A boonie hat is also known as a booney hat or simply a bucket hat and is typically worn by Australian Army personnel in warm, tropical climates. Its basic design is much like a bucket hat but only with a sturdier brim. In addition, there is a lower brim that is made of elastic material that provides added support for glasses. This type of hat is made of a cotton or polyester fabric that usually comes with an adjustable clasp on one side. It may have an elasticized top that is opened to allow ventilation. The Australian version of this hat is made of a thin, transparent, strapless fabric that features a large round elasticized center, a smaller, colored brim that is either open or closed, and a square, thinned out bottom that is open.
The bucket style is a staple piece of any woman’s wardrobe, whether you are a city girl looking for something conservative to wear with a business suit or a sunbather in a bikini. It is a simple hat style that can go from work to play and back again. There are many types of hats that are considered “batik” ranging from very colorful traditional prints to modern geometric designs. Batik clothing is popular not only in Australia but throughout the world as well and has even become very fashionable in the United States and Europe.
While there is no exact number of how many women own at least one of these, it is estimated that anywhere from one to two hundred thousand women in America alone wear this kind of hat. A plain bucket may be a thing of the past, as women try to find new ways of expressing themselves through their outerwear. So when you wear a Bohemian or vintage style hat, make sure that you are not just wearing an ordinary piece of clothing but rather, are making a statement.