spring is well underway and i for one am embracing every opportunity to be out from under the fluorescent lights of my office and in the sweet springtime sun. but being pretty fair, warmer weather means being responsible about skincare.

aside from their ability to hide dirty/messy hair and add flair to any outfit, this time of year, hats become a functional accessory as well. they are great for blocking out the sun’s harmful rays protecting your face and skin from getting burned (a peeling scalp is the worst!). last christmas i teamed up with my friend, natalie to show you how we love to style our cold-weather hats, so now that’s it’s april (<— how did that happen?!), i wanted to show you three ways to style one of my spring/summer staples –the panama hat. so for the next few days, i’ll showcase outfits i love to wear while sporting this spring chapeau.

the first way i love to style my panama hat is…

with a pair of denim cut-offs and glitter sandals

you may recognize the ruffle detailing on this sweater (perhaps here?). it’s true, i broke down and ordered the same sweater in this cream color because a) you can never have too many sweaters, b) ruffles, and c) (and most importantly) it was on sale. for the perfect casual weekend look, i combined the sweater with my favorite pair of denim shorts and embellished sandals. i finished the look with a casual side braid tucked beneath my panama hat and added a pop of color with a bold red lip.

though this look is simple, it still feels pulled together. and that’s thanks to the “third-piece rule.” never heard of it? essentially you can think of your outfit in parts -your top and bottom are your first and second pieces and the third is an extra element that adds visual interest to your look. it can be a jacket, a vest, a necklace, or in this case, a hat. try it the next time you’re putting together an outfit and then let’s meet back here tomorrow for look number two, mmk?

j.crew panama hat | j.crew factory denim shorts || banana republic sweater 

target sandals || madewell belt || stowaway creme lipstick in “scarlet”

urban outfitters sunglasses (similar)