Whether we’re at the pool, lake, beach or just in the backyard, we all know we should protect our faces and bodies from the sun. One way to do that is to don a sun hat. They are everywhere right now, from discount to department stores. I went shopping and fell in love with a designer one that retails for $485. This hat, by Eugenia Kim, has been seen on Beyonce and is featured in  the June issues of InStyle and O Magazines. It’s absolutely adorable, but it’s NOT in my summer style budget. So one way to get “the look for less” is to harness your creativity and recreate it using less expensive, but easily accessible items.

Ready to try it?

1. You’ll need a straw hat with a wide brim (app. $15), sequined trim ($3 per roll), a hot glue gun and glue sticks, and chalk or a disappearing ink pen (available at your local craft store for under $5). You can often find coupons in circulars or online that reduce the price even further.
2. Place your hat on a flat surface and decide what phrase you want to embellish on the brim. While you are tracing it onto your hat with your chalk or disappearing ink, plug your hot glue gun in to let it heat up. (Pro tip: dip the metal tip of the glue gun in petroleum jelly so the heated glue won’t get stringy!)
3. Add glue to your handwritten outline an inch at a time and working carefully,  press your sequin trim down onto the brim, adjusting it as necessary.
4. Once you’re done, wipe away any traces of the ink or chalk with a damp cloth.

Why “DIY”? Personalizing it is fun and makes the item one of a kind! Also, consider the price. If you bought the designer version you’d spend close to $500 for a hat you may wear a handful of times during the summer months. Making your own version can be done for well under $50. So as I always advise, evaluate the “cost per wear” and determine the better deal, especially if you have “champagne taste on a soda budget.” And maybe spend some of what you would’ve saved on a super cute swimsuit or sandals!

Images via LookLive and TheGabulousLife