How to find your perfect hat Find the perfect hat for any face shape in our definitive guide to getting ahead in the new season's millinery; from fedoras and trilbies to baseball caps and beanies and everything in-between Make no mistake, this autumn (and winter) is the season of the hat. But don't take our word for it. Designers from Emporio Armani (taking its style cue from Pharrell Williams) and Saint Laurent (the wide brimmed floppy Seventies style numbers beloved of Hedi Slimane) to Acne with its supersize bobble versions and Giles and his homespun knitted beanies courtesy of Wool & the Gang, all got involved via their autumn/winter collections. "Hats are back; they're the new handbag" says Sanchia Softley, hats and scarves buyer at Fenwick of Bond Street. The hat has a personality that can match or exaggerate yours. A quiet woman can hide behind her floppy brim, the city girl can do classic style with a large brim fedora and the confident woman can stand out in her sequin turban. Everyone can wear a hat, she says, but not every hat will work. Face shape, height and size will determine what style will suit; proportions are key. Softely's rules to getting ahead in the hat department Round A high crown will lengthen the face. Look out for fur cossack hats from Grevi or Gilly Forge or aforementioned Armani versions. Oval A strong jawline can be softened by a floppy brim. "Think Sienna Miller circa 2004," says Softley. Square Those with strong features can pull off a baseball cap with leather being "very in Vogue." For a quirky look, the Telegraph loves pieces by Helene Berman or Bernstock Speirs. Heart shaped Trilby or peaked caps work well in this case and Softley loves labels such as Eugenia Kim. Oblong Try wide brim fedoras and beanies as a low crown or wider brim will balance the face's proportions. If you're petite in stature Choose a smaller hat in dimension, however, height can help lift a shorter person. If you're tall or of larger build A wide brim is best. Incorporate a hat into your party dressing lexicon "It is also appropriate at most contemporary city functions, to wear something more unusual," says Softley. She recommends giving a trilby a go; especially with a trouser suit - the Telegraph loves those by Philip Treacy and Christys' London - or even a turban which "can look elegant and set you apart from conventional dressing." Delay Now you're armed with the rules, it's time to put them into practice but don't do anything without checking out our top buys for the season with a little inspiration from fashion's most stylish. British actress Naomi Watts is stylish in the city, wrapping up against the elements in one of this season's key belted coats teamed with a black, wide-brimmed Fedora. Take a leaf out of Watts' style book: matching said hat with bag and shoes renders the overall look chic and co-ordinated. From top left: navy felt fedora, £60, Whistles; Maison Michel colour block fedora, £600, Matches Fashion; Hat Attack navy fedora with black band, £118, My Theresa; Bailey for J Crew felt hat, £58, J Crew; Rag & Bone pecan floppy brim fedora, £135, Avenue 32 BOBBLE HATS Acne autumn/winter 2014 catwalk The Acne show was unmissable for its supersize bobble numbers. But while this look may be a tad extreme for everyday consumption, hats with pompoms have subsequently taken a stylish leap from the slopes and après ski to a street near you. And if a bobble on its own doesn't feel quite bling enough, try Markus Lupfer's crystal tiara beanie for size for a regal take on the trend. From left: Red pom pom ribbed beanie, £14, Topshop; Markus Lupfer black crystal tiara beanie hat, £140, Liberty; Pompom knit beanie, £38, Anthropologie; Inverni cashmere and fox fur beanie, £210, Browns Fashion; Bobble hat in navy, £95, Chinti & Parker PEAKED CAPS Lanvin autumn/winter 2014 catwalk Peaked hats were a real feather in the cap for Alber Elbaz at Lanvin this season and they will have just the same effect on those with heart-shaped faces especially. Take your pick from sporty Genie to prim Antonio Marras or take things to another level with Fendi and its fabulous fur pompom. From left: Fendi fur