Felt or Straw? The Best Summer Hats You Should Be Wearing in 2025

Can You Wear Felt Hats During Spring and Summer? The Answer Isn’t What You Think

By Michael Patrick Hoyle, Founder of Hoyle Hat Co.

There’s a quiet rule people seem to whisper around when the sun comes out: "Put the felt away, straw season is here."

We’re here to tell you—that’s outdated thinking. Not only can you wear felt hats in the spring and summer, but when they’re handmade with intention, lined with breathable llama leather, and fitted to your lifestyle, felt can be the ultimate year-round statement.

I know because I wear mine constantly.

I Wear Felt Hats Year-Round, and I'm Not Alone

As the founder of Hoyle Hat Co. in downtown Seattle, I’ve worn felt hats through every season and every occasion. From gallery openings in Pioneer Square to ferry rides across the Puget Sound, I've found that the right hat does more than shield you from weather—it sets the tone for your day.

Yes, even in the heat.

The felt hats we make at Hoyle aren’t like the mass-manufactured kind. Each one is built by hand, shaped to your essence, and lined with ultra-soft llama leather—a natural material that absorbs sweat, allows for airflow, and adapts to your body over time. It feels cool. It feels lived-in. It feels like a second skin for your head.

Will you sweat? Absolutely. But let’s be honest, you’re going to sweat no matter what you’re wearing on a hot day. You may as well do it in style, with a piece of wearable art that turns heads and makes people ask, “Where did you get that hat?”

Felt is Fashion. Straw is Convention.

Straw hats are wonderful. We make them, too. But straw is often about function. Felt is about character.

A well-made felt hat has a way of grounding your outfit—whether you're pairing it with a breezy linen shirt in Ballard, a casual button-up in Capitol Hill, or a monochrome look while wandering Olympic Sculpture Park. And while straw tells the world you're prepared for sun, felt tells the world who you are.

 

The idea that you have to switch materials based on the calendar is a myth rooted in fast fashion, not craftsmanship.

At Hoyle Hat Co., we build felt hats to be worn, traveled with, rained on, packed, and brought back to life. They’re not museum pieces, they're extensions of you.

Where to Wear a Felt Hat in Seattle This Spring and Summer

If you’re local or just visiting the Pacific Northwest, we curated this guide of iconic and offbeat places in and around Seattle where your felt hat won’t just fit in, it will lead the room:

1. Four Seasons Seattle Rooftop Pool or Goldfinch Tavern
   Grab a cocktail, sink into that leather banquette, and let your wide-brim crown block just enough sun to keep your cool. The energy? Summer refinement. Your hat? The exclamation point.

2. Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville
Perfect for a Saturday afternoon wine tasting. Match your hat with a lightweight blazer or sundress and stroll through the vines like you’ve been summering in Washington for years.

3. Pike Place Market and Post Alley
Whether you’re picking flowers, grabbing Beecher’s mac, or sipping at Rachel’s Ginger Beer, a Hoyle felt hat elevates every street corner into a style shoot. Seattle is watching.

4. Sunset Picnics at Gas Works Park or Golden Gardens
Bring a speaker, some friends, and a felt hat with soul. This is where your silhouette against the water becomes something to remember, and capture.

5. A Long Day on Bainbridge or Whidbey Island
Hop the ferry, let the breeze hit your brim, and enjoy the intentional pace that only the islands can offer. This is the kind of outing where your hat becomes part of the landscape and the memories.

6. Capitol Hill Art Walks and Vintage Markets
Blend into the culture or stand out as the moment. Your hat becomes a conversation starter and your statement of creative identity.

7. Sunday Brunch at Oddfellows or Terra Plata
Sunlight, mimosas, and a hat with personality. Let the city know you came to live with intention and style.

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The Results Are In: You Don’t Have to Go Straw If You Don’t Want To

More and more Hoyle customers are skipping the seasonal switch and sticking with their felt. Not because they’re trying to be rebellious, but because they’re choosing to lead with taste, not trends.

Our pieces are flying off the shelves this season, from clients heading to outdoor weddings in San Juan Island to those escaping to Austin or Napa. Felt is timeless, versatile, and ready for whatever your summer has planned.

Whether you’re dressing for the vibe, the event, or simply to feel like your best self—don’t let outdated rules limit your expression. Felt isn’t a season. It’s a statement.

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Still Wondering if It’s Time to Add a Summer Felt to Your Collection?

Come see us at Hoyle Hat Co., Seattle’s downtown handmade hat shop. Every piece is handcrafted with intention, built with legacy-grade materials, and fitted to your personal story. We’ll help you find the hat that speaks to you—and wear it with pride no matter the weather.

📍 Visit us at HoyleHat.com
📸 Follow the journey on Instagram @hoylehat
✉️ Book a fitting or custom session—your next heirloom is waiting.