The Brown Wool Hat

I recently realized that “hat lady” rhymes with “cat lady.” The way some people can’t resist a box labeled “Free Kittens,” I can’t resist a box of free hats. I want to give them a good home. I want them to be appreciated and worn. OK, I just want them.
 
Several months ago, my friend Katheryn let me know that a friend of a friend was looking to donate a collection of hats that had been her mother’s. The woman, Sandra, hoped to give them to a local theater company, but hadn’t gotten any interest. Would I be interested?
 
Free Kittens? Of course!
 
We made connections, and soon Susan was pulling up in my driveway, passing off a box of hats.

When I brought them inside and unpacked them, I discovered that they were all winter hats, made of wool and velvet.  Some were probably from the early sixties, and some might be more recent (perhaps as late as the eighties). Hats are difficult to date, especially classic hat shapes without labels inside. Like my grandmother’s hats, these hats were in basic colors, but those basics included bright red, as well as black and white. 

​Among the black, white, and red hats was this one brown hat. I’m guessing it’s from the sixties based on its shape, veil, and union label, but I don’t know for sure.

I thought this would be a perfect hat for a fall day along with the vintage Pendelton coat given to me by my friend and fellow JewelTone Jeanne. And where did I wear it, besides around town to take pictures? I went to Bruce Munro's Field of Light installation.

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