The Only Sun Hat You Need for Nantucket Style This Summer
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The One Thing Missing From Your Nantucket Packing List
If you have ever Googled "what to wear on Nantucket" at 11pm the night before you leave, first of all, same. Second of all, you are not alone. I get asked about Nantucket style constantly, and after 30-plus years of going and inviting friends, I have learned that the panic is almost always unnecessary.
The island is more relaxed than people expect. It is not a fashion show. It is a vibe.
But there is one thing that always makes a Nantucket outfit click, whether you are at the beach, walking the cobblestones, or somehow ending up at dinner without having gone back to change: a great sun hat.
Not a floppy one that dies in your tote bag. Not a baseball cap. A wide-brim, UPF-certified sun hat that actually earns its place in your suitcase.
That is the whole reason GoldenOur exists.
Let's Talk About What Nantucket Style Actually Is
Here is the honest version: there is no one way to dress on Nantucket. I know that is not the answer people want, but it is the true one.
What I can tell you is that Nantucket dressing tends to land in a sweet spot between comfortable and pulled-together. Linen is everywhere. Sweaters are necessary even in July because the nights get genuinely breezy and you will be cold if you do not bring one. Heels on cobblestones are a decision you will regret by the second block.
For the full breakdown of what to actually pack, including sandals, swimwear, denim, and what to wear to the nicer restaurants, I wrote a full guide over on So Sloane's Substack. It is the most honest version of how to dress for Nantucket that I know how to write, and people keep telling me it is the only packing guide they can actually trust. You can read the Nantucket Style Guide here.
Why a Sun Hat Belongs on the List
Okay so here is the thing about Nantucket that catches people off guard. You are on an island 30 miles out to sea. You are going to be outside way more than you planned. The UV on the water and on the beach is no joke, and SPF alone is only doing so much.
A wide-brim sun hat is one of those pieces where the practical and the aesthetic completely overlap. You are protecting your face and your skin. You also happen to look amazing. That is the combination I am always after.
The GoldenOur UPF 50 Sun Hat is made from an organic blend of 80% linen and 20% cotton and is UPF 50 certified, meaning it blocks 98% of UV rays. The wide brim and cowboy-inspired silhouette with side snaps and an adjustable chin strap with decorative beads give it a shape that holds up in an ocean breeze. The embroidered logo on the back keeps it clean and intentional.
It looks like something you picked up somewhere incredible and have been wearing ever since. Which is exactly the energy Nantucket rewards.
Here's our guide to best sun hats for women in 2026.
How to Actually Wear It on the Island
The reason this hat works so well for Nantucket specifically is that it moves through the day with you without requiring a costume change.
At the beach: Throw it on over a swimsuit, denim cutoffs, and an oversized linen button-down or a men's oxford you sized up in. This is one of my favorite Nantucket looks. Casual, a little coastal, totally intentional.
Walking around town: Pair it with a fitted tank, white Levi's, and leather sandals. You will look like someone who has been coming here for years even if this is your first trip.
On the water: The chin strap actually works. The ocean breeze will test it and the hat will pass.
Into the evening: It pairs beautifully with a sundress and a summer sweater tossed over your shoulders for dinner somewhere with a harbor view. It bridges that gap between beach and dinner that Nantucket always demands.
Shop the Hat and the Full Nantucket Edit
I also put together a full GoldenOur Summer Style collection over on ShopMy that covers everything you need to build your Nantucket wardrobe from scratch. I'll be updating the Nantucket Style Guide on Substack weekly this summer.
This isn't your expected preppy guide; it's east meets west coast and dress like an individual with taste and personal style.
One Last Thing
The best-dressed people on Nantucket are not the ones who packed the most. They are the ones who packed the right things. Pieces that layer, pieces that travel well, pieces that look great in late afternoon light when you are walking back from the beach.
Nantucket style is linen, cashmere, denim, leather sandals, swimsuits paired with levis denim cutoffs, sun dresses or silk slip dresses, and a hat for occasions until Golden Hour.
A UPF sun hat made from organic linen/cotton with a silhouette that's protective from the sun and fun to wear.
Make many days a beach day and grab the GoldenOur Beach Hat for genuine Nantucket Style.
It is not about looking like you are trying. It is about looking like you're happy being you.