn, @divaofwestla. Photo via author.

Parsons Fashion Design student Lauren Kahn wears an adorable pink crocheted hat with floral embellishments on the center front. This strawberry shortcake-esque hat is the perfect pairing for a colorful and cute outfit.

Kahn says her favorite current trend is the recent experimenting of latex and texture in the fashion industry, specifically pieces by Sheguang Hu (@sheguanghu), Oliver Prime (@oliver_prime), and Rubber Dei (@rubberdei). All of these artists have piqued Kahn’s interest in materiality, which sparks ideas with textile play. 

Kahn’s outfit includes a variety of textures and she says having a mix of fabrics in your closet is key. The combination of the patchwork pants, crochet hat, and additions of industrial jewelry creates a fun contrast.

Candid Lauren Kahn in her hat out and about in the City.
Lauren Kahn sporting her second hand crochet hat out in the city. Photo via author.

Krystal Alexis in front of the Dior store in Soho wearing a black horned hood, orange floral print dress, and knee high boots.
Krystal Alexis in Soho @krystalalexis. Photo via author.

One of my favorite finds of the week was Krystal Alexis’ amazing horned hood. The spookiness paired perfectly with her color palette and the spirit of autumn. Alexis’ favorite trend this season is tight fitting hoods and hats, such as the one she wears or possibly a balaclava. She also mentioned her love for the hot and heavy ballet flat trend.

Alexis is a collector of all things vintage, kitsch and retro and her use of a fun hat shows us how much it can add to an outfit.


Sydney Levy posing outside wearing a black beanie, band tee, and knee length shorts.
Sydney Levy @sydneyl3vy, @sewnbysyd_sbs. Photo via author.

Sydney Levy, a fashion design student at Parsons, wears the perfect grunge outfit for a 70 degree fall day in New York. With the weather warmer than usual this year, take inspiration from Levy on how to sport a cold weather hat on a hot day by pairing it with shorts and an oversized band tee.

Levy says her favorite trends this season are both the micro skirt and low rise denim, which are making major comebacks from the early 2000s. Levy’s black beanie is the perfect addition to the grunge Y2K look and never fails to add to a relaxed feel to an outfit.

This look is great inspiration for an easy accessory that adds a lot to the outfit. Although a black beanie may seem simple, Levy made it exciting through use of industrial jewelry, an oversized silhouette, and a strong color palette of red, black, and beige.

Detail shot of Sydney Levy's hat and accessories while posing outside.
Sydney Levy showing off her beanie. Photo via author.

A previous version of this article included an additional section featuring a student’s vest. The section was removed due to the individual‘s employment concerns. The story has been revised to reflect these changes.

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