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Gangsta Glam

Miamians Perfect the Fedora

By Annie Vazquez

| Tuesday, Jul 28, 2009 | Updated 6:15 AM EST

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Make like Bruno and don a fedora (but not gold hotpant lederhosen).

Gangsters may have made the fedora look glam, but Miamians are perfecting the look with a chic twist.

Straw fedora hats are a sizzling summer accessory in South Florida -- and with good reason.

Not only do they play up your locks and keep you looking cool in the shade -- not to mention save a bad hair day -- but they also dress up your look when it's a jeans and t-shirt kind of day.

"Our customers love them because they can make a basic outfit look stylish," said Serena Minott, co owner of

Downtown Divas Miami.

At the boutique, hats come in an assortment of colors from white to tan to a deep chocolate hue, and all sell under $30.

Christian De La Iglesia, co owner of South Beach shop F1RST, says the hats have been flying off the shelves at his store.

“There is something about them that says palm trees and casual living. Fuse that with a classic look of the fedora and it suits our culture down here,” said De La Iglesia ,who adds that men are also big into the fad.

Popular brands at F1RST include Brixton, RVCA and Billabong.

Designer Eugenia Kim, whose fedoras have graced the heads of celebs like Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears, says her hats are perfect to don day and night in Miami and a way to re-create your look in the recession.

“Hats are much cheaper than purchasing an entire new wardrobe and they are sun-protective,” says Kim. “Spending one lump sum of $265 on a straw fedora is much cheaper than repeated trips to the dermatologist for Botox.”

Other shops that sell fedora hats include Quiksilver, Arden B and Anthropologie.

Annie Vazquez is a Miami-based journalist and shop-a-holic. Email her with any fashion tips, boutique openings, events, sales and bargains at anniecvazquez@yahoo.com