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!!

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.

The Age Limit

I sit in front of my laptop wearing a crystal tiara hoping it will act as a receptor for a little divine inspiration. I hear a voice in my head. It is not God or an angel – it is my mother in law. She is 6 foot tall with the build and voice of a Viking goddess. Those of you who know her can see her in a helmet with horns belting out opera. In fact she does belt out opera minus the headdress. My recollection is of her asking curtly “When are you going to start dressing your age?”

What is the age limit, am I driving it?

First of all I consider the source. My mother in law doesn’t have time for trends. She considers fashion silly – and sticks to basics. Then the questions start rolling. Will I be the granny in gold spandex pants and drippy skinned arms adorned with rhinestone cuffs? When is trendy tasteless?

Let me clarify I have never owned, or will ever own a pair of gold spandex pants. I’ll leave that look to the lady I saw at the fresh market last week with bleached blonde hair, teased bangs, fake nails, leathered skin and 80’s clothes. It’s better to be sporting the trends of the season than the bad ones from the past.

Trendy or tasteless – who is the judge? Here lies the problem. What looks good is subjective and style is relative. Someone may find the trend of jeans at a semiformal event tacky – yet current trend dictates nice jeans paired with a flowing blouse, statement jewelry and high heels dressy.

Personal style does not have an age limit. Fashion allows people to express themselves - bohemian, preppy, retro, sporty, Jersey, city girl, cow girl, school marm... The possibilities are endless.

If you care to take the time and don’t take yourself too seriously….the real question is when are you going to stop being stylish?