April can be a wet old month (after all, that’s why we have the old saying March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers!), but this year we’ve been spoiled with plenty of warm sunny weather. We think that there’s nowhere better in the world than the English countryside on a sunny day in spring when the trees and hedgerows are vivid green, verges are filled with daffodils and tulips and the sky is the most amazing blue… Of course, the occasional wet day isn't a bad thing and will be actively welcomed by farmers, gardeners and horse owners who want grass to grow and don’t want rock hard ground! If you were lucky enough to get lots of sunshine over the Easter weekend then hopefully you managed to spend plenty of time outdoors, perhaps in a pub beer garden or BBQing with friends and loved ones.
If we’re lucky enough to have a hot and sunny summer, it’s important to take a few steps to help you stay cool and to stop your skin and eyes being damaged by the sun. A cool summer hat is a great option, as it will provide shade for your head and therefore relief from the heat, but a brim or a peak will shade your face too. Even if you love tanning (but remember that there’s no such thing as a safe tan and sunscreen is important for everyone), it’s imperative that you protect your face from the sun’s powerful rays. UVA rays have a longer wavelength and can penetrate the dermis, the middle layer of your skin, so are responsible for skin aging, whilst UVB rays are shorter and cause burning and the risk of skin cancer.
Shading your face from the sun helps to protect the delicate skin around your eyes from damage and could have an even more important benefit. There’s also some evidence to show that wearing sunglasses or a visor (or a hat with a brim) to stop direct sunlight hitting your eyes can help prevent cataracts from forming in later life. So, if you head out in summer with plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses and a summer hat, you’ll be protecting yourself from discomfort now and aging and health issues in the future.
Luckily here at Hayfield we have you covered (quite literally!) for stylish summer hats. One of our best-selling hats since we first launched it is the Henley Summer Fedora. Crafted from lightweight and airy paper straw in a range of colours, it can be finished with anything from a colourful ribbon or a smart leather band to a pretty game bird wrap. Perfect for anything from dog walking to a day at the beach or a summer country wedding! We’ve more recently unveiled our Luxury Collection of three gorgeous summer styles which take hot-weather chic to the next level! All three are handcrafted from Toquila straw with two (the Heloise and the Adalia) boasting elegant wide brims, and the Graciana featuring a slightly more modest brim - but they will all keep the sun from your face!
The Luxury Collection will be added to the website soon, perfect timing as summer should be just around the corner…
