A church hat is more than just a frivolous accessory. For many older women, it’s an essential part of their Sunday best.
In the 1950s, Bennett College for Women required young women to wear hats to church and on campus. The hats became an elegant symbol of class.
Featuring Portraits of Black Women
In 2000, Craig Marberry published a book called “Crowns” featuring portraits of Black women in their church hats. Marberry believes that hats are more than just an accessory, but a mark of heritage.
For women of earlier generations, church hats were more than mere fashion accessories. They were a form of dress code, a way to demonstrate their status in the community and a sign of their devotion to God. In addition to being a fashion statement, church hats served a practical purpose as well – they were designed to keep the hair off the face during a long service.
Women’s Church Attire Tends
While today, women’s church attire tends to eschew the elaborate head coverings of yesteryear, there are still a few ladies who cherish this tradition. In some cases, they are reviving the hat-wearing style within the context of their own aesthetics. For example, Jacqueline Jones, an associate dean at Baton Rouge Community College, wears a fashionable hat to church on Sundays as part of her regular attire. She says she finds the practice to be a source of pride, and considers it to be a “cultural and spiritual statement.”
Some milliners believe there is a language of hats, with colors, styles and wearing practices expressing a woman’s identity and social standing in her family, church and community. The language of hats is not written down, but is shared and understood by those who know the tradition. For instance, a hat should not be worn with gloves or a purse that match exactly and it is not appropriate to wear a hat that has a brim wider than the shoulders.
Some Specific Hat-Wearing Traditions
Aside from these general guidelines, there are some specific hat-wearing traditions that are specific to the church. For example, it is customary for women who serve as stewards in the church to wear white hats to match their outfits
Tony Aguirre of Variety Fashion
Tony Aguirre of Variety Fashion, millinery that caters to older clients, agrees that there is a language of hats in the African-American community. He notes that the younger generation of church goers has a different perspective on this tradition, with some saying that they don’t see the need for a hat when going to church.
Church hats are not just fashion; they’re a symbol of faith. They evoke memories of the past and are a reminder of how much faith has shaped our society, even in times of struggle. They’re an art form that is elevated, and their influence reaches far beyond just the churchgoer.
Something Special to Their Outfits
For many black women, the church hat is more than just a fashion accessory, it’s a symbol of their faith. They remember their mothers, aunts and grandmothers wearing beautiful, bold hats to church on Sunday.
Often, these hats were embellished with flowers, feathers and other decorative elements to make them unique. The hat was the one time that black women allowed them to break free from their roles as maids and servants, and to celebrate their own individuality. They were a way for them to express their spirituality through fashion and to feel confident and empowered while wearing them.
Statement of Faith
The Church Hat was also a statement of faith in a time where many black people were facing prejudice and discrimination. It was a way for them to show the world that their faith was strong, and that they would not be scared or intimidated by anyone. The hats are a reminder that the power of faith can overcome any obstacle.
Today, the Church Hat still has a significant influence on black women, even though it’s less popular than in previous generations. The church hat is a symbol of pride, confidence and respect for others. It’s a way to show that they will not be afraid to stand up for their beliefs, and that they will continue to fight for equality, even in the face of adversity.
Church Hat Exhibit
The Church Hat exhibit at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery shows how beautiful and bold these hats can be. The women who wore the hats in the photos were all members of COGIC, the Church of God in Christ. They all grew up watching their mothers and grandmothers wear these stunning hats to church, and they continued the tradition in their own lives. Despite the fact that the church hat is not as popular as it used to be, the women who wear them are not going anywhere. They will continue to inspire millennials, just as they inspired their mothers and grandmothers before them.
There are baseball caps and cowboy hats, and then there are church hats. They are a distinct realm of headgear, and they have a history that goes back to the days of slavery in the United States. During this time, it was not uncommon for African-American women to wear flamboyant hats to church on Sunday. These hats, which are designed after West African hair dressings and filled with beads and braids, were a symbol of wealth and a reminder of God’s blessings in their lives. As black families were stripped of their heritage and forced to assimilate into white American culture, Sunday was a day for Blacks to express themselves with their fashion sense.
Conclusion:
A woman’s church hat could be made of satin, silk or velvet and adorned with feathers, sequins, flowers or beads. Many of these hats were made by local milliner, Mildred Blount who was also responsible for creating a number of hats for actress Joan Crawford and Gone With the Wind. Blount’s hats were intricately bold and bright, which reflected the style of African-American society at the time, as well as the confidence and grace of the women who wore them.