Heads Up, Seven Up!

Jan Brett’s beloved children’s story, The Hat, chronicles a day in the life of an amusing hedgehog that pokes his nose into a knit sock and finds himself stuck. Wandering around the farmyard, he begins to view his hat as highly fashionable and important protection against the chilly air. His barnyard friends poke fun at his new look, but are soon drawn to the thought of wearing a hat themselves.

These storybook animals were certainly on to something. Hats really came into their own as a fashion accessory around the 14th century, and seems to now be a “must-have” accessory from birth. A 1940s ad campaign for a U.K. hat maker coined the saying, “If you want to get ahead and get noticed, then get a hat.” The Giggle Guide^® takes notice of the popularity and variety of choices of hats for kids. Here are seven children’s hat makers who’ve gotten ahead in the headwear game: Gigi’s Apparel, Pink Axle, Little Fit, Short Hat Company, Jamie Rae Hats, Zooni, and Wiggy Stuido.

Gigi’s Apparel — The Flower in One’s Cap!

Gigi’s Apparel offers inspired hat, headband and helmet duvet designs for today’s fashion-forward child. Soft knit hats and headbands with a bountiful flower are available in a cornucopia of colors, and have such sweet names as Squeeze, Fluff, Dolce, Sorbet and Kissy.

The velvet hats and headbands, available in pink, brown and black, are vintage-inspired, adding a touch of elegance to any outfit. Lined in soft knit fabric, these hats are perfect for the cold winter months and are certain to turn heads.

Duvet helmets are a Gigi’s Apparel original and a great way to help kids play it safe and wear a helmet while biking, skating and scootering. Made of a stretchable, breathable mesh, the helmet duvet covers a child’s helmet, transforming it into a bold fashion statement. Fun embellishments include Gigi’s traditional oversized flower, a friendly spider and slimy worms.

Hats range in size from newborn (0-2 months), 0-2 years, 5-8 years and adult, with soft knit hats retailing for $30.00 and soft knit headbands for $20.00. Velvet hats are $35.00; velvet headbands are $25.00. The helmet duvets are one size fits all for $20.00, with a portion of the proceeds going to FirstStar: Putting Children First. For more information about other fashion accessories, including lace leggings.

For more information, visit www.gigisapparel.com

Pink Axle — Cool and Cozy

Super trendy and stylish, Pink Axle hats keep baby warm—and looking cool. The company’s taste for something different—a bit more edgy and rock-n-roll—bore a line of hip cotton “rocker” caps for boys and girls.

Hat colors range from distressed black, brown, pink and white and are emblazoned with a large stylish print of a rockin’ guitar, skulls, tiara, diamonds, vintage cars and more.

All hats are made from 100 percent, stretch cotton fabric that holds up to multiple washes. Four sizes are offered: 0-6 months, 6-12 months 12-18 months and 2T-4T. The hip hats retail for between $19.99 and $21.99.

For more information, visit www.pinkaxle.com

Little Fit — Size Matters

For hats that fit and look great, Little Fit delivers. These hats are styled to look just like adult hats, but are sized down fo baby and toddler. High-quality hat designs are available in the trucker and baseball flex lines. The adjustable trucker hats come in white, brown, pink, red and black, as well as 10 chic designs, including the colorful butterfly, which is embroidered with rhinestones, the flocked leopard print complete with an embroidered rhinestone graphic, and the screened “skate or cry” print. “Little” trucker hats fit children from 4 to18, and “BIG” trucker hats fit 18 months to 4-5 year olds.

The baseball flex hat, available in red, pink, blue, tan, brown and black, features a hidden flexible band that allows the hat to grow with your child’s head. Sizing starts “little” at 47cm and fits most 1-3 year olds. The “BIG” baseball flex hat starts at 52cm and fits most 3-5 year olds. Retail prices range from $16.00-$22.00 depending on graphic and style choice.

For more information, visit www.littlefit.com

Short Hat Company — Head of the Classy

The Short Hat Company touts a headwear collection for modern youth that pairs classic, clean designs with function and performance. The company knows how picky children can be when it comes to how a hat feels, so they’ve taken both comfort and style into consideration. A company that prides itself on being “green,” Short Hat uses recycled plastic in their visors and sources renewable fibers whenever possible.

