9 Celebs Who Made Major Fashion Statements With Hats

The fashion-obsessed know all too well the power an accessory has to either make or break a look. Add the wrong one, and it's like putting ketchup on a steak, but do it right, and it can be just the thing to take an outfit from fine to fantastic. A good hat, especially, can do a lot of heavy lifting — whether there to infuse a bit of quirk or attitude, or to transport us to a different time period. 

Sadly, the days of hat boxes being a part of most luggage sets seem to be behind us, but celebs will still sometimes bust out a show-stopping cap on the red carpet (or some other buzzy event) to, well, top off their looks. Among others, we're still drooling over Pamela Anderson's cheeky little leopard-print pillbox hat and the artful Phillip Treacy design that Sarah Jessica Parker donned at the 2024 Met Gala.

You might not expect Dame Helen Mirren to rock a casual brimmed hat, but that's exactly what the award-winning actor was wearing when photographers caught her out and about during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival in May 2019. But, befitting an old-school movie star, this wasn't your average Yankees cap. Mirren's was jazzed up with an expensive-looking black and white tweed fabric and paired with statement earrings and a timeless black blazer. Like Mirren herself, the look was cool meets classic.

Jennifer Lopez is the ultimate A-lister, and she never misses the chance to hit fans with a fashion moment. A New York City outing in October 2025 was no exception. The "Office Romance" lead was caught outside "Live with Kelly and Mark" rocking a wide-brimmed bolero hat that gave us Zoro vibes in all the best ways. We also love the addition of her big sunglasses and messy low ponytail. The dark color and dramatic energy of the hat, paired with Lopez's delicate white blouse and mint-green brocade skirt, were the perfect melding of structured and soft.

Rihanna is definitely one of the queens of the Met Gala, and her May 2025 look proved why. The theme was "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," and the multi-hyphenate nailed it with a custom Marc Jacobs-designed suit dress that showcased her baby bump. Jacobs collaborated with headwear expert Stephen Jones on the oversized hat that was reminiscent of what the women in the early part of the 20th century would've worn. Leave it to Rihanna to deliver part masculine, part feminine, and totally chic. 

Tracee Ellis Ross is never afraid to take fashion risks, but why should she be? Her mom is, of course, Dianna Ross, and Tracee is certainly one of the celebrity kids who inherited their parents' famous style. She didn't let off the gas with the look she wore to the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in Beverly Hills in March 2023. The "Black-ish" star donned a layered outfit complete with a capelet, black gloves, and a tied wrap skirt. She topped it off with a unique sculptural hat that added an unexpected element to the look.

Sarah Jessica Parker was among the many stars who stomped up those famous New York City steps for the Met Gala in May 2024. The "Sex and the City" actor wore a jewel-encrusted Richard Quinn dress with a single string of pearls. Very Carrie Bradshaw of her. To accompany the structured gown, Parker tacked on a champagne-colored Phillip Treacy hat that, in true Treacy form, seemed like a museum-worthy art installation. The whole look somehow flew a bit under the radar, which is wild because it was definitely one of Sarah Jessica Parker's best style moments in her 50s. 

Kerry Washington seemed beyond ready to take on the Black dandyism dress code at the Met Gala in May 2025 in New York City. Always one to have plenty of fun with her fashion, the "Imperfect Women" actor rocked a custom Jonathan Simkhai design that featured a sheer skirt and put a funky twist on a buttonless blazer. The real star, though, was the ivory-colored, wide-brimmed bolero hat that brought serious Harlem Renaissance vibes, and the dreamy trailing bubble braid was the perfect accessory-on-accessory moment. 

Our forever blond bombshell, Pamela Anderson, was seen walking into the Corinthia Hotel in London in July 2025 wrapped in a sultry cape dress and sporting a darling little leopard-print pillbox hat, an unexpected pattern for such a classic accessory, and we're totally here for the plot twist. The star of "The Naked Gun" looked stylish yet spirited. Plus, we can't ignore her glowing bare face. This is yet another time that Pamela Anderson went makeup-free and looked flawless.

Mary J. Blige has been hitting the stage for decades, so she knows better than most that when it's time to dial up the drama (the way only a '90s R&B diva can), a statement hat is tried and true. While performing during her Las Vegas residency in May 2026, Blige popped on a super wide-brimmed hat, perched at an angle, to accessorize a matching jumpsuit with voluminous sleeves and an open bodice. The "My Life" singer looked more than center stage-worthy, and we're still not over the platinum blond blowout.

When she swung by an event for FX's "Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans" in Los Angeles in May 2024, Demi Moore used her all-black look to transport us into a world of intrigue and dark romance. Moore opted for a simple two-piece cropped top and wide-legged trousers. But about the delicious hat: She donned a raven-colored pillbox version decked in a floating birdcage veil. The topper managed to read sweet, sexy, and a little bit eerie — all at the same time.