Put on your favorite jacket, scarf, maybe a pair of gloves and look in the mirror. Do you look and feel fabulously fall? Probably, but I must inform you: You are missing the most daring and designer-beloved of the season’s accessories: the hat. I’m sure you have something you could toss on, but we’re not talking basic beanies here. We’re talking fashion forward toppers that pushed the boundaries at shows like Cavalli and Jason Wu.

Runways were brimming with the hat of the season, the boho meets noir wide brimmed hat. What makes these beauties a Fall Essential is the versatility on offer. Don a fedora style for a dramatic Casablanca-inspired take or a floppy 70’s style for glamourous hippie chic. Look for a variety of pieces, whether neutral or neon, and embrace the bigger is better attitude.

Look to nature to nurture your head and your style. Feathers and fur and leather  imbued the catwalk with animal magnetism, and can’t-beat warmth to boot. Looks recalled everything from Edie Sedgwick’s leopard caps to Star Wars to the Russian tundra. For something a bit less over the top, plumed trimmings can add something extra to your favorite hat silhouette, no matter how simple.

Baseball season’s over, but the season for boyish baseball caps is just gearing up. It’s hard to think of an accessory more typically tomboy, but designers really knocked it out of the park this time. Mixed textiles, playful pom poms and bright hues give this street wear a classic feminine and fanciful tone.

Go ahead, girls, order a top off, with a fall accessory heavy on form and function.