Wherever I travel I buy a version of a panama hat. It becomes part of my outfit, and fits seamlessly into my wearable palette of cream, caramel and white. A traditional straw hat from the shores of Ecuador, and a staple in my wardrobe at home or abroad, I have a healthy collection of panamas now. On one sojourn I was lucky enough to visit Ecuador, the home of the panama. These lightweight, breathable hats are perfect when paired with linen, cotton, summer fabrics, and are a must on a sun drenched beach. They have been a firm favourite, a cultural icon, since the turn of the 20^th Century but the craft of hat weaving can be traced to the mid-1600s.

Brim width is 6.5cm