Hats Off To Summer

Sometimes wearing a hat makes me feel like I'm channeling a Southern Belle or an old-school diva or -- worst of all -- Blossom, but with the mercury rising and our ozone thinning, the benefits of wearing a wide brimmed hat starts to outweight those concerns. Therefore, my favorite fashion accessory this summer has become a nice oversized, and yes, fashionable, hat from the San Diego Hat company.

These hats are great because not only do they come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, but many of the hats are rated UPF 50 +, which means that they will block 97.5% of the sun's UVA and UVB rays.

I spent a lot of time in the sun sitting next to pools and soaking in hot springs on my recent trip down to New Mexico, and my trusty hat kept me safe from the hot desert rays. Visit www.sandiegohat.com for more information.

-- Aubrey Shoe