Starting the Hat Project

I started collecting hats in high school, buying them at thrift stores. As time went on, I bought some new at department stores and art fairs, purchased more at antique stores, inherited my grandmother’s hats, and received many as gifts. When people discover I wear hats, they give me more hats, wanting them to go to someone who will appreciate them.
 
A few years ago I counted all my hats (not including stocking caps and baseball caps) and I had around fifty. And I’ve only added more.
 
Many of them I have never worn. Oh, lately I’ve made a push to wear a few to church, but the vast majority I haven't worn for years, if ever.
 
Recently, I decided to change that. I decided to wear every hat in my collection. Not just try them on and take a picture, but actively wear the hat, whether to the beach or to church.
 
I’m calling this attempt The Hat Project. I’ll be blogging about it as I go, writing posts about the hats, their histories, and what they mean to me.
 
Its an autobiography in hats. 

A fraction of my collection. Every one of these boxes still has hats in it, and I have more boxes still in the closet.