This summer, give your wardrobe a chic update with this season’s most trendy accessory – a hat. In her article, “Current Accessories to Save for Spring 2010,” Lindsey Michelle writes, “The more the economy mimics the 1930s Depression, the more ‘30s fashion seems to be in style — and that means hats for women.” So this summer treat yourself to a beret, boater, bucket hat, floppy hat, church/synagogue hat, fedora, cloche, kepi, panama, newsboy, military, or panama hat. Not only will you be on-trend, but some hats will protect you from the harsh UVA and UVB rays of the sun.

According to Kendra Van Wegner article, “How to Choose a Hat,” “The key to choosing the right hat is balance.” Choose a hat that is best suited to your, body type, face shape, personality and sense of style. First consider your body type.; Petite women should avoid big hats, which can overpower a small frame. If you’re tall opt for hats with a wide brim and a shorter crown, and stay away from narrow, angular-shaped hats.  Full-figured ladies can add balance to a curvy figure with wide, full-brimmed hats. However, the brim of the hat should never be wider than your shoulders. In the end, says, Amanda Bernstein, author of “How to Choose the Perfect Hat,” “  It’s all about getting the proportion right, so the hat doesn’t overpower you.”

Next, consider your face shape.  If you have a round face, like Cameron Diaz or Drew Barrymore, choose hats that are wider than your face with high brims and angular shapes. Avoid round, circular, or floppy-shaped hats. A fedora’s neat, clean style will give your face more angles.  Women with long faces, like Sarah Jessica Parker or Lady Ga Ga, should avoid narrow brims, which can add length to your face. Instead, choose hats with wide, curled or floppy brims and low crowns.  A fedora or a floppy hat that covers your forehead will balance out the length of your face and give it extra width. Those with an oval face, like Hilliary Duff, Beyonce Knowles and Britney Spears, can get away with almost any style of hat. Experiment with a variety of styles and choose the one you like best. If you have a square shaped face, like Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock or Jessica Simpson, lessen the angles of your face by opting for soft, feminine hats with large brims and curvy lines. The floppy hat is perfect for you. Finally, women with heart shaped faces like, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Halle Berry should choose hats with a medium crown and medium-sized brim. A cloche or bucket hat will complement the angles of your face beautifully.

So this season update last season’s looks with a hat. Whether it’s simple or adorned with beads, studs, or even feathers you will look stylish and chic in this trendy accessory. Right now, SYMS has: a straw fedora in beige with a tan ribbon or white with a black ribbon by Nine West — retail price $34.00, SYMS price $14.99; a navy boater embellished with a white and navy  polka dot flower and white ribbon by Badgley Mischica — retail price $44.00, SYMS price $19.99; a cotton beach hat that blocks 97.5% of UV rays in white, black or ivory by Scala — retail price $25.00, SYMS price $12.99; a floppy straw hat with beaded brim detail in brown, natural or red by Nine West — retail price $36.00, SYMS price $16.99; and SYMS has a large assortment of church/synagogue hats embellished with beading, bows, brooches, mesh or feathers starting at $25.00.