Denim Patched Bucket Hat – Behind the Design

WHY THE HAT?

One of my favorite accessories are hats, I own a few different kinds that I wear when I want to add an accent to my outfits. They’re also a good accessories to pair when I decide to braid my hair. Out of all different kinds of hats, I chose to make a bucket hat. This is because I wanted to make one that fits perfectly around my head and face shape which I can’t find when I buy it in stores. It’s either they’re too tall or too wide on me. One concern is that the brim is too long to the point where my eyes are covered. Another concern is that most crowns are too tall for my head which is why the brim goes down below my eye level. I also knew the difficulty behind making a bucket hat, so I wanted to challenge myself into making one. I also haven’t used my sewing machine in a while and I always wanted to get back into sewing so this project was a great excuse for me to get back into it.

GUIDE TO BOLD MINIMALISM

The aesthetic that defines me personally is called ‘Bold Minimalism’. This is inspired by the Scandinavian and Copenhagen style that is around. It involves playing around chunky accessories, statement shoes and bags and pairing it with a basic outfit whether it’s a plain white shirt with pants or a neutral sweater and a long skirt.

LESS IS MORE

• Whether it’s a simple coat with black tights and a blouse, or a laid-back dress with a small statement piece, this clean, modern style usually ends up looking effortlessly cool.

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  For colors, it leans toward monochrome. Black’s a go-to, but white, beige, and soft pastels show up a lot too. Layering adds just the right amount of depth—especially nice in colder months.

• The whole “less is more” vibe is what really put Scandinavian designers on the map, but don’t think that’s all they bring to the table…

Bold and Creative

• Brands like Stine Goya and Ganni really showed in 2019 that Scandi style isn’t just minimal—it can be bold, colorful, and full of personality too.
• When it’s warmer out, you’ll see pops of bright color, fun patterns, and unexpected combos. Cold weather makes that trickier though—hard to get playful when you’re bundled up in a coat all day.
• Still, that doesn’t stop Scandinavians. They’ve figured out it’s not diamonds, but accessories, that really make an outfit. A bold scarf, some fun earrings, or a standout bag or pair of shoes can totally lift the winter vibe and let you wear your mood.

ACCESORIES:

• They really know how to mix and match. Every piece feels like part of a bigger, ever-shifting puzzle—what works for one season, outing, or mood can shift into something totally different.
• The basics get reused a lot, but never feel boring. A blazer can go full formal with matching pants or get paired with a light skirt on a summer morning. Same goes for a white tee—it can pull off five totally different looks depending on how you layer it or what you style it with.
• There’s definitely a sense of intention behind it all. The typical Scandinavian wardrobe feels curated—not just to look good, but to be functional and flexible at the same time.

  

MY PERSONAL STYLE

• The way I express this aesthetic is through accessories. When it comes to fashion, hats have always been my go-to accessory. I’ve built a collection of hats representing my favorite sports teams and movies, using them as a way to add a statement to my otherwise neutral outfits. To me, hats are more than just accessories—they’re a way of expressing personality without saying a word.

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  Another element that defines my style is statement jewelry. I believe that jewelry has the power to elevate any outfit while also carrying sentimental value. My favorite statement pieces include classic gold hoops, which I consider the best earrings because they suit both casual and formal wear. They also make a simple ponytail look effortlessly stylish, which is perfect for my busy days. Another favorite is beaded necklaces, which add a playful feel to even the simplest outfits, like a white t-shirt and jeans. Plus, they’re fun to fidget with when I’m sitting down!

VISION: FUNCTION/FORM

• Function
  • The purpose of making the hat is to create one that can serve as an everyday accessory for me so I’m planning on making one that will compliment most of the clothing I own. Other than that, I love playing around and mix and matching accessories and hats always serve that fun yet efficient way to style your hair during bad hair days or very windy days.
• Form (from slides)
  • I decided to make a round top bucket hat as the smooth curve on the top compliments my face shape. They are also the simplest bucket hat design that still serve a good structure which will make it easier for me to get back into sewing

DESIGN EVOLUTION

These are my 4 initial designs for my bucket hat.

