Finding the perfect hat can be a game-changer for your personal style. For those with a diamond-shaped face, the right cloche hat doesn’t just top off an outfit—it strategically frames your features, creating balance and emphasizing your best assets. A diamond face is characterized by a narrow forehead and jawline, with wide, high cheekbones. The goal is to find a cloche hat that minimizes the width at the cheekbones while adding softness and volume to the forehead and jaw areas. This guide will walk you through the precise, actionable steps to select a cloche hat that not only fits your style but is also perfectly proportioned for your diamond face shape.
Understanding the Diamond Face and the Cloche Hat
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s get on the same page about the two key components: your face shape and the hat style. A diamond face is often described as angular and striking. Its widest point is at the cheekbones, which are a major feature you want to celebrate, not hide. The challenge is to find a hat that doesn’t exaggerate this width.
The cloche hat, a bell-shaped hat popular in the 1920s, is designed to hug the head snugly. Its defining feature is the downward-sloping brim, which often covers the forehead and frames the face at a low angle. This style can be a fantastic choice for a diamond face, but only if you select the right variation. The wrong cloche can make your face look top-heavy and your cheekbones appear even wider. The right one, however, will add curves where you need them and draw attention to your eyes and smile, all while giving a subtle nod to the stunning architecture of your cheekbones.
The Brim: The Ultimate Game-Changer
The brim is the most critical element of a cloche hat for a diamond-shaped face. It’s the part that directly interacts with your face’s widest point. A common mistake is to choose a cloche with a very short, straight brim that cuts across the face horizontally, directly aligning with and emphasizing the cheekbones. This creates a harsh line and can make the face appear shorter and wider.
Actionable Advice:
- Opt for an Asymmetrical or Slanted Brim: This is your secret weapon. A brim that angles down on one side or has a slight wave or curve breaks up the horizontal line. This asymmetrical line draws the eye diagonally, which softens the angles of the cheekbones. For example, look for cloches where the brim is slightly longer or more prominent on one side. This creates a visually interesting line that moves the focus away from the widest part of your face.
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Choose a Medium-Width Brim: Avoid both extremely narrow and very wide brims. A narrow brim can make the forehead appear even more diminutive, while a very wide brim can overwhelm your face and make your cheekbones look lost. A medium-width brim—think two to three inches—provides just enough coverage to balance the forehead without adding bulk at the cheekbones.
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Look for a “Flipped” or “Turned-Up” Brim: A cloche hat with a brim that subtly flips up at the edge, even just on one side, is an excellent choice. This upward curve adds a soft, lifting effect to the face and prevents the hat from looking too heavy. It also allows you to show a bit more of your forehead, which helps to balance the narrow top of a diamond face.
Concrete Example: Instead of a simple, uniform bell cloche, seek out a style with a slight side brim extension and a subtle upward curve. Imagine a cloche where the brim dips low over one eye and lifts slightly on the other side. This creates an elegant diagonal line that is far more flattering than a perfectly straight-across brim.
Crown Height and Shape: Adding Verticality
The crown is the part of the hat that sits on top of your head. For a diamond face, the crown’s shape and height are crucial for adding a sense of verticality, which helps to elongate the face and balance the wide cheekbones. A crown that is too flat or shallow can make your head appear squat and further emphasize the horizontal width of your cheekbones.
Actionable Advice:
- Select a Medium-to-High Crown: A crown with a moderate height, around four to five inches, is ideal. It adds a vertical element to your silhouette, which helps to visually lengthen your face. A higher crown also draws the eye upward, shifting the focus from the horizontal line of your cheekbones.
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Look for a Rounded or Gently Tapered Crown: The angularity of a diamond face can be softened by a crown with a rounded or slightly dome-like shape. Avoid cloches with very sharp or square crowns, which can clash with your face’s natural lines. A crown that gently tapers or has a slight slouch adds a touch of softness.
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Consider a Pleated or Draped Crown: A cloche with a crown that has subtle pleating, draping, or other textural details can be very effective. This detail adds visual interest to the top of the hat, again drawing the eye upward and away from the cheekbones. It also adds a touch of femininity and elegance.
Concrete Example: Picture a cloche with a crown that isn’t perfectly round, but has a slight pleat running up the side. This simple detail breaks up the visual space and gives the hat more dimension. Combine this with a medium height, and you have a hat that adds a flattering vertical line to your overall look.
Material and Texture: The Subtlety of Softness
The material and texture of your cloche hat can have a surprising impact on how it frames your face. Stiff, unyielding materials can create harsh lines, while softer, more pliable fabrics offer a more flattering effect.
Actionable Advice:
- Choose Soft, Malleable Fabrics: Materials like felted wool, cashmere, or even softer straws for warmer weather are excellent choices. These materials drape and mold to the head more softly, avoiding a rigid, helmet-like appearance. A pliable fabric allows the hat to contour to your head without creating sharp, unflattering angles.