hat, £340, Matches Fashion; Peaked hat, £55, Reiss; Genie red felt cap, £70, Liberty; Antonio Marras black felt cap, £115, Avenue 32; Stella McCartney green felted wool baseball cap, £180, My Theresa BEANIES Cara Delevingne in the Giles Deacon autumn/winter 2014 catwalk show Beanies have been increasingly acquiring a life of their own and we're not just talking about the ones with eyes, as knitted by Wool and the Gang for Giles Deacon and his model crew. On the high street, COS is our absolute go-to for uber-plain grey cashmere (super chic with a floor skimming coat) to jazzy cable knits but for a fun, youthful twist, check out veiled options from urban favourites Silver Spoon and Bernstock Speirs. Grevi gold lurex beanie, £65, Liberty; Bernstock Spiers black and white bow veiled beanie, £110, Liberty; Tak Ori St. Moritz mohair-blend beanie £220, Net a Porter; Orange chunky knit, £29, COS; Silver Spoon beanie with pearl veil, £90, Browns Fashion; Eugenia Kim Magritte alpaca beanie, £140, Net a Porter; Silver Spoon bad kitty beanie, £80, Selfridges NARROW BRIM Street style at London Fashion Week A perfect accessory to compliment this Paul Smith pyjama vibe; the muted jewel hues render this street style look rich, opulent and achingly on trend. Christys' London managing director, Steve Clarke enjoins people to work a trilby for a party look, such as the purple Tyler hat. Just watch as all heads turn to you! He also points out that a narrow brim or irregular shape balances out a round face. From left: Christys' London purple Tyler tribly hat, £110, Liberty; Gucci felted velour fedora, £375, Matches Fashion; Genie red jordan wool felt hat, £70, Liberty; Hat Attack felted wood fedora, £114, My Theresa; Maison Michel Virginie felt fedora, £565, Matches Fashion; Classic fedora with grosgain ribbon, £58, J Crew BASEBALL CAPS Blogger Susie Bubble strikes a pose in her bow-embellished baseball cap. Leave the sports logos to the urban crew. The baseball cap has had a serious makeover this season and suddenly it's acceptable headwear in the smartest of circles thanks to new incarnations in luxe fabrications such as leather and wool felt - J.Crew and Whistles do the best in the affordable luxury market. However, we have a major hankering for the glitter bunny ears version by Bernstock Speirs. From left: Stella McCartney wool felt baseball cap, £180, Net a Porter; Red leather baseball cap, £110, J Crew; Bernstock Speirs navy glitter bunny cap, £75, Liberty; Black quilted cap, £16, Topshop; Grey felt baseball cap £50, Whistles FLOPPY Sibling autumn/qinter 2014 collection Tall girls with strong features will be in their bohemian element in a floppy, wide brimmed hat. The ones at the Sibling show above were a collaboration with milliners Bernstock Speirs, but you can let your imagination run wild when it comes to colour and fabrication. Top high street choices can be found at River Island and Topshop, though the luxe options are Eugenia Kim's rabbit felt number and the leopard print version by Littledoe. From left: Catarzi Exclusive to ASOS Floppy Hat With Grosgain Trim, £35, ASOS; Light blue oversize fedora hat, £28, River Island; Littledoe leopard rabbit fur davidson hat, £315, Avenue 32; Felt floppy hat, £60, Whistles; Eugenia Kim Bette rabbit-felt hat, £290, Net a Porter; Burgandy felt floppy hat, £28, Topshop; With the Seventies firmly in vogue this winter, and its attendant glamour set to sashay well into next year if Louis Vuitton has anything to do with it at all (which we fully expect it will), it is high time to consider the turban once more. It instantly bestows an evening outfit with exotic glamour. Wear a plain version with statement earrings - otherwise keep the rest of your look neutral and let the turban do the talking. READ: what to wear to a winter wedding Missoni green unica knitted turban, £125, Liberty; Embellished turban, £14, ASOS; Superduper knot wool turbanstyle hat, £148, Luisa Via Roma; Jennifer Behr Swarovski crystal-embellished silk and net turban, £1485, Net a Porter; Jennifer Behr orange silk draped turban, £395, Liberty Street style photos: Elizabeth Khan-Greig. Catwalk: Isidore Montag