Costume hats aren’t necessarily limited to traditional hats. Think outside the box to determine what kind of headwear can best top off your look. Headdresses, headbands, helmets, or headpieces that are combined with masks are all different types of costume hats that can add the finishing touch to your costume.

Costume hats are often part of traditional Halloween costumes. No witch costume is complete without the pointy black hat. Pirate costumes require a hat, or at the very least, a headscarf. Cowboy hats are an essential element to any cowboy or cowgirl outfit, and Indian costumes look best when topped off with a feathered headband or a majestic feathered headdress.

Adding a hat to your outfit doesn’t have to mean blowing your costume budget. Costume hats and even helmets are often available in cloth or plastic versions that can help create an authentic look with little cost investment. Look for discount costume retailers that can help you put together a complete look without spending a fortune on your costume.

One type of hat that is popular with Halloween costumes is the fedora. Fedoras can be used to top off a gangster or mob boss costume, and of course no Indiana Jones costume is complete without his signature weathered brown fedora. Even Freddy Krueger wore a battered fedora.

Costume hats are also an important element in historical, retro and even plus size costumes. Many Halloween costumes are based on periods in history when headwear was more common. Flappers often wore feathered headpieces, and hippie costumes look great with a wide headband. Of course, many costume inspirations date back even further in time. Tricorn Musketeer hats, pilgrim hats, Confederate soldier hats, and coonskin caps are all essential elements for historical costumes. Dressing up as a king or queen requires a jeweled crown, and impressive Egyptian costumes can be created with a Cleopatra headdress or an elaborate King Tut headpiece. A Roman costume might include a fig leaf crown or a helmet, and Viking costumes call for horned helmets.

Even more modern costumes are often accessorized with costume hats. Transform into a Vegas showgirl with an impressive feather headpiece. Create a festive Hawaiian luau look with a straw hat, or choose a Carmen Miranda hat piled high with fruit. Occupational costumes are popular and often require costume hats. Costumes for nurses, police officers, detectives, or sailors look best with a corresponding costume hat. If you’re feeling a little more flamboyant, choose a fur- or feather-trimmed wide-brimmed hat to top off a pimp costume. Costume hats can also help you dress up as your favorite TV or movie character, from Zorro to “I Dream of Jeannie.” Choose a combination hat and mask to dress up as your favorite Star Wars character or political figure.

Sometimes a good hat can be all you need for the basis of your costume. Wear a ninja headpiece and dress in all black for an easy and inexpensive costume, or pair a sombrero with a poncho for a Mexican-themed costume or even a Cinco de Mayo party.

Costume hats are a great way to add a festive element to any holiday party. Santa hats, elf hats, and reindeer antlers all help you get into the Christmas spirit. Embrace your inner leprechaun by wearing a green derby or a green top hat on St. Patrick’s Day. For a Mardi Gras party, create a festive atmosphere with jester hats, masks, or headbands, and show your patriotic spirit on the 4th of July with an Uncle Sam stovepipe hat in red, white, and blue.