My summer hat pick? The San Diego Hat Company's Ribbon Crusher hat. Made from grosgrain ribbon, it has a UPF 50+ rating, folds flat for packing, and is extremely attractive to boot. Available in 6 colors (Black/White, Brown/Pink, Brown/Teal, Navy/White, Red/White). I bought one last week and wear it everywhere- from commuting to weddings.
Not only is It a perfect match and super-cute, but It was also $11, which was music to the ears of this poor college student. They had a few other cute hats as well (some obviously more church-worthy than others). I just had to share my hat-happiness.
This, though, leads to the question, "Why hats at all?"
While the Church Ladies have nothing against a mantillas (au contraire, many of them are quite fond of a little Womanly Lace), there is an undeniable something about a hat that makes it the perfect accessory. As well as the various utilitarian aspects, a hat can pick up one's mood, complete an outfit, and keep one from taking oneself Too Seriously. A hat can eliminate the phenomenon of the Bad Hair Day and lend a visible air of the mystery that is an intrinsic characteristic of femininity. Moreover, there is something that can be modest about hat-wearing. Not in the sense so much of a covering-up, or that not wearing a hat would be immodest, but it does convey a certain guardedness in one's approach to the world.I shall be posting more about these and other aspects of hat-wearing in the near future, as well as more Utterly Adorable Pictures, of course.
Oh, "What's the acronym?" you ask? (You certainly are asking a lot of questions today.) That would, be the Church Lady Ongoing Campaign for Hat Enthusiasm (or perhaps élan; we haven't decided yet). If you wish to join the Campaign, simply wear a stylish hat out and about once in a while when you normally would not. I promise you'll get only compliments.
