Customer Reviews

Scala Women's Cotton Big Brim Ultraviolet Protection Hat with Inner Drawstring

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this hat in the natural color to wear to a multi-day outdoor music festival (Bonnaroo). I wanted something cuter and more stylish than a fishing/boonie hat but didn't want to risk blocking other people's view of the stage by wearing a huge "J.Lo" glamour hat. So, I decided on this breezy cotton number, and I wasn't disappointed in the least. In addition to the music festival, I've also worn it while hiking, rowing, and traipsing through farmer's markets. It has consistently kept my head cool, my eyes shaded, and my face, neck, and shoulders free of sunburn.

The weave of the fabric makes it look like linen, and according to the tag, it provides SPF 50+. The brim is nice and wide, made out of a somewhat stiff canvas that holds its shape if you bend it. The hat is also fantastic for traveling: you can pack and fold it into a small space, and it will still look great when you pull it out -- just smooth out the wrinkles and off you go!

The best feature of this hat is its versatility:

* Flaunt your classy country club style while gardening, golfing, or attending a tennis match by turning up the outer edge of the brim, like the photo shows.

* Look effortlessly chic at an outdoor brunch or on a Caribbean cruise by turning down the outer edge of this hat, which makes it look like Audrey Hepburn's famous wide-brimmed chapeau.

* Create an artsy bohemian look by crinkling up a few inches of the brim's edge on one side, a little off-center. (My personal fave.)

* Get that elusive 1990s "Blossom" look -- or, similarly, a Cape Cod rain hat -- by folding the brim so it points up in front and down in the back.

* Need an Aussie Outback hat? Simply position one side straight up over your ear and angle the other side out horizontally.

* Channel the Chiquita Banana Lady by angling the entire brim upwards from the base. (Note that the hat is not actually strong enough to hold fruit, other than perhaps a few lone grapes.)

* From the Chiquita Banana hat, pull the sides of the brim down over your ears and let it spring back up. I call this look the Fortune Cookie because, well... it looks like you have a giant fortune cookie on your head, especially if you get it in tan/brown.

Just about the only way you can't wear this Houdini of a hat is in a cowboy style (I actually just tried this and it doesn't quite work; the closest you can get is by taking the Fortune Cookie and rotating it 90°). If you were really determined to make it look like a cowboy hat, you could probably do it with safety pins.

The inside of the cap is lined in white cotton and has a hidden drawstring around the inner band so that you can adjust the size. I wear a Large in women's hats and find this hat to be comfortable without making any adjustments -- it has a bit of "breathing room" but is not too loose. If you wear a S/M in women's hats, you might decide to decrease the band size using the drawstring. Note that it does not have a chin strap.

You could wear this hat to the beach, at a theme park, at a botanical garden, on a safari -- really anywhere you'll be outside and want a versatile, casual hat to protect you from the sun. The one and only situation in which I wouldn't recommend this hat is if your destination will be really windy the whole time (in that case, you would probably need a hat with a chin strap). Otherwise, for all other applications, I would recommend this hat without hesitation!

** Update, July 2010: I still love this fantastic hat and have worn it to several more outdoor events. I did put it in the washing machine to keep the inner band from staining where it touches my forehead, even though the tag says the hat should be wiped off with a cloth to clean. I washed it in cold water and let it air-dry, and it did not shrink. However, I think the brim had some kind of starch coating that must have washed off, because it's noticeably softer and much less stiff now, which I actually prefer. I can still bend the brim according to the shape I want, though, so I maintain my five-star rating!

My favorite gardening, beach and hiking hat. I have it in six colors. Flattering to all face shapes, especially if you have the type of face that looks heavy in baseball style caps. Long lasting construction and an excellent way to keep from exposing your facial skin to strong sun. If this style ever gets discontinued I will cry.

Love the hat. It looks fun on and keeps the sun out. I was worried the red would be a little washed out, but it isn't. It is a nice deep red without being too much. I can style it to wear several different ways. It's a keeper.

The hat isn't washable and it can get a little hot. I am concerned that the white hat band inside will get dirty quickly since it isn't washable. Despite that, I will probably order more in other colors.

Overall, this hat is very versatile. It is a nice style, and the brim can be worn up or down (which I prefer). It has an inside cord for adjusting, and it is generously sized.

I wear a women's hat size L, and I frequently have difficulty finding a hat that is not too tight. This is far from it. In fact, I would say anyone who wears as S or M in a hat should probably pass on this one.

That said, I was disappointed in this hat. All the glowing reviews are well-deserved, I am sure, but I found the hat to be too casual, crinkled, and mis-shaped. Looking more closely at this hat, it's obvious that the quality in construction just isn't there, which partly contributes to the problem.

Sadly, it gets returned and the search for my perfect sun hat continues.

WARNING - Amazon is not honoring free returns on this item. Be prepared to contact them for return shipping credit.

I had purchased a Scala hat while on vacation in Hawaii. It was off-white and perfect for the sun and even the rain. It's a three season hat so in some ways better than the summer straw hats I wear. Almost a year later, I lost my hat in a museum. It was never turned in to the lost and found. I was not surprised as I'd received MANY compliments. I was delighted to find this hat online with so many color choices. I love the rich brown color and the great sun protection. People just love to compliment this hat. I'm planning to buy another, I just have to make a decision on the color.

This hat provides serious sun shade without looking ridiculous. it's soft enough to fold up and stick in your bag and a really pleasant color. for the price, i would say this is the best hat of its kind out there.

I purchased the white hat and have been extremely pleased with the stylish look, the fit, the price, etc. It's much lighter than my other cotton summer hats--and much cooler. Any smudges come out easily by spot cleaning with a bit of dish detergent and water. I will be buying more colors.

It has a great fit and comes in many colors. It a stiff brim to hold its shape and a cord on the inside if you want to tighten it. I love this hat!

Great hat! Love the ties inside to adjust the size. A bit larger than I expected but more hat to keep the sun away! May seem a bit pricey but it is a very nice hat and I should be able to use it for years.

I bought this hat in the natural color to wear to on the beach, and this time in black to match a new bathing suit. It is packable and does not lose it's ability to keep a shape once you pull it out of your bag. You can clean it with just a damp cloth, and best of all you can arrange it in several different ways to keep the sun off your head, face and most of your shoulders by using the bendable brim. This price on Amazon is much more reasonable than the price I paid for my original hat in a beach apparel store, and the price point is much better than a lot of comparable hat brands of the same quality. Love it!