Mad Hatters of Charlotte

Hats used to be an essential part of an outfit, much like a great pair of shoes or a handbag. Celebrities — think Minnie Pearl, Indiana Jones, and Gilligan — never left home without their trademark hats.

Somewhere along the way, though, haberdashers fell out of fashion and hats were relegated to baseball players, cowboys, and chilly Canadians. Now, hats have made a comeback, showing up at the trendiest retailers around the nation, including fashion-forward shops in the Queen City [1].

Looking for a pageboy cap? Try K-La [2], where the cute caps come in several colors and patterns.

Black Sheep [3], Rat’s Nest [4], and Boris and Natasha [5] can be relied on to stock all of the latest headwear from trendy cloches — bell-shaped hats reminiscent of the flapper era — to fedoras and knit caps.

Think berets will never be back in style? Guess again: American Apparel [6] has shelves filled with the jaunty French hats in all colors of the rainbow.

Baseball caps will never go out of style, so go ahead and stock up at Niche [7] and J. McLaughlin [8].

Sometimes hats are as much about function as fashion. It can get a little chilly in the Queen City, but Oilily [9], Scout and Molly’s [10], and the shops at SouthPark Mall [11] have you covered — literally. Look for winter hats — called toboggans in the South — to keep your noggin warm while you’re exploring the city.