Just a few short weeks ago, I wrote about Whichgoose’s ethereal head wreaths. Although I realize revisiting her hat collection so soon opens up all sorts of stalker questions, I can’t help it — sorry.

Why isn’t this talented girl’s designs at Henri Bendel yet? I’ll never understand..

Victoria Velvet Cloche Hat -- $40

And, while I have your attention, a sophisticated option to dress up your hair at your next formal occasion.

Grace -- Ribbon Rose Comb

I promise, I’m not her publicist. Just slightly obsessed, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Images: Whichgoose

Sometimes for a day in the outdoors I just love a cute bucket hat.  I have a plaid Burberry one that I have had for years that still works when I just want to throw on something for a cloudy day at the beach.  For more affordable options, Athleta has some simple cute plaid bucket hats at low prices.  If you haven’t checked it out yet, Athleta is the new brand in the Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic/Piperlime powerhouse.  They have California-inspired athletic wear for women that are created with performance and style in mind…think lots of cute yoga and surf gear.

Image: Athleta

Athleta Skip Bucket Hat in Fume Plaid $30

This simple bucket hat in light plaid with a striped ribbon brim is rated UPF 50+ so you will be protecting your face and head from sun damage.  It also comes in a navy plaid.

Image: Athleta

Athleta Reversible Daisy Hat $28

This adorable plaid bucket hat is reversible with a baby blue paisley print on the inside so you have two options with one hat.  It is made in a light cotton canvas so it’s great if you will be doing some physically activity.

If you want to splurge for the real deal, here is the Burberry one that I got about six years ago and still wear:

Image: Burberry

Burberry Check Bucket Hat $150

It costs five times more, but Burberry is always in style!

I have been waiting for this highly anticipated Gap/CFDA Nominees khaki collection to come out for months!  The Council of Fashion Designers of America held their Fashion Awards ceremony last night to celebrate outstanding achievements in the fashion world.  The Gap has been working with nominees Vena Cava, Alexander Wang, and Albertus Swanepoel to create a fashionable collection that is a modern interpretation of the classic Gap khaki.

The Gap chose talented South African accessories designer Albertus Swanepoel to design five unique khaki hats for this special collection.  These limited edition hats are beautiful and innovative with simple yet unique twists on a traditional safari hat.  The hats will be available in Gap stores nationwide starting Wednesday, July 17 (today in NY) but are available to order online today.  I can’t wait to try them on in the stores!  Get one before they sell out!

Here is the complete collection:

Albertus Swanepoel Khaki Fedora $39.50

Albertus Swanepoel Khaki Bucket Hat $39.50

Albertus Swanepoel Button-Trimmed Khaki Hat $39.50

Albertus Swanepoel Pleated Khaki Hat $39.50

Albertus Swanepoel Khaki Wide Brim Hat $39.50

Check out the entire collection of CFDA/Gap Special Edition Khaki collection online to see the clothing pieces designed by Vena Cava and Alexander Wang.

Cameron Diaz is sporting a fresh summery look with a cute asymmetrical straw fedora.  It’s great to see a woman sporting a fedora with a classy and sophisticated style (no offense to Britney Spears).  I love the whole look with her loose updo, slouchy white sweater, and flat sandals.

The asymmetrical fedora has a distinct fold up on one side balanced with a slant down on the other.  I would definitely say that this style has attitude!

Image: INF

If you want to rock Cameron’s breezy asymmetrical fedora look, here is a similar fedora for you to check out:

Image: Shopbop

Eugenia Kim Max Ribbon Fedora at Shopbop $286

Kelli is on vacation, so I’m doing a quick fill-in for a few days covering hats and shades. If you are shopping for summer hats and hair accessories, you are in luck. Right now, the Nordstrom Half-Yearly sale is happening online and at Nordstrom stores. You can get lots of fabulous fashions, handbags, jewelry and accessories at deep discounts of 33% off and more. Here are a few hot buys that you might like.

Straw Fedora
Funk up your look with a cool fedora. Fedoras protect your face from the sun and look chic too. This straw-blend hat is available in black or natural. Originally priced at $48, it’s now $27.90.

Image: Nordstrom

MARC by Marc Jacobs Headband
Little stones sparkle on this thin yet vibrant headband from the MARC by Marc Jacobs label. This coral Cosmos headband is priced at just $45.90, marked down from $78. It’s also available in Jet Blue.

Image: Nordstrom

Cotton Cap
This cool white cotton cap has a simple shape, similar to a newsboy cap. It’s perfect for those summer bad hair days, or anytime you need a cute accent to your outfit. Grab this hat for just $21.90 — a 40% discount.

Image: Nordstrom

The lovely Ms. Aretha Franklin made quite a style statement at President Obama’s recent inauguration - in fact, I don’t think  I’ve ever gotten so many comments on a post before!

Her classic “church” hat has inspired many women to try adding hats as accessories and now has inspired a Christmas tree ornament.  Yes, you can display a little piece of history on your Christmas tree this year

The hand-made glass ornaments will be available at select boutiques or directly from the designer,  Curtis Posuniak who can be contacted by email here.

image: Newscom

Obviously sales are pretty great.  The only consistent difficulty that I have with shopping sales is that any great style that I find is never available in my size.  In checking out the sales online recently, I just had a great realization: accessories on sale are the best because they usually come in just one size!  Hats and sunglasses are usually fairly generic in size (hats come in maybe two sizes at the most), so it’s a better chance that you will find what you are looking for.

