Summer’s favorite accessory arrives just in time to grab some shade from the hot, blistering sun. Straw hats, offered in an array of shapes — fedoras, wide-brimmed, ultra floppy and visor styles — have long been a go-to choice to beat the city heat or for relaxing on the beach.

Over the decades, straw hats have earned their place both on the couture and ready-to-wear runways, effortlessly transitioning any outfit from workday to fun-filled evening summer soirees. A stylish straw hat is the perfect companion to complete summer’s easy-breezy warm-weather looks.

In 1973, Italian-Argentinian fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo (1933-1989), commonly known as Giorgio Sant Angelo, a favorite of actress Lena Horne and singer Cher reimagined the straw hat as a summer statement piece. For his 50 piece collection, Sant Angelo paired wide-brimmed floppy and fedora straw hats with ladylike ruffled tiered dresses, tailored blouses, pants, swimsuits and safari-inspired jackets, all crafted in comfy jerseys, handkerchief linens, and lightweight cotton fabrics. The hats’ modern shape take inspiration from the traditional Panama hat, updated and adorned with wide ribbons — a signature of the Sant Angelo brand. These modern shapes make dressing in the heat effortless, allowing wardrobes to shift seamlessly from day to night.