“Without hats, there is no civilization.” While some question fashion designer Christian Dior’s famed statement, it certainly holds true for the College’s Goodrich Coffee Bar, known for its hat-wearing baristas. According to Goodrich Personnel Manager George Rogers ’25, baristas are required to wear their hair back with a hat on during shifts in order to ensure food and drink safety. However, it is indisputable that many baristas view this health policy as an opportunity to push the boundaries of fashion and set new trends. This week, the Record sent one of its fashion critics to review and assign superlatives to five of the most innovative hat choices that Goodrich baristas have to offer this season. 

Berit Olsson ’24: Most fluffy

This is no traditional bucket hat — it’s a yellow, blue, red, fuzzy, and foxy bucket hat. While maintaining the traditional bucket hat shape, the low pile fur of this one renders it much larger and heavier than traditional styles. It’s unclear whether this is intended to provide warmth during the colder months or for mere aesthetic purposes. Regardless, its fluffy, almost cotton candy-like texture elevates Olsson’s barista look, giving it a fun and amusing quality. The combination of colors is unexpected, but it surprisingly works. Overall, Olsson’s hat pushes the boundaries of the bucket hat and is a must-see this season. 

Jayden Tran ’27: Most cat-tastic

One cannot help but smile at Tran’s lighthearted and eye-popping cat hat. Its bright yellow color is starkly contrasted against his darker choices of apparel, such that one’s eye cannot help but go directly toward his hat upon entering the Coffee Bar. Some of the feline features on this hat are noticeably out of proportion to those of a real-life creature, with the whiskers much thicker than both the eyes and nose. This incorporation of cartoonish details has rarely been seen on hats behind the Goodrich bar this season, demonstrating Tran’s truly out-of-the-box and exciting take on the bucket hat. 

Riku Nakano ’25: Most aquatic

Nakano’s choice of hat epitomizes unconventionality. This accessory — which Nakano crocheted herself — defies the hat shapes typically seen behind the Goodrich bar. Harkening back to the Roaring Twenties, it incorporates characteristics of both the cloche hat and a swimming cap, with a tight fit around the head and two strings that tie together underneath the chin. The pragmatic potential of this design is nothing short of innovation, as it ensures that Nakano’s hat will remain secured on her head when shifts get intense. Furthermore, its blue and green color palette invokes aquatic life, complementing the crochet texture. I commend Nakano for this creative design.

 Megan Lin ’24: Most fisherman

This bright white hat with an oversized brim is the perfect accessory to wear while fishing on a sunny day in summer, so one cannot help but question Lin’s choice to serve fisherman realness. I would argue that this seemingly out-of-place hat makes an incredibly powerful statement, challenging notions of what type of hat should and should not be worn while steaming milk and cutting bagels. Why not wear a top hat or one of those colorful baseball hats with a propeller on the top? Lin’s cutting-edge, sun-protective hat seems to make the statement that one absolutely can and should if they so wish — and in style.

Lily Muhlbaum ’27: Most colorful

With respect to its shape, this hat is less heterodox than others presented this semester. However, it pushes boundaries through its use of nearly every color on the wheel. From afar, Muhlbaum’s hat appears to be nothing more than a messy jumble of color. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that there is a unique pattern to this hat, with each color compacted into small flower-like shapes, contrasted against a white backdrop. The exquisite detail in the pattern of Muhlbaum’s hat is remarkable and something all Goodrich baristas should strive to replicate themselves. 

These five hats have the potential to change the Goodrich hat landscape and inspire future baristas to bend fashion norms through their hat choices.