Bucket hat, straw hat, or cap? What your headwear says about your style (and your vacation spot)

There are those who, as soon as the first rays of sunshine appear, whip out their caps like a business card. Those for whom summer doesn't begin until their bucket hat is hand-washed. And those who, beneath their straw hats, assert elegance in all circumstances.

Three schools, three philosophies of the sun. And quite a few revelations about how we spend our vacations.

The cap: anti-UV shield (and sometimes anti-gaze)

It unites, it de-dramatizes and remains the fatal weapon of those who refuse to grow old under the sun. Gabrielle, 32, a communications consultant, pulls out her cap at every exhibition, whether at the beach or in major European cities. "I hate having my head in the sun. It's not a pleasure for me. And I don't want to grow old." Even if it means sacrificing any stylistic coherence. "I have no style in the summer," she says, "it's like it's the first time I've dressed up. With my camera, my cap, my glasses and my fanny pack, I really adopt the cliché tourist look." Lucidity, too, is sometimes an accessory.

Julien, 34, a salesman, on the other hand, sees it as a style statement. "The baseball and trucker cap are making a comeback!" he enthuses. For him, it's simple: it replaces the beanie as soon as the temperature rises. It protects his eyes (and his shaved head), and stands out as the emblem of a cool summer wardrobe.

The cap accompanies him everywhere he travels. For him, it's a state of mind totally linked to a season. "Any occasion is good to wear a cap, not just on vacation, but I mainly associate it with the mood of sunny days." His summers are divided into two parts: the beach and the countryside, often in France or Europe.

The bob: for those who know that true style is not having one

Behind its softly schoolboyish appearance, the bucket hat has become the uniform of those who shun appearances... without fundamentally renouncing a certain aesthetic of studied nonchalance.

Édouard, 44, a real estate agent, swears by his navy blue, perfectly faded, "slipped into a pocket, hand washed, dry in two hours." His favorite vacation? Menorca, a hidden cove, friends, reading, and a barbecue. "My bucket hat embodies my relaxed side when I let off steam in the summer. I put it on without knowing where I'll end up for the day; I don't like overly rigid plans." No Instagram story in sight, but a well-applied SPF 50 and a 4-year-old daughter who wanted the same bucket hat as Dad.

The same practical logic applies to Carole, 60, a painting restorer, whose pink straw hat with wide brim is the subject of ritual mockery. "I think they fail to understand its intrinsic beauty," she says with dry humor. Pragmatic, she alternates between sightseeing, the beach, and restaurants, without seeking to shine, and fully embraces this lazy state of mind in sunny destinations. This summer? Perhaps Greece with her daughters, who will be sure to make fun of her favorite hat.

The straw hat: between tradition, elegance and protection

Here, there's no ambiguity: we're aiming for style, the real thing, the kind we cultivate with method and conviction. Cécile, 32, a lawyer, has made it her emblem. She loves the retro chill look and makes it known right down to her straw hat, which she's worn on many vacations and even at her wedding (theme: Dolce Vita). But it's not just pretty, it's practical: "I don't like sunscreen sticking to my face, so I protect myself with my hat." A young mother, she has just swapped her trusty headgear for an anti-UV sun hat: "I chose it to protect my baby's head when I'm carrying him. I can change the color of the ribbons." An accessory that must be functional and aesthetic.

For Carine, 42, a press officer, the straw hat is almost a legacy. "My mother always wore one on my head." As a result, she continues to wear it diligently today. "I suffer from migraines, I'm afraid of the sun, I have skin prone to spots..." This accessory ticks all the boxes, according to her. "It lets air through, is very light on the head, and is by far the most comfortable hat." Here again, it combines efficiency, style, and protection.

" For me, it represents Italian elegance, and if there's one time of year when I like to take care of my look, it's summer! I don't want to leave anything to chance, which reflects my always-in-control personality." She plans to pack her favorite accessory in her suitcase for Miami this summer.

In conclusion...

To each their own headgear, to each their own manifesto. The bucket hat is the ally of the stroller, the cap that of the pragmatic, the straw hat that of the conscientiously elegant. All of them tell a vision of summer and vacation, between abandonment, control, and childhood memories. And if the accessory doesn't do everything, it still manages to say "I'm on vacation" faster than an away message.