This season's hottest accessory will have you brimming from ear-to-ear

Celebs and commoners alike are warding off the summer heat with one of this summer's most stylish accessories; a sun hat.

No longer do these styles belong to your grandfathers or green thumbed aunts, sun hats are back on top and are now popular with many designers and was even spotted on New York's most stylish fiction fashionista, Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex in the City movie!

Like myself, maybe you don't consider yourself a hat person. But with so many different shapes and sizes to choose from, you're sure to find something that will work for you.

The first thing to consider when choosing a hat should be your body shape and size. Petite women should choose smaller hats, while taller women can carry off larger hats accordingly. Wide, full-brimmed hats can help to balance a curvy figure, while if your features are small; fedoras or bowlers are the least overpowering.

For Spring/Summer ‘08, hats are again big news on the trend list! This practical, yet trendy, accessory was seen on the catwalk at just about every show, such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Oscar De La Renta, Marni, Marc Jacobs, Moschino Cheap and Chic, Michael Kors and John Galliano. But in designer Karen Walker's line, the hat trend was executed absolutely beautifully.

Walker paired her variety of floppy sun hats and fedoras with ‘70s wide-leg bottoms, polka-dot shift dresses, ‘30s tea dresses and harlequin blouses. Hat's off to Karen for playing up the perfect amount of tomboy and effortless, flirtatious style.

Wondering where you can stock up on this hot accessory? I like Juicy Couture's Ombre Ribbon Floppy Hat. Though it is a bit pricy at $75 (www.shopbop.com), it's destined to become a signature piece of your wardrobe during the hot months.

I also love Urban Outfitters Banded Straw Fedora, $28, trimmed with a striped band and finished with a curled brim. This hat would look smart matched with one of this season's popular floral frocks for that contrasting feminine, masculine look.

H&M has a great black floppy straw hat with a large brim for $9.90, which is not only affordable for any budget, but also super stylish and a classic staple.

With the ongoing fear of sun damage, what better way to block out those harmful rays while looking stunningly chic? A hat is the perfect accessory for a lazy day at the beach or a lunch date at your favourite outdoor patio! A hat can save you from a bad hair day, or compliment an outfit to make it a truly unique ensemble.

With so many varieties from fedoras to bowler hats and banded faille to floppy straw hats, it's easy to make this trend your own.