Whatever Happened to Hats? Special

As a skin cancer survivor, with two bouts of skin cancer on the face, my doctor recommended hats, which I have worn ever since. Dail Dickson, a sailor, who writes about the wonders of the outdoors, maintains his doctor says the same thing as well, to wear hats. He observes that the American Association of Dermatologists has gone on record as stating that hats should be worn, even in cold weather The specific statements from them can also be found here, where the need to wear a hat is underlined along with other precautions. Furthermore the American Cancer Society (ACS) has just put out its usual summer warnings at the end of May about cancer that include:

wearing hats, long sleeves and pants, using sunscreen and avoiding the outdoors during hours when the sun is most intense (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.).

likely because summer is just days away, when the sun is most intense. Hats have a long history, beginning as far back as primitive man who covered his head for protection from the elements. From the early days of the Greeks and Romans, the headdress was often worn as a sign of status. Originally the common material was sheep’s wool used by tribes, then silks and fabrics of various hues for the royals. By the 14th to 15th centuries headwear became hats and fashion for men. For women hats became a necessary part of attire in the 18th century and even more by the 19th. During that time women decorated their hats in many ways, using feathers, flowers and trims. Hats were enormous, individual, and part of the costume of the fashionable femme. The well-dressed man wore his hat as well, undecorated, but finely made, a hat to coordinate with costume or to tip for the lady. In short, hats played an important part in grooming for rich and poor, for man and woman, for many years in Europe, America and indeed throughout most of the world. By the 1920’s, as women cut their hair and increased their independence, hats became smaller and less dominant in fashion. The clinging cloche hugged the head with a few adornments but without the wide brims and ribbons of the past. With the advent of the Second World War women made do with turbans made from cloth that they wrapped around their heads as they toiled in defense factories. Men continued the felt hat with little variation. By the 1950's ready-to-wear clothes became in vogue as women had less time and energy to spend looking fashionable. The hat took a hit that has continued until now, although there have been periodic revivals. The most recent was sparked by Princess Diana who was often seen wearing hats. New designers emerged during the 1980’s and 1990’s, although the popularity of hats as in the nineteenth century hasn’t been seen since. Dressing for worship has been cultural definition in the African American community, although the practice is no longer the rule. Women wore hats to church because many African American women had to wear uniforms for their work during the week. To dress for church allowed the woman to step out with style, and that included a hat. It also meant dressing up to give God glory. Dermatologists recommend wearing hats all year round in warm or cold climates because the sun peeks through under a variety of conditions. Especially summer, mid-day, it is especially important, they say. Hats used to be the fashion in the South, but in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where I live, women often say they mess up their hair or protest they don’t look good in hats. One wonders if those reasons are reasonable given the problems of skin cancer and the growth of it across the world. On a recent trip to New Orleans I spoke with Victoria of Victoria’s Creations. Located in the center of Jackson Brewery, she offers women her special creations, as she designs her own hats. These hats are fashion statements for those women who still like to dress fancy on a trip to New Orleans, where more than the average number of hats can be seen. Victoria agrees with other hat fanciers that hats are both practical and pretty. Still even on a hot day it can be difficult to convince women that messed up hair is better than a messed up face from scarring, as I tried to convince a couple of women who tried on some hats with me.

Carol Forsloff Owner of Victoria's Creations, a hat shop in Jackson Brewery in New Orleans image:52031:4::0

We talk about hats, how pretty they are, how nice one looks when they’re worn, but few people now take the time to pick a hat as part of daily wear, those in the hat industry maintain. Throughout history, they have been with us; but now people protest wearing them. That’s true of both men and women, because it isn’t just women who should wear hats, as dermatologists maintain. Experts on the matter of hats have said people resist hats because hats are noticeable and give notice to the individual. They draw attention to the face. And although people want to be different they don’t want to stand out. The hat keeps us folks in winter but it crushes curls and spoils a “do” so people do without. In summer the hat shelters sun, but it also takes away the toning of skin that some want to keep for color. People want to be practical, but to be free to move fast, others say. The hat’s in our way except for winter caps and bonnets for the beach. Those of us, however, who have learned to take that proverbial stop to smell the roses, perhaps may do so in the warmth of the day with hats on our heads. Doctors tell us they hope we will do that and convince others to do the same, while hat fanciers like Victoria's Creations are there to give us a choice.