Straw Hat Day – May. 15, 2027

Straw Hat Day
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Fashion
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United States
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Every May 15
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Straw Hat Day shades the calendar every May 15, inviting everyone to don this iconic and versatile accessory. From elegant wide-brims to casual fedoras, straw hats offer both sun protection and a statement of style. Discover the perfect straw hat for your look, explore its rich history, and join the global celebration of this summer staple.

Want to sponsor Straw Hat Day? Learn how

Expected Straw Hat Day Deals

As Straw Hat Day approaches on May 15, expect retailers to unveil stylish promotions on this quintessential summer accessory. While official 2027 deals are yet to be announced, history suggests major fashion and outdoor brands will offer discounts. Look for special offers from brands like Brixton, known for their classic and contemporary designs, and Lack of Color, a favorite for trendy, wide-brimmed styles. Department stores such as Nordstrom and Macy’s often feature sales on their seasonal hat collections, while outdoor retailers like REI might highlight sun-protective options from brands like Sunday Afternoons. Keep an eye out for independent boutiques and online hat specialists like Goorin Bros. or Hat Attack, which may offer unique handcrafted pieces. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as May 15 approaches.

Platform Guide for Straw Hat Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #StrawHatDay. Share your favorite straw hat look, a flat lay of your collection, or a reel showcasing different styling ideas.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #StrawHatDay. Create a ‘Get Ready With Me’ video featuring a straw hat, or a quick tutorial on how to care for your hat.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #StrawHatDay. Post photos of your family or friends enjoying the day in their straw hats, or ask for recommendations for local hat shops.

Social Media Tips for Straw Hat Day

Individuals

Style your favorite straw hat with a summer outfit and share a selfie. Or, simply wear a straw hat all day to celebrate its timeless appeal.

Creators

Produce a style guide video demonstrating five different ways to wear a straw hat, or a DIY tutorial for adding personal touches to a plain straw hat.

Brands

Host a giveaway featuring a selection of popular straw hats. Partner with an influencer for a styled photoshoot showcasing your hat collection.

Top Brands for Straw Hat Day

  1. Brixton

    Founded in 2004 in Oceanside, California, Brixton is known for its timeless apparel and headwear, including a popular line of straw hats that blend classic styles with modern aesthetics.

  2. Lack of Color

    An Australian brand established in 2011 by Tess Corvaia and Robert Tilbury, Lack of Color has gained international recognition for its fashion-forward, wide-brimmed straw hats and other headwear, favored by influencers and celebrities.

  3. Sensi Studio

    Founded by Stephany Sensi in Ecuador, Sensi Studio specializes in handcrafted accessories, particularly exquisite Panama hats and other straw creations, preserving traditional artisanal techniques.

  4. Panama Hat Company

    Based in Ecuador, the traditional home of the Panama hat, this company is dedicated to sourcing and selling authentic, hand-woven Toquilla straw hats, supporting local artisans and their craft.

  5. Sunday Afternoons

    Established in 1992 in Ashland, Oregon, Sunday Afternoons is a leading brand in sun-protective headwear, offering a wide range of straw hats designed with UPF 50+ fabric for outdoor enthusiasts.

  6. Goorin Bros.

    With a heritage dating back to 1895 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Goorin Bros. is a family-owned hat company renowned for its quality craftsmanship, offering a diverse collection of straw hats alongside other iconic styles.

  7. Hat Attack

    Founded in 1981 by Cooper and Lisa Gordon, Hat Attack is a New York-based brand known for its chic and contemporary straw hats and accessories, often seen in fashion magazines and on trendsetters.

Straw Hat Day Hero

Philip C. Johnson

Philip C. Johnson (1906-1979) was an American industrialist and hat manufacturer who played a significant role in popularizing straw hats in the early to mid-20th century. His company, the Philip C. Johnson Hat Company, was a major producer of straw hats, making them accessible and fashionable for a broad American audience. Johnson's efforts helped solidify the straw hat's place as a quintessential summer accessory, blending practical sun protection with an enduring sense of style.

History of Straw Hat Day

The origin of Straw Hat Day is unclear. It started in New Orleans in the late 1910s. The day marks the beginning of summer, with people switching their winter headgears to the spring/summer ones. On the other hand, at the University of Pennsylvania, Straw Hat Day was observed on the second Saturday of May, the day being the principal spring celebration for undergraduates and a ballgame. The day was said to be widely accepted in Philadelphia that no one in the city dared wear a straw hat before the ballgame.