High-quality, itch-free yarns are used to create handmade, knit hats that are baby soft, yet toasty warm, for the coldest winter months. Boys and girls alike are sure to warm to the many colorful designs, including Cody, Rusty, Zoe, and Lilly.

The cap collection uses designer fabrics and subtle details that make a difference in comfort, style and fit. These hats are perfect for the sunny, warmer months of spring and summer. Brimmed hats include a padded coolmax headband that eliminates the scratch factor and helps wick away moisture. Short Hat uses “true fit” adjustable backs—not elastic—for a non-binding feel that ensures a great fit. Designs include the soft, faux suede Molly; Short Line, a wide brim sun hat with an infant chinstrap; and the modern style baby bonnet Bonnie. Hats are sized for infants (0-24 months) and youth ages 2-6.

For more information, visit www.shorthats.com.

Jamie Rae Hats — A Blooming Success

In full bloom since 2005, Jamie Rae Hats has grown from a stay-at-home mom’s creation for her daughter into one of the leading flower baby hat companies. Flower hats and headbands with giant fluted petals are handcrafted with care and made with a child’s comfort in mind, using the softest ribs of cotton combined with captivating color and beautiful embellishments.

There’s a whole garden full of Jamie Rae creations waiting to be handpicked, including a tie die line, crochet hats, headbands, flowerettes, velvet hats, and boy hats. The velvet hats, in raspberry, black and white, are perfect for fall, and can be embellished with an oversized bloom or the fuzzy marabou. The funky tie die choices for both boys and girls scream, peace, love and rock-n-roll. The bold and bright colors draw attention on first glance. Flowerettes, in every color under the sun, are made especially for newborns and their tiny soft heads. The flower and marabou headbands, made from super-soft rib knit stretchy polyester, are comfortable and an easy fit for toddlers.

Jamie Rae’s new sports hat line offers fun hats and headbands for the smallest fans to show their spirit and root for their mommy and daddy’s favorite team, including FSU, BYU, Cal State and North Texas! Jamie Rae Hats products are available in newborn sizes through age 6. Hats range in retail price from $18.00-$28.00; headbands from $14.00-$18.00.

For more information, visit www.jamieraehats.com or www.jamieratesportshats.com

Zooni — Heads Will Turn!

Zooni celebrates childhood—all of its individuality, laughter and adventure—through its unique and sweet line of hats that will keep kids toasty warm and bring smiles to the faces of adults who remember how great it is to be a kid.

A fun, functional solution to protecting your child’s head, Zooni hats are luxurious, colorful, durable and guaranteed to turn heads. Each one-of-a-kind design offers a precious signature feature you just can’t find anywhere else.

Fleece-lined mop top hats are available in such enchanting designs as Panda Monium, Purple Rein, Puppy Love, Chunkee Monkee, Under the Sea, Leo the Lion, Pretty n’ Pink, Flower Power, Kate’s Moss, Blue Grass, Firecracker and Hipster for between $30.00 and $36.50.

Zooni hats are handmade with a blend of natural cotton and polyester. A portion of the profits are donated to local and international children’s charities. Sizes include from 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months and 2-5+ years.

For more information, visit www.zooniwear.com

Wiggy Studio — Head-to-Toe Fashion

Wiggy Studio offers fanciful hats that can make hearts smile! Bucket and sun hats in a rainbow of colors can also be paired with matching shoes to make any outfit special. The chocolate velvet hat is especially popular for the holiday season. The collection includes everything from elegant toile prints with accenting bows, ribbons or flowers to fun-in-the sun choices embellished with a butterfly, ladybug, snail or whale, and chic and sassy animal prints.

The boys line pairs cutesy phrases, such as “Chick Magnet” and “Hunk” with masculine colors and animal characters, including an elephant, dog and giraffe.

Their birthday hats make that special day extra special with cone-shaped hats in pink gingham; pink and brown polka dots; black and white Zebra; hot pink and lime green; and circus lion, doggies, little choo-choo and dinosaurs themes. Monogrammed hats make a perfect first baby gift. Hats are sized by head circumference for newborns, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, toddler/preschooler (12-36 months) and youth for 6 years and older. Prices range from $14.50 to $15.50 wholesale.

For more information, visit www.wiggystudio.com

With this magnificent seven, The Giggle Guide^® has just touched upon some of the hats that add finishing touches and contribute to add-on sales. What accessories do you find at the top of the list? Comment here.