There are many different styles of Panama Hats that look great with a Guayabera Shirt. The most familiar ones are patterened after the traditional "Fedora" hat. A Fedora is characterized by its crown. The crown has a single dent running from the front to the back of the crown, then there are two "pinches" on either side of the front of the crown just below the center dent. The brim on the traditional Fedora can be any number of different styles, but usually are of the snap brim variety, with the back of the brim turned up and the front of the brim turned down.

As I said the Fedora is the most common style, but there are many other styles of "Panama" hats that are woven from the same Toquillo palm fiber as the traditional Panama Hat that we all know. Some of these include a Plantation or Gambler style, an Outback style, a Women's sun hat stye, and even Croched Toquillo palm in the traditional Fedora style.

The Plantation or Gambler is a good looking style of Panama that features a shorter crown than the Fedora, usually 3 to 3/12" in height rather then the 4 to 4-1/2" for the Fedora. The crown is normally roundish with either at "telescope" finish or an "Optimo" style finish. The brim is large and normally rolled up on the edges.

Here's a photo of the Plantation or Gambler style Panama hat:

The Outback is another style. Here the crown is still low in comparison to the Fedora. Instead of a center dent it usually features a C-Crown or Tear-drop crown. The brim is turned down on both the front and the back and rolled up somewhat on each of the sides.

Here is an Outback style Panama hat:

And there is a SAFARI style Panama hat. This one features a tall crown with a reverse center dent and a pair of pinches about mid-way back from the front of the crown. The brim is extra large and is turned down on both the front and the back.

Here's a photo of a SAFARI style Panama hat.

There is even a traditional Fedora style Panama where the Toquillo palm fiber is Croched rather than woven. I get these directly from Ecuador and fror some reason they call these a "Hippy" hat. It would certainly be a cool (temperature wise) hat to wear, especiall with all of the open weave, but I question how effective on would be in blocking UV rays. Still a fun style and one that would give your Guayabera Shirt a casual look.

The Hippy Fedora style Woven Panama hat:

More on Panama hats in a later post.