I can't believe that not one lady on this board mentioned the ladies who wear RED HATs (I'm one of them) At our monthly meeting which is a luncheon, we ALWAYS wear hats. Red hats most months but purple hats in our birth month and the "birth" month of the organization and our chapter. Some of us even make our own hats and many adorn plain hats that they bought in local stores. I even was given a shocking pink hat that I transformed into a red hat with purple trim with fabrics that I bought at Hancock's.

Yes, back in the dark ages when I was growing up, we all wore hats and gloves. Fortunately, I kept a pair of red mid arm gloves that I wear with my red hat garb. It is a bit warm in the summer to wear felt hats but straw and other light weight fabrics make it bearable. Try it, it's FUN.

i love hats.

I did mention that I have a "Pink Hat" for my Red Hat days. Our group seems to have dropped off of the face of the earth. Also I can't afford the places that they all wanted to go and they always wanted to go during the day and at the time I had a job and was unable to attend.

I used to be the Activity Director at our local nursing home and we had our own Red Hat Society. We made hats for all of the ladies, both in red, purple, pink and lavender. (as we had some younger residents)We had a parade of the Hats. We had weekly meetings and made scrap books and planned luncheons. I let them choose the country location and the food. The best time we had was our luncheon in Italy. They enjoyed this very much. After I left I found out that the new activity director let the guys attend and they wore the hats as well. I later heard that the "society" fell to the wayside. I guess the ladies didn't like sharing their special time.

We used to have a Red Hat club, too, and it sort of fell by the wayside.

does anyone have a pattern for making a fascinator? Would love to give it try! Had to wear hat to church when younger. Mom said it was a great way to cover up a messy hair-do, just as gloves used to cover work-toiled and stained or rough hands. Jane

staples? lol

Just google "how to make a fascinator" and there are heaps of patterns/ideas. Fascinators are worn mainly at the races, weddings, sometimes for early evening parties. Not generally worn to church. Spotlight, Lincraft etc are stores here in Australia that stock all kinds of items suitable for crafting them.

I still use combs especially to get the hair up & back when it's driving me crazy. Here's a photo of my grandmother's cousin who was a milliner and had a shop in Minnesota. High fashion what?

I loved the hats--used to wear one to church every Sunday. I do remember that some of them made my head hurt though.

The mauve one that Prince Andrew and Fergis daughter work was the worst hat I have ever seen. I love hats, but not the huge ones.

I saw an interview on TV the other day in the shop where the queen's hats are made. They only have I think about 3 employees. They make a lot of those odd hats. The queen's hats have to completely match the clothes she wears. What a business that must be! Wonder what they charge the queen for a hat? LOL

too true, they looked a figure of fun and the blue dress looked as tho it had been half tucked in her knickers!

Are you forgetting those thin elastics they used to put on hats years and years ago?
They hurt and were torture to us little girls in our Easter bonnets!

The only "Fascinators" I ever heard of were NOT hats.
They were beautiful very loosly knitted long rectangles of cloudlike yarn that we wore draped over our head and around our shoulders, around 1947. Mostly pastel colors.
Your mom was right!
I wonder how the mix up happened? I think some fashion "expert" misspoke or a definition got mixed up by a computer. Look it up on Google. JP

Yes, gloves to be proper, but not usually white, instead matching the outfit for ladies. For men, white military, like our marines.

When the companies first started it, it was neat, like jeans and a pullover knit shirt or a dress instead of a business suit....and was judged "more comfortable".

I spend summer weekends at the lake, so I wear hats all summer long. If I don't, that pretty color in my hair will go away..... My hats are wide & small brimmed, baseball caps, and my favorite is my open weave straw fedora that I bought in Panama in January 1975.

I think I heard one of the commentators say that the Queen requested that the women wear hats. With the exception of Fergie's daughters I loved seeing the hats. Hope it renews some interest in them in this country again.(other than baseball caps)please.