A good panama earns its place through the weave, not the shape. Look for a tight, even plait of toquilla straw that holds its form without stiffening into something that looks like costume. The genuine article has a slight give to the brim, enough to curl gently rather than sit rigid, and a crown that keeps its dent through a season of wear rather than collapsing after one journey in a bag. Cheaper versions, often made from paper straw or a looser weave, flatten quickly and lose their shape for good. The weight matters too. It should feel light enough to forget you’re wearing it, not so flimsy that it flaps in a breeze.
Brim width is the real styling decision. A narrower brim, around six to seven centimetres, reads as more classic and works with almost anything, from tailoring to a plain shirt. Anything wider starts to make more of a statement and needs a simpler outfit underneath so the hat doesn’t compete with the rest of the look. The band deserves attention as well.
A grosgrain ribbon in black or navy is the quiet, correct choice; anything patterned or branded tends to date the hat faster than the straw itself does.
As for wearing it, the panama rewards a bit of ease elsewhere. It sits best with relaxed tailoring, linen trousers, a cotton shirt with the sleeves pushed up, or a simple dress in a natural fabric that won’t fight the texture of the straw. Sunglasses with a similarly clean frame keep the top half of an outfit from looking overdressed. It’s not a hat that wants to be forced into eveningwear or paired with anything too polished; its charm is in the slight informality, the sense that it was reached for rather than planned around.
Occasion wise, this is the hat for daylight hours with intent behind them, a market visit, a long lunch outdoors, travel days that involve more walking than sitting still. It earns its keep on holiday but shouldn’t be reserved only for holiday, since a good one works just as well on an ordinary bright morning at home. The best measure of whether it’s doing its job is whether it looks like it’s always been there, not like it was put on for the occasion.
Top Picks
PANAMA HATDAILY SALE, INC.Women Wide Brim Straw Panama Roll up Hat
$25.00 DAILY SALE, INC.
PANAMA HATSHOPBOPBrixton Lopez Panama Straw Bucket Hat Catalina Sand
$169.00 SHOPBOP
PANAMA HATMARISSA COLLECTIONSAstrid Panama Straw Hat
$410.00 MARISSA COLLECTIONS
DAILY SALE, INC.Womens Classic Wide Brim Floppy Panama Hat
$25.00 DAILY SALE, INC.
DAILY SALE, INC.Women Wide Brim Straw Panama Roll up Hat
$25.00 DAILY SALE, INC.
HARVEY NICHOLS USSensi Studio Panama Straw sun hat - Beige
$276.92 HARVEY NICHOLS US
SHOPBOPBrixton Harper Panama Straw Hat Catalina Sand
$189.00 SHOPBOP
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Pammy Panama Straw Rancher Hat
$189.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
ACCESSORIZE UKBlack Woven Panama Hat
$18.00 ACCESSORIZE UK
CERQULARPanama Hat for Women – Classic Wide-Brim Summer Style
$129.95 CERQULAR
KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Kl X Borsalino Panama Hat, Woman, Beige, Size:
$275.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)
SHOPBOPBrixton Lopez Panama Straw Bucket Hat Catalina Sand
$169.00 SHOPBOP
HARVEY NICHOLS USSensi Studio Glam Lady Ibiza Straw Panama hat - White And Black
$354.20 HARVEY NICHOLS US
MARISSA COLLECTIONSAstrid Panama Straw Hat
$410.00 MARISSA COLLECTIONS
HARVEY NICHOLS USSensi Studio Glam Lady Ibiza Straw Panama hat - Natural
$354.20 HARVEY NICHOLS US
ACCESSORIZE UKGreen Woven Panama Hat
$18.00 ACCESSORIZE UK
ACCESSORIZE UKBeige/black Straw Panama Hat, Size: 57cm, Women's
$25.00 ACCESSORIZE UK
SHOPBOPBrixton Harper Panama Straw Hat Panama White
$189.00 SHOPBOP
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDWomen's Summer Panama Hat – Wide Brim Foldable Straw Fedora with Breathable Open Weave
$17.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
THE LUXURY CLOSETValentino Beige Toile Iconographe Raffia Panama Bucket Hat
$470.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
W CONCEPT (US)Fringe Braid Panama Hat
$284.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Ternes Panama Hat (3 Colors)
$65.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Bobigny Panama Hat (2 Colors)
$71.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)French Bold Ribbon Panama Hat Boater Brown
$165.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Flandres Panama Hat (2 Colors)
$65.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Seine Panama Hat (3 Colors)
$65.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Villette Panama Hat (5 Colors)
$65.00 W CONCEPT (US)
W CONCEPT (US)Charonne Panama Hat (3 Colors)
$65.00 W CONCEPT (US)
−50%
BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORYStraw Panama Hat$70.00
$35.00 BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY
−50%
HARVEY NICHOLS USSensi Studio Panama Straw hat - Beige$276.92
$138.46 HARVEY NICHOLS US
−30%
HARVEY NICHOLS USChloe Panama Open-weave Straw hat - White$759.93
$531.95 HARVEY NICHOLS US
