Why Bucket Hats and Bikinis Are Summer’s Best Combination

Need a UV-protecting hat to go with your summer bikini but feel the larger-than-life, eagle-wingspan-size Jacquemus straw hat isn’t your speed? Try a bucket hat. The versatile, crushable piece protects 360 degrees, is chock-full of tomboy flair, and is easily portable. It’s the perfect foil for the sexiness of a bikini, too: Look to the May 2000 issue of Vogue where Naomi Campbell sunbathed in a black bandeau two-piece with a zebra-striped topper. Two years later, in the December 2002 issue, model Carmen Kass sported an orange bikini (complete with a very noughties denim mini!) with a white bucket hat while on the beach.

Want to get the flirty-quirky look? One way to put a cheeky spin on the outfit is to match your bucket hat to your bikini, as in a full leopard-print getup courtesy of Ganni. To add some edge to an all-white Solid & Striped bikini, try an Alexander Wang bucket hat scrawled with playful logos inspired by New York City storefronts. Or, for an even groovier option, a tie-dye bucket hat complete with an under-the-chin drawstring will take any two-piece to the next level.

Here, shop the best bucket hat and bikini combinations for summer.