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Embrace Light Texture and Weave: A hat with a subtle texture, like a delicate weave or a slight fuzziness from a wool blend, adds a dimension that softens the overall look. This textural interest also catches the light in a way that is more flattering than a completely smooth, flat surface.
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Be Mindful of Embellishments: While a diamond face can handle embellishments, they should be placed strategically. Look for cloches with details like a ribbon or a small pin placed on the side, rather than directly in the center. An off-center embellishment reinforces the asymmetrical line you’re trying to create, adding interest without drawing attention to the widest part of your face.
Concrete Example: Instead of a stiff, smooth felt cloche, select one made from a softer, brushed wool. This material has a slightly fuzzy texture that softens the hat’s outline. If there’s a ribbon or bow, ensure it’s placed on the side of the crown, not front and center. This small shift in placement makes a huge difference.
Placement and Styling: The Art of the Angle
It’s not just about the hat itself—how you wear it is equally important. The classic cloche is worn low on the forehead, almost covering the eyes. While this is the traditional look, you have some flexibility in placement to best suit your face shape.
Actionable Advice:
- Wear it at a Slight Angle: Instead of pulling the hat straight down, try tilting it slightly to one side. This reinforces the asymmetrical look that is so flattering for a diamond face. A slight tilt creates a diagonal line that draws the eye and breaks up the horizontal width of the cheekbones.
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Don’t Pull it Too Low: While cloches are meant to be worn low, pulling it too far down can make your face look squashed and highlight the width of your cheekbones. Aim for a placement where the brim is just above your eyebrows. This allows a little bit of forehead to show, which helps to lengthen the face.
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Pair it with the Right Hairstyle: The way you style your hair can complement or contradict the hat’s effect. If you have long hair, wearing it down and slightly curled or waved at the jawline can add softness to the narrow bottom half of your face. For shorter hair, ensure the style adds volume or softness around the jaw to balance the look.
Concrete Example: When putting on your cloche, don’t just plop it on your head. Place it on at a slight angle, so the brim is a little lower over one eye. This simple adjustment instantly adds a touch of sophisticated style and is far more flattering than a straight-on placement.
The Role of Color: Highlighting without Overpowering
Color isn’t just about matching your outfit—it’s a tool for drawing attention. While this guide isn’t about color theory, a few principles apply to using color to flatter your diamond face with a cloche hat.
Actionable Advice:
- Choose a Color that Complements Your Skin Tone: A hat in a color that brightens your complexion will draw attention to your eyes and smile. This is an effective way to shift focus away from the width of your cheekbones.
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Consider a Monochromatic Look: Pairing a hat with an outfit in a similar color family can create a seamless, elegant silhouette. This uninterrupted line of color can create a lengthening effect for your entire body, including your face.
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Use Subtle Contrast: If you choose a contrasting color, ensure it’s not so stark that it creates a heavy, top-heavy look. For example, a soft charcoal cloche on a light-colored outfit is often more flattering than a stark black one.
Concrete Example: If you have warm undertones in your skin, a cloche in a rich camel, olive green, or deep burgundy can be incredibly flattering. The color will make your skin glow and your eyes sparkle, making the hat an integrated part of your overall look rather than an isolated accessory.
The Flattering Cloche Checklist
To make this process as straightforward as possible, use this checklist when you’re shopping for a cloche hat. Each point is a key factor in ensuring the hat works with, not against, your diamond face shape.
- Brim Shape: Is the brim asymmetrical, slanted, or slightly turned up on one side? A perfectly straight, horizontal brim is a red flag.
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Brim Width: Is the brim a medium width (2-3 inches)? Avoid brims that are either extremely narrow or overly wide.
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Crown Height: Does the crown have a moderate to high height (around 4-5 inches)? This adds crucial verticality.
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Crown Shape: Is the crown rounded, softly tapered, or does it have subtle pleating? Avoid sharp or boxy crown shapes.
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Material: Is the material soft and pliable, like felted wool or a soft straw? Stiff materials create harsh lines.
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Embellishments: Are any details or embellishments placed on the side rather than in the center? Off-center is key for an asymmetrical look.
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Try it On: Do you feel good in it? Does it make you feel confident? The ultimate test is how you feel, and a well-chosen hat will make you feel fantastic.
A well-chosen cloche hat can be the perfect accessory to complement your diamond-shaped face. By focusing on an asymmetrical or slanted brim, a medium-height rounded crown, and soft materials, you can find a hat that not only honors the classic style of the cloche but also strategically highlights your stunning cheekbones and balances your facial structure. The key is to see the hat as a tool to create harmony and elegance, not just an item to wear. With these concrete, actionable steps, you can confidently select a cloche hat that will become a go-to piece in your wardrobe.