J’adore/ J’abhor

In our new Muddy regular, we look at both sides of a hot topic that’s currently dividing office opinion. This week: the return of bucket hats.

J’ADORE, says Muddy associate editor Kerry Potter

Much of my delight at the return of this classic ’90s headpiece is nostalgia based. I was a massive Stone Roses fan (their drummer Reni was the king of bucket hats) and, during my Glastonbury years, a battered navy Kangol bucket hat was my festival essential – it hid wild hair, hungover eyes and all manner of other sins. Fast forward 20 years and when Dior sent every model in their AW19 show down the catwalk wearing one, it was clear they’d be everywhere this summer. Bring it on, I say. For a start, I’m bored of awkward straw hats (why do they never fit in your suitcase? Why do I always leave them on the plane?) and the time feels right to experiment with a new, fresh silhouette. Plus it transpires they’re still great for hiding hungover eyes. Some things never change.

J’ABHOR, says Muddy founder Hero Brown

It’s a big, fat “non” from me I’m afraid. The bucket hat falls into that category of appallingly ugly items the fashion industry periodically reinvents seemingly just to troll us civilians. (See also: jewel-encrusted Crocs and Teva hiking sandals.) I can’t see any reason why I’d wear one, unless I mystifyingly wanted to look like a teenage boy hanging around the bus stop. Speaking of which, my very own teenage boy is a huge fan of the bucket hat, pulled down low (anything to avoid eye contact, obvs) which means I could never, ever bring myself to pull one on. What’s more, I tend to abide by one fashion rule: if Liam Gallagher wears it, I really shouldn’t