A straw hat, a brimmed hat woven out of straw or straw-like materials, is not only for protection but for style, and even it becomes a symbol. And it has been around since the Middle Ages. In Lesotho, ‘mokorotlo’ — a local name for the straw hat — is worn as part of the traditional Sotho clothing. It’s a national symbol. The ‘mokorotlo’ also appears on their flag and license plates. In the U.S., the Panama hat became popular due to President Theodore Roosevelt wearing it during his visit to the Panama Canal construction site.

Popular straw hats include boaters, lifeguards, fedora, and Panama. A boater or straw boater is a semi-formal warm-weather hat. It’s the type of straw hat worn by people around the time Straw Hat Day began. The boater is made from stiff sennit straw, with a stiff flat brim and striped grosgrain ribbon around its crown. It’s still a part of the school uniform in numerous boys’ schools in the U.K., Australia, and South Africa. Although men are seen wearing the boater, the hat is unisex. So, you can style it with your outfit, ladies.

Straw Hat Day timeline

5th — 15th Century
The Middle Age

Traders sell straw hats and fashion fad trends.

20th Century
The Mokorotlo

Basotho introduces wearing mokorotlo as part of the traditional attire at village meetings.

1906
Panama Hat Becomes Popular

President Theodore Roosevelt visits the Panama Canal, wearing a Panama hat.

1911
Straw Hat Day

People switch their winter hats to their spring/summer straw hats.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Straw Hat Day

Local boutiques and fashion retailers can celebrate Straw Hat Day by hosting in-store styling events, showcasing different straw hat looks for various occasions. Restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating might offer a ‘Hat-tastic’ discount for patrons wearing a straw hat. Photography studios could run special portrait sessions featuring clients in their favorite straw hats, capturing the essence of summer style and tradition.

Straw Hat Day FAQs

When is Straw Hat Day?

In 2027, Straw Hat Day is observed on a Saturday, May 15, making it an ideal day for outdoor festivities and showcasing your favorite headwear.

How popular are straw hats?

Globally, the straw hat market continues to see robust growth, driven by fashion trends and increasing awareness of sun safety. Millions are sold annually, cementing their status as a wardrobe essential.

What are the most popular types of straw hats?

Beyond the iconic Panama and wide-brim styles, straw fedoras, visors, and cowboy hats crafted from straw are also highly popular. Each offers a distinct look and level of sun protection, catering to diverse tastes and activities.

What is the history behind Straw Hat Day?

While not an official holiday, Straw Hat Day emerged from a historical fashion tradition where men would transition their headwear from winter felt to summer straw. It was a cultural marker for the warmer months, celebrated by donning the lighter, cooler material.

Straw Hat Day Activities

  1. Wear a straw hat

    You must wear a straw hat to celebrate its day. The boater, fedora, or Panama, pick your preference. Celebrate the day and head off of the sun.

  2. Tell people about the day

    Shoot some photos of you wearing your favorite style of straw hat. Share them on your social media to let others know what day it is.

  3. Purchase one

    Straw Hat Day is also for those who haven’t got a straw hat. Choose your favorite styles of straw hats and buy one so that you can join the celebration.

5 Facts About Straw Hats You Need To Know

  1. The Panama hat isn’t from Panama

    The hats were hand-woven in Ecuador and then exported to Panama in the 19th century.

  2. Atalia Bis & Partners Company

    They made a big straw hat with a diameter of 21 feet nine inches and was eight feet six inches high.

  3. It caused Straw Hat Riot in 1922

    In New York, a fight broke out because some didn’t stop wearing straw hats after summer.

  4. Coco Chanel loved it

    In the early 20th century, she made the boater hat fashionable for women.

  5. Boater was originally a women’s hat

    Before being adopted as menswear, the boater was worn by women and children in the 1860s.

Why We Love Straw Hat Day

  1. It keeps you cool

    Wearing a straw hat protects you from the harsh rays of the Sun and keeps you cool. Not only temperature-wise but style-wise too.

  2. To try a new style

    Whether you already own one or not, Straw Hat Day can be the day for you to buy a new straw hat. The options styles to choose from are numerous.

  3. It doesn’t go out of style

    No matter the year, you can always wear a straw hat as part of your summer style. From boater to Panama or fedora to lifeguard, it never goes out of style.

Straw Hat Day dates

Year Date Day
2027 May 15 Saturday
2028 May 15 Monday
2029 May 15 Tuesday
2030 May 15 Wednesday
2031 May 15 Thursday