Aretha Franklin and her Church Hat. A great subject to explore learn more about.

[KittyWampus]

if for no other reason, there are some marvelous examples to be appreciated. But then there's the whole culture around them.

the first Google hit I came up with was Andrew Sullivan of all people. And as on assorted other topics, he does get the whole thing about Church Hats.

He references a book about the subject too:



From the Inside Flap:
Countless black women would rather attend church naked than hatless. For these women, a church hat, flamboyant as it may be, is no mere fashion accessory; it's a cherished African American custom, one observed with boundless passion by black women of various religious denominations. A woman's hat speaks long before its wearer utters a word. It's what Deirdre Guion calls "hattitude...there's a little more strut in your carriage when you wear a nice hat. There's something special about you." If a hat says a lot about a person, it says even more about a people-the customs they observe, the symbols they prize, and the fashions they fancy.

Photographer Michael Cunningham beautifully captures the self-expressions of women of all ages-from young glamorous women to serene but stylish grandmothers. Award-winning journalist Craig Marberry provides an intimate look at the women and their lives. Together they've captured a captivating custom, this wearing of church hats, a peculiar convergence of faith and fashion that keeps the Sabbath both holy and glamorous.


At the link, Sullivan apparently is arguing with someone about them.

http://dailydish.typepad.com/the_daily_dish/2007/02/chu...

[Ian David]

1. See Also:

[AspenRose]

23. My brother and I were JUST talking about IHOP *yesterday.*

Although in the deep south, it'd probably be

[spinbaby]

2. I was unaware of the Church Hat phenomenon

I rather thought Aretha was competing with the Queen of England for best hat.

[Fire1]

3. Re Re's hat was 'BAAAAD!!! She REALLY pulled that off!!!!

[KittyWampus]

4. the Bow had a nice formal, simple elegance going on. And it framed her beautiful face

as she sang to us.

[Fire1]

6. Yes, indeed! Makes me wish I could wear hats, but they just

don't look good on me.

[Arugula Latte]

17. My husband and I were saying few people could pull that off ... Aretha is one, though.

[NashVegas]

5. Hipster Young Men Don't Get Fabulous Hats

No matter who's wearing them, unless we're talking about baseball caps.

I don't get why we're even talking about this. It was a great hat, it was a fantastic hat. Where's the controversy?

[KittyWampus]

7. No controversy, just something fun to talk about, IMO. It's a great subject. People may not be aware

of the whole thing and are in for a treat if they do a Google image search. And the photography book mentioned in the OP is supposed to be wonderful.

[NashVegas]

8. Ah. K

I thought I saw some stupidity in another thread.

[NashVegas]

15. Hey, This One's For You

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/fashionpicturegaller...

[Mojorabbit]

9. Another thing

I saw Aretha a couple of years ago in a blues club. It was Florida in summer and hot. The club had the AC turned off. We were standing at the bar for the concert and the bartenders told us she always asks for it to be warm when she sings as the cold makes her voice seize up. I think this is why she was not in her best form singing yesterday in the bitter cold.

[sarge43]

10. Anyone else a fan of HBO's The Wire?

Remember the episode when some gang bangers broke the Sunday morning cease fire and trash Omar's mother's church crown. They were in a panic, knowing the 'hood would go ballistic (Church Ladies and their crowns are off limits) and Omar wouldn't stop until he had their livers on a pole. Follow up: The bangers sneak in and leave a gorgeous crown in a high end labeled hat box on her stoop.

[hlthe2b]

19. I remember that episode.... It was fascinating, but true from my

observation on the "regal" role of the elder women and the respect shown them, even by those males who seem, at first glance, to have zero respect for anything. Very nice, actually.

[sarge43]

22. The Wire was a masterpiece of narrative.

It said a lot - simply.

[sundog]

11. i fucking loved that hat

she OWNED that bow

the bow didn't own her

go aretha!

[hlthe2b]

12. I liked someone's comment, Ms. Aretha came "gift-wrapped!"

as well she SHOULD! Love ya, Ms. Aretha!

[sarge43]

13. Yup. The moment called for a statement and she made one. n/t

[ensho]

14. an aside: when I was a kid '40s white women had to wear hats to

church but they had to be prim and proper and not attract too much attention.

becoming adult I threw the hats away.

I'm sure there is some connection between the two hats - black/white that tutors could tell us about.

it is a fascinating subject: the things, women around the world, have had to wear on their heads because of religion.

[Clio the Leo]

16. If I were First Lady I'd wear hats.....

... to church.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

18. I knew some people were gonna flip at Aretha's choice...

but, having grown up in a black neighorhood with a multitude of black churches, I recognized what I was looking at and loved it. Heck, it was really quite restrained in comparison to many I have seen!

[Debi]

20. I love going into the black churches on Sundays

The women's hats are always spectacular!

[Barack_America]

21. Yeah, I didn't even think twice about it. My first thought was, "nice church hat".

And that was it.

It was a nice color and wool, which was smart. It was an appropriate formal hat.

Was there some sort of controversy about it?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

24. There's been a lot of people mocking it..

Even Jon Stewart did a bit on it last night (which, I admit, was funny as heck).

[Forkboy]

25. I admit my first thought upon seeing it was Dangerfield in Caddyshack.

But I love her so much she could wear a dead albatross on her head and I wouldn't mind.