Some people collect shoes, Leslie Correa is more interested in hats.

It helps then, that she works for Dorfman Pacific, one of the largest hat companies in the world.

She’ll share her expertise at a special fashion event at AS Cooper’s next week.

“Hats are definitely in trend, whether it’s the dressy fascinators or the beautiful Sinamay hats people are wearing to go to the horse races and special events like weddings and parties,” said Ms Correa, who boasts a collection of about 30 hats of her own.

“Over the past couple of years we’ve seen this trend incorporated by people looking to dress up and wear something pretty and feminine. These hats are also very fun to wear.

“Although we do have some with big brims on it or fascinators with feathers or other design details, they are usually very lightweight and can complete any look.

“If you have on a beautiful dress, shoes and a handbag or are wearing jewellery, like a pin, and a scarf, the hat tops it off and frames you so from head to toe you look completely accessorised.”

Ms Correa’s love affair with hats started as a child.

Her father wore one to work every day; her mom’s favourite accessory was a fedora with a two-inch brim.

“As adults we would see pictures of my parents and ourselves as kids and we would always be wearing hats,” she said. “Every Easter we would all get dressed up with a new handbag and patent leather shoes and a hat.”

Years later she found her first job in retail, before venturing into the wholesale end of the fashion business. She worked in a showroom representing a handful of accessory designers — Dorfman Pacific was one of them.

“Since 1921 Dorfman Pacific have manufactured and sold men’s hats, then 20 years ago they launched and opened their first women’s division,” she said.

“So I went from liking hats and wearing them to actually selling hats to the consumer.”

She carefully considers each client’s lifestyle and individual taste before suggesting a particular style for them.

“You have to look at whether they tend to dress more casually and enjoy being outdoors in the sun, or if they travel and like to visit resorts,” she said.

“I start off most people with a sun hat for sun protection, one that’s easily packable. There are two or three particular shapes that look good on everyone so just based on speaking to the person and observing if they have a round, square or rectangular face shape, there are certain hats that I know will look good on them.”

Some people aren’t comfortable wearing hats. In those cases she just encourages them to try lots of styles on.

“There’s a hat out there for every person but it’s like anything else, you have to find the right shoe or outfit that fits you and experiment with styles and colours,” she explained.

“Then when you find that hat style that suits you, you’ll automatically start looking for some more ones. It’s all trial and error.”

Her favourite part of the job is seeing the confidence people get from popping on a beautiful headpiece.

“When I go to the Kentucky Derby there are over 120,000 people there, young and old, watching the races and enjoying the festivities,” she said.

“These women are dressed from head to toe and wearing hats and smiling. It’s a different side of their personality that comes out in that environment. They have attitude; I call it ‘hattitude’.

“It’s that feeling you get when you dress up for a party and the confident side of you comes out. People don’t really understand it until they put on a hat and they see how good they feel in it.”

Ms Correa will be available for walk-in consultations on the third floor of AS Cooper’s, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am until 6pm. To book a private fitting, telephone 295-3961 x 423.

Ms Correa will also host a trunk show as part of AS Cooper’s Festival of Fashion and Beauty which runs Monday through Friday.

The store will also host a VIP fashion show on Thursday, featuring local designers TABS, Dana Cooper and Alexandra Mosher.

To RSVP e-mail rsvp@ascooper.bm.