This article briefly summerises waning importance of hats as fashion statement

I miss the days when a hat was a necessary accessory to your outfit. I have loved hats ever since I saw Audrey Hepburn, as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffanys, emerge from her bathroom in her black cocktail dress and wide brimmed black hat. That black mushroom hat with the simple white gauze wrapped around it symbolized class and style to me. For centuries hats have revealed more about a person than any other form of communication. The way a hat is worn can convey the emotions of the wearer. A hat crooked to the side is considered stylish and worldly. A hat worn low shielding the eyes sends the message of someone who wants to be left alone. 

A hat can show status; Marie Antoinette would not allow any of the ladies of her court to have higher headdresses than her own. Religious preference can be expressed through headwear such as a yarmulke or a mantilla. Hats can be used to the extreme to make a political statement or just as easily be used to simply keep your head warm. Though the interest in hats has fallen considerably in the last few decades, they are still a beautiful and powerful item to have. 

The 1930s and 40s were amazing years for hats. Everything from the pillbox, wide-brimmed to the simple cap was something a woman had to have in her closet. The greatest thing about hats was that women from all walks of life could wear them. Modern hats gave each women a touch of class, whether going out for the evening or attending church a hat enhanced whatever outfit they wore. A hat can give the wearer an air of authority and confidence. Hats were always useful for a woman to make a powerful statement about her rank in society and a new fashionable hat can create a new craze. When Jackie Kennedy wore the pillbox hat to JFKs Inauguration it would make her a style icon.

From the beginning of time humans have been putting something on their heads whether it was a tribal headdress or simply animal skins to shield their eyes from the sun. Hats originally were made of anything from straw, grass, animal hair or fur, but as the modern age emerged and milliners turned hats into a business, hats became exquisite pieces of art made of silk, velvet, leather, and tulle. Soon hats were decorated with ribbons, flowers, feathers, gauze and veils. Even fruit was a useful decoration for a hatthink Carmen Miranda. Hats were such a needed item with women that it is difficult to believe that hats would ever be considered out of date.

But times have definitely changed, and if a woman were to wear a pillbox hat today and isnt the Queen of England than it is likely she would be laughed at. The 1960s were the death knell for hats. People began to dress simpler and the hippie generation took over. Extravagance was out and simplicity was in and you rarely saw Jackie wear a hat after she left the White House. 

Ever since then, headwear is mostly restricted to baseball caps, headscarves, and woolen caps for the cold. Now fashionable hats seem to be only for older society women and the only place left to wear the extravagant hats of old is at the Kentucky Derby. But I dont believe that hats are through just yet. A brave soul from time to time can still be seen wearing her favorite wide-brimmed straw hat or another wearing a stylish beret. I will never believe that hats are out of fashion, because too many women still love hats. Audrey Hepburn loved hats and who is going to say Audrey Hepburn isnt fashionable?

About the Author

Ajay Patole is a qualified management professional working as sales manager and runs a site 'Venturemall',a cool hangout to play money games,buy and sell in auctions,date and photochat.It is available at URL http://venturemall.tripod.com and newsletter to rediscover true colors of life at http://www.topica.com/lists/venturemall.Also he runs a community 'Venturecon', for entrepreneurs which is available at URL http://groups.msn.com/venturecon.