Saturday, October 1, 2011

Hats off to you!!!



In my opinion one of this fall/winter season's most fun trends is hats. The past 2 weeks I have worn floppy wool 1970's inspired hats and even a 1920's inspired cloche hat. I was excited to find my hats were not only an expression of style but also shields from the sun and cold. Imagine a trend with a practical use - oh the wonderful chapeau!


An important thing came up I didn't think of when I purchased my fashion forward accessories - hat etiquette. Yesterday I found myself at a funeral dressed in a chiffon navy peacock feathers print blouse with short puffed sleeves, navy pencil skirt, gray tights, patent blueberry Mary Jane high heels and...(trumpet sound) a royal blue cloche hat adorned with a small bow. I made a few stops on the way to the event and received compliments on my ensemble. I was feeling confident and pleased with my outfit choice. However, after I walked into the church and slid into the pew my mind started racing. I frantically whirred through the Rolodex in my head trying to find hat etiquette. It was missing! I thought, "Do I take my hat off? Am I being disrespectful? Oh Lord - help!" Men always take their hats off in buildings - what about women? I sweated it out and kept my hat on - vowing to find women's "hat-iquette".

After doing some research and asking a few questions I found there are quite a few rules on women wearing hats. I will list the ones I think noteworthy:

1. Women's hats are accessories therefore considered part of an outfit - and do not need to be taken off.

2. Women may wear hats at church, formal teas, luncheons and weddings.

3. Women do not remove fashion hats during the National Anthem, but they must remove baseball styled hats.

4. Women should not take off hats that go with dinner suits or dinner dresses throughout the evening.

5. When at a theater or performance women should remove large hats as a common courtesy to people around them.

6. Women are to remove their hats at work in an office.


Hat rules do not apply to women wearing hats to disguise hair loss due to illness, hair loss due to age, or to women wearing head covers for religious reasons.

Apparently women and men do not have equal rights with hat wearing. Women have more rights to hats...I mean more rights with hats. When you receive an invitation next year to a Kentucky Derby event don't fret. Now we've had this tete a tete you've learned enough hat etiquette to make it through. Now go forth and accessorize!!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Sock it to me???


It's that wonderful, cozy time of the year. Football, warm soups, baked goodies, a chill in the air - all these things indicate fall is here.

According to fashion magazines this season, when the temperatures drop we have the choice to pull up our socks. Yes - socks worn with heels are in style. Actually the socks on the scene appear to be "falling" or short and sweet. I have to admit the trend is a little quirky but I actually think with the right shoes and outfit it looks stylish. Designers have turned the clock back this fall by borrowing from decades past closets. This particular trend brings back flashes to me from the 80's.

I conducted a small poll on Facebook to see what other women thought of the trend. Not one person responded yes they would try it. In fact, I have to admit, I am a little sad some said they don't wear heels. I wonder if that's never? On a funny note - a few girls responded they would have to buy bigger shoes!

Living in the Midwest I'll most likely stick to the ongoing tights trend for the warmth factor. However, if I lived in the warmer parts of this country I would definitely try and rock socks.