How to Wear a Bucket Hat: Sizing, Packing and Outfits

To wear a bucket hat well, pick the right size so it sits level just above your eyebrows, then match the hat’s texture to the trip: raffia for the beach and resort, printed linen for city days and travel. Keep the rest of the outfit simple and let the brim frame your face, worn with relaxed shirts, stripes, denim and summer dresses. Zimmermann’s Resort 2027 bucket hats come in S, M and L, and follow the brand’s own size guide.

The bucket hat has outgrown its festival reputation. In a good fabric, with a considered brim, it is a sun hat that packs, travels and suits almost every age. Below: how to size one, how to pack one, how to style it for each kind of trip, and the Zimmermann pieces we would wear it with.

What is bucket hat fashion?

A bucket hat is a soft, unstructured hat with a rounded crown and a brim that slopes downward all the way around. That downward brim is the point: it shades your face, eyes and the back of your neck without the width of a classic straw sun hat. In fashion terms, it reads as relaxed and a little sporty, which is why it pairs so easily with the utility details, stripes and denim running through Zimmermann’s Resort 2027 collection.

Two of the new hats show the range of the shape:

• Raffia Fringe Bucket Hat in natural: 100% raffia, with a dramatic layered fringe trim that moves around the brim. Zimmermann describes it as a lightweight statement accessory for summer.
• Printed Long Brim Bucket Hat in cream paisley: 100% linen, lined in linen, with a custom placement print across a softly structured crown and a longer brim.

There is also a Denim Bucket Hat from the same season for days when you want the hat to match your jeans.

How should a bucket hat fit?

A bucket hat that is too small perches on top of the head; one that is too big slides down over your eyes. You want it to sit level, about a finger’s width above the eyebrows, with the brim dipping evenly at the front and back.

1. Measure your head. Wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of your head, across the forehead just above the eyebrows and over the tops of the ears. Keep the tape flat, not tight.
2. Check the brand’s guide. Zimmermann offers its hats in S, M and L, and its hats follow the Zimmermann size guide on the product page.
3. Allow for hair. If you usually wear your hair in a low bun under a hat, measure with the bun in place.
4. Size up between sizes. A hat that is a fraction large can be snugged with a strip of hat tape inside the band; a hat that is too small cannot be fixed.

Raffia has little give, so take extra care with the fringe hat. Linen relaxes slightly with wear, so the printed hat will settle onto your head over a few outings.

How do you pack a bucket hat?

The softness that makes a bucket hat comfortable also makes it one of the easiest hats to travel with, though the method depends on the material.

Never crush raffia under heavy items, and never pack it damp. If the fringe gets bent, hold it over the steam of a kettle at a safe distance and smooth it with your fingers. For linen, a gentle steam is all it needs to look fresh again.

How to wear a bucket hat by trip

Treat the hat as the finishing piece. The outfit underneath should be simple enough that the brim reads clearly against it.

The beach and pool

This is where the raffia fringe hat belongs. Wear it over swimwear with the Stripe Boxy Shirt thrown on as a cover up: it is a relaxed cotton and silk shirt in blue and white stripes with a classic collar, elongated cuffs and a shirt tail hem with side splits, so it looks right left open over a swimsuit and just as right buttoned for lunch. Add flat sandals and a large tote. See the Zimmermann swim edit for what goes underneath.

City sightseeing

For long days on foot, the printed linen hat keeps the sun off without adding bulk. Pair it with the Stripe Harem pant, which is mid rise and ankle length in a cotton and silk blend with an elasticated waist, a nautical rope drawcord and elasticated cuffs, and a pair of low sneakers. Our guide to the Zimmermann Zyra sneaker shows the shoe in three colourways.

Boat days and coastal lunches

Wind is the enemy of any hat. On a boat, a bucket hat beats a wide brim because it sits closer to the head. Wear the Boat Neck Mini Dress in blue stripe, a cotton and silk mini with voluminous sleeves and a rope drawcord waist, with the raffia hat, and tie a silk scarf under the chin if the breeze picks up.

Garden parties and long lunches

A bucket hat can work at a relaxed daytime event as long as the fabric is refined. The printed linen hat with a silk dress, a pair of low mules and gold earrings is polished without looking overdressed. If you are heading to the Melbourne Cup Carnival, note that the VRC describes Stakes Day as a relaxed garden party, while Oaks Day leans toward delicate millinery; hats are encouraged on every day but not mandatory, and Members’ enclosures set their own rules. For something more formal, the Lace Embellished Boater has a crisper shape.

Errands and airport days

The denim bucket hat with straight jeans, a white shirt and a knit over the shoulders is the low effort version. If your hair is not cooperating, a bucket hat covers it with more charm than a cap, though the Drill Cap is there for days you want a peak.

Can you decorate a bucket hat?

Yes, and the simplest decoration is one you can take off. A silk scarf tied around the crown as a band changes the colour story of the hat without any sewing. The Printed Silk Triangle Scarf is lightweight silk with a tan and cream polka placement print and measures 110 by 53 cm, long enough to wrap the crown and knot at the side. Zimmermann notes it can be tied at the neck, worn in the hair, plus styled with accessories.

• As a hat band: fold the scarf into a narrow strip and tie it at the side of the crown, tails hanging.
• As a chin tie: drape the scarf over the crown and knot it loosely under the chin for windy days.
• As a bag accent: when the hat comes off, knot the scarf to your tote handle so the outfit still ties together.

Avoid pins and glue on raffia, linen and denim. They leave marks that do not come out.

How do you look good in a bucket hat?

A few proportion rules make most of the difference:

• Balance the brim with your hair. Hair worn loose and low, around the shoulders, softens the line of the brim. A sleek low ponytail works for a cleaner look. A high ponytail fights the hat.
• Show your face. Tilt the hat back slightly so your eyebrows are visible. Pulled down low, a bucket hat hides you.
• Go bold with earrings. The brim frames the ears, so a gold hoop and a drop earring both look deliberate.
• Keep one texture. A raffia hat with a linen shirt is good; a raffia hat with a crochet dress and a woven bag can feel like too much straw.
• Match the hat’s formality to your shoes. Flats and sneakers with a bucket hat; low heeled mules when the fabric is linen and the occasion is lunch.

Shop more hats in Coveti’s designer hats edit and silk squares in designer scarves, and for more of the label’s accessories, read the Zimmermann jewellery and scarves guide and browse the Zimmermann brand page.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pack a bucket hat?

Fold a linen bucket hat in half along the crown and lay it flat between clothes, then steam it on arrival. For raffia, fill the crown with rolled socks and pack it crown up at the top of the case so the brim and fringe stay flat.

Are bucket hats in style in 2026?

Yes. In refined fabrics such as raffia and printed linen, the bucket hat is part of Zimmermann’s Resort 2027 accessories, worn with stripes, denim and summer dresses.

Can you decorate a bucket hat?

Yes. The easiest way is a silk scarf tied around the crown as a band, which you can remove at any time. Avoid pins and glue on raffia and linen, since they leave marks.

What is bucket hat fashion?

A bucket hat is a soft hat with a rounded crown and a brim that slopes down all the way around. It reads as relaxed and slightly sporty, so it suits utility pieces, stripes and denim.

Am I too old for a bucket hat?

No. A bucket hat in a refined fabric, worn with a simple shirt and good earrings, suits women of every age. Choose raffia and linen over nylon, and keep the brim tilted back so your face shows.

How do you look good in a bucket hat?

Choose the right size so the hat sits level just above your eyebrows, wear your hair loose and low, and keep the outfit underneath simple. Gold earrings help frame the face under the brim.