by Mary-Kathryn Craft

They can be protective, fun and - when worn with a bit of attitude - great attention getters

Womans Straw Hats are all the rage this summer, and people formerly shy of head wear are following in the fashion footsteps of celebrities such as the newsboy-fond Britney Spears and the fedora-donning Cedric the Entertainer.

"It gives folks permission to wear them if they see favorite stars or celebrities wearing straw hats," said Kay Killen, president and founder of The Hat Society, a national association devoted to promotion and preservation of hats.

Killen, who started the society in 1995 and keeps in frequent contact with straw cowboy hat makers and wearers, said interest in head coverings has been on the rise in the past few years thanks to bold celebrities and groups such at The Red Hat Society. The ladies' club, which encourages fun and frolic, requires all members to wear red hats and purple outfits to meetings.

"I put it as one of the trends showing people are becoming more bold," Killen said.

Whether you are a fad-following fashionista or a conservative clothes wearer, a womans straw cowboy hat can serve as the perfect accessory this summer, especially if you spend time on the beach. The American Cancer Society recommends wearing a woman's straw cowboy hat with a broad brim to protect your face against harmful sun rays.

"It's so much fun to get a wide brim, big cartwheel style straw hat that you can turn up or down and literally carry your shade with you," said Killen.

Donna Smith, owner of LaDonna's Inc. Ladies Accessories and Apparel in Pawleys Island, said the big, floppy straw beach hat has been a big seller this summer. Pink and tan are popular colors, and women are also going for woman's straw cowboy-style hats with folded brims. Smith's store carries a red version with a turquoise jewel accent.

Cowboy and packable straw beach hats are the hot items of the summer, said Barbara Watts, manager of Hats Galore in Barefoot Landing. People like the soft crushable woman's straw hat because "it just packs in the suitcase and goes well with everything."

The visor, one leftover from last season's hat fad, is still a favorite among beach goers and young people embracing the return of preppy. Cloth visors in bright yellows, greens, pinks and oranges with the increasingly sought-after Lacoste alligator can be spotted on golf courses, college campuses and in bars.

Other popular logos include beer brands and pop culture references from the 1970s and 1980s, said Dale North, manager of LIDS at Broadway at the Beach. Miller Light, Coors Light, Miller High Life, Guinness and Corona are some of the brands affixed to baseball caps.

LIDS also carries a variety of trucker-style caps, which are a little chunkier than the average baseball hat, with amusing advertisements for fictitious places. There's one displaying Chico's Bail Bonds, the baseball team's sponsor in "The Bad News Bears;" the Regal Beagle, popular hangout spot for the gang on "Three's Company;" and Huggy Bear's Lounge from "Starsky and Hutch."

"It's a nostalgic kind of deal going on," North said.

With such variety, it might be difficult for a hat novice to choose, but Killen recommends shopping for woman's straw hats like you would clothes. Pick a style you feel comfortable with.

"Just keep in mind the fact that there really is a hat for everyone," she said.