Banana Republic is currently having a great accessories sale, with up to 50% off on hats and sunglasses.  I always love stocking up on the basics at Banana Republic sales, so here are my picks for classics that are affordable and on sale and going to be quite fashionable this summer:

Image: Banana Republic

Here is a beautiful version of my favorite hat style of the summer: the straw cloche.  The straw is a great seasonal update to the wool cloche that was so popular this winter.  The belt detail on the brim is a unique and casual element.  The Straw Cloche is $29.99 (reg. $49).

Image: Banana Republic

The black fedora is a wardrobe staple for hat wearers, and it will be in style for this summer as well.  This straw version has a feminine touch with a wide ribbon band.  The Uptown Fedora is on sale for $29.99 (reg $59).

Image: Banana Republic

These simple aviators look great without sparkly embellishments or huge brand logos.  The Morgan Sunglasses are for men and women and are on sale for $54.60 (reg $78).

If you are not usually comfortable wearing a hat, I think this summer you should go for it!  There are great opportunities to try out this versatile accessory with flattering designs for every outfit and style…and I promise that you don’t have to worry about looking silly.  Whether you are interested in a hat for function or fashion, there are some gorgeous options that satisfy both.  Here are my picks for the top hat styles for summer 2009…expect lots of follow-up posts with great designs in each category:

• Floppy - the epitome of function and fashion.  The floppy sun hat is a great staple for the summer…especially for all of you smart women who protect your skin from harmful UV rays.  I love the different colors, fabrics, and sizes that designers are coming up with this season.  I have a great straw floppy hat that I picked up in Kauai and I swear that wearing it gives you confidence!

Image: Anthropologie

• Short-Brimmed - the update on the basic.  This military-inspired cap is similar to the standard baseball cap, except that the head shape is typically a cylinder instead of a half-sphere and the brim is shortened.  There are tons of adorable styles with girly fabrics and unique embellishments.  I see this as the female version of the baseball cap.

Image: Urban Outfitters

• Cloche - the fashionable vintage look.  The cloche is still currently my favorite hat style.  I wore one all winter and now I am excited to find a straw cloche for summer.  I think they are classy and timeless.

Image: Urban Outfitters

• Head Wrap - the creative and colorful.  I have always loved looking through beautiful and brilliantly patterned scarves, but I was never really quite sure how I could use one.  This summer I will be posting about ways to use scarves as headwear, which has a wonderfully stylish look and protects your hair from sun damage.

Image: Nordstrom

• Fedora: the stylish standard.  The fedora has been popular ever since Britney Spears and other celebrities, male and female, started sporting them about five years.  Surprisingly this trend seems to have outlasted the careers of some of its wearers.  The fedora appears, yet again, this summer in light fabrics and colors.  I would love to see some more creative approaches from designers to update this stylish basic…

Image: Bloomingdales

Lisa Battaglia designs gorgeous and dramatic handmade hats with an aesthetic that she describes as “modern vintage.”

She re-interprets traditional craftsmanship with modern colors, shapes, and materials.  I love how unique each of her styles are with creative twists and eye-catching innovations that explore the idea of wearable art.  If you don’t see what you are looking for in her current collection, she also designs custom hats to express your individual visions or to wear to a special event (so perfect for horse racing events and summer garden parties).

Image: Lisa Battaglia

One of my favorite designs is The Hipster in navy, which is a fedora with special Lisa Battaglia twists like interesting asymmetrical seams on the top, artistic leather embellishments, and a distinctly handshaped brim.  This hat would be perfect to wear out on a summer night.  The Hipster is available for $200 online.

Image: Lisa Battaglia

If you are interested in a style that is more vintage and dramatic, I absolutely love the Mrs. President style, which comes in Black, Royal, or Red Purple.  This small velour hat has accents in feather and rhinestones with a gorgeous veil.  The Mrs. President is available for $380 online.

You can view all designs and order hats online from the website Lisa Battaglia.

By Guest Blogger Lisa Fogarty

Helene Berman may be “indie,” but scrappy? Oh, no. While other women were burning their bras, the British dame was studying fashion design at London’s prestigious Harrow School of Art and Design.

Her swingy cropped jackets and petticoats – yes, I said petticoats – are charming and ultra feminine, while her ladylike collection of hats, which range from metallic bucket hats to satin turbans, epitomize elegance.

I’m hoping if I can don a cute straw trilby and dogtooth print skirt I can still get away with chugging black coffee instead of Earl Grey.

Image: Helene Berman

Image: Helene Berman

Image: Helene Berman

Find out more at HeleneBerman.com.

Lisa Fogarty’s Bio: “I am a reporter for the Queens Tribune newspaper in New York City and a recent graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. I am obsessed with skincare products, pretty scarves and belts and any sweater or blouse that features an unorthodox neckline. And shoes aren’t so bad, either. Check out my new blog, Recession Runway.”