Denim & Beige – One side would be blue-wash denim, a laid-back yet classic material I love to wear, while the other would be beige. For the beige side, I’m considering either nylon for a sleek, lightweight feel or beige-colored denim to maintain a cohesive look.

Black Leather & Army Green / Black Nylon & Velvet – One variation of this design features black leather on one side for an edgy, polished look, while the other side is army green nylon, giving it a rugged, utilitarian feel. My other idea within this color scheme is to use black nylon on one side and army green velvet on the other. The black nylon would add a sporty, durable quality, while the velvet would bring in a rich texture and a touch of elegance. Both fabric combinations would be easy to stitch together and offer a nice contrast in texture and style.

Red Patchwork & Navy Blue – This design would feature a patchwork of various red shades on one side, creating a unique, handcrafted aesthetic, while the other side would be a deep navy blue, similar to the classic Ralph Lauren shade.

Mixed Patchwork & Neutral Side – One side would be made up of different fabric patches stitched together, creating a fun, eclectic design, while the other would be a simple, neutral color to balance it out. I’m still deciding on the exact color scheme for this one.

All the color scheme are inspired by my favorite colors. These are the color palettes that I always rotate around with in my wardrobe and ones that I truly love to wear on a daily basis.

VISION: ARTISTIC

My final design turned out to be different from all 4 of my choices, I decided to go with a Denim Patch look as the aesthetic felt natural to my own personality. Plus denim fits well with everything which serve the purpose of why I wear hats.

• Why the Denim
  • Denim is my personal style. I love wearing anything denim everyday I could, the material and the look provides a casual yet put together look while looking effortless that really elevates your style. My favorite way of styling denim is through a ‘Denim Set’ wherein you are wearing a denim jacket as your top and denim jeans as your bottom. Simple as it sounds, it really gives that casual yet put together look without putting so much effort. Another way is wearing either an oversized hoodie or an oversized sweater and pairing them with the baggiest denim jeans I have. Not only I’m comfortable with what I’m wearing but I still look sleek compared to pairing it with sweatpants or leggings (no hate to both tho, I love them for a different purpose). The reason why I chose to make my hat out of denim is mainly because of the effortless look it gives. For me, one thing about hats is that it needs to be an accessory that I can just throw in for 2 seconds then I can leave the house, very quick and effortless to the point that I don’t need to worry about it. Since denim pairs with a lot of colors and fabric too, it fulfills that quick and effortless purpose I want it to serve me.

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  Why the Patches

  • I’ve loved the idea of patches. I thought it was a good way to get that dynamic purpose that this project entails because every side of this hat will give you a different look and different structure. Other than that, patches are fun especially for denim patterns. There are so much denim patterns out there varying in different color, style, and structure but looks so good when mixed together. Also, patches are a good way to get that ‘Bold Minimalism’ aesthetic, from a far it stands out, it catches your attention, but it still blends well with your minimalist outfits.

CONSTRAINTS

• TIME – On top of all my other class projects, club, and work I struggle with dedicating time for my aesthetics project during the weekdays as my project requires long hours to get the right details in so I made it my goal to focus on this during the weekends when I can spend longer hours to perfect my craft.
• MATERIAL CHOICES – I decided to go for my Navy Blue and Red patch pattern design as it resonated with me more compared to my other designs. The constraint I have with this is combining all the red fabric and make sure that every piece will be sown well and will lay out smoothly.
• STITCHING AND MEASUREMENTS – It’s been a while since I used my sewing machine, so getting back to that and making sure that all my stitches are neat will be a little bit of a struggle but it will be fun. Also, making sure that my hat measurements fit my head well. The reason why I decided to make this project is to have a bucket hat that fits my face shape and head perfectly which I struggled to find in stores, so getting the measurements wrong would defeat the purpose of making it