Cheryl writes,
I actually have been wondering the same thing for female pastors – not necessarily in liturgical garb but to look professional when out and about. It has been around zero here lately and a brimmed hat gets caught by the wind and blows away. Everyone seems to have the flu so staying as warm and dry as possible seems a good idea but what kind of hat works with a black knee length London Fog wool coat and will stay on your head?
Oh goodie, another hat question!! PeaceBang’s grandmother was a milliner, so these questions are near and dear to my little Weinstein heart.
It’s all in your attitude, dear! First of all, you absolutely must stay warm and dry. That is paramount. So unless your ministry setting is quite formal (think senior minister at large urban congregation or Dean of Students at a conservative religious institution), you can express some of your creative self with your winter headgear. No cutesie toppers, of course. No floppy little dwarf caps. Nothing with EARS on it, for God’s sake. Whimsical stripes are also very youthful and informal (although totally cute!). If you stay in neutral colors you can get away with a lot more design than if you hat is bright hued. For example:
Or,
Or even,
That one needs a certain personality to carry it off or you’ll just seem to be wearing a costume.
What about faux fur? Warm and economical but way more professional than a sporty fleece cap (although keep your eyes out for chic fleece hats – they’re out there and they’re lightweight and very warm!). This one by Orvis is actually shearling:
Just cute:
I love a good warm beret. This one is actual mink, which I wouldn’t wear, but I do have a charcoal grey faux fur beret that resembles this that I wear a lot for more formal outings:
For me there’s nothing warmer than felted wool. It can be a bit itchy and make your hair do funny things but it’s SO cozy and keeps the wind out. A felted wool cloche might work for you. This one’s by Orvis and comes in a bunch of colors:
Just a pretty Etsy find. I have posted some of these on Pinterest under “PeaceBang” and Ministry Looks.
This felted wool cloche was a gift from one of my craftiest and most talented laywomen. I love it because it’s toasty warm and she made the crown high enough to wear over updo’s — even the “Full Adele” (my name for the bouffant chignon I wear on formal occasions). I got the felt pin on Etsy. The faux fur neck scarf is incredibly warm (Chico’s).
Other ideas and favorites, chickadees?
For years I had a black wool felt brimmed hat that had a little elastic inside that kept it close to the head, which I LOVED. You can also attach some elastic inside (and wear it under your hair at the back rather than under the chin) to keep it on. Alas, I lost the hat at a meeting. This year I got a cute little fedora with one side dipped and trimmed with ribbon roses — all black, but very sharp. I also have a red cloche I got at Target that I love.
You are right that it requires some attitude — You just have to decide “I look good in a hat” and rock it!
Oh! And I LOVE the second hat — I would pay money to find that knitting pattern!
Wish you would link to the pinterst page for those of us not on! (I tried it, but it was too many networks to keep up.) I added a link just for you, Betsy! – PB
I received a gift round black slouch mohair beret with wool ribbing (to help keep it on my head). This hat is big enough that even if I had big hair, or did not put my hair up, it would all tuck inside. I had made my own square black beret from alpaca blend and then fulled it. Very warm.
My more creative piece of winter headgear is black and white alpaca colorwork in the pattern called “We Call Them Pirates” from Hello Yarn. (all skulls and cross bones, but very warm)
Thanks so much for your ideas on hats – I found a great one after seeing your suggestions. It is the August Hat, Secret Garden Cloche from Macy’s. I got it in black/gray which should be suitable for anywhere I’d be heading. Just for fun, it has a bit of a Downton Abbey feel to it. Thanks again for all your help, PB.
Wish my head wasn’t so big–it’s the time of year to be wearing knit caps to the bus stop, but they kind of want to work their way off of my head. Maybe somewhere is a hat that doesn’t want to do that. 🙁
I’m the second minister at a congregation in a small midwestern city and I recently splurged on this hat:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/101343232/hand-knit-hat-cloche-hat-in-silver-gray?ga_search_query=victorian
(I was wearing it happily but this is my first winter here after living in CA and FL for my whole adult life and it just got real real cold. I lost my mind a little and have taken to wrapping an enormous pashmina shawl around my head whenever I must leave my house. So far everyone has been really understanding.)
Everyone wearing the hats you show has long hair (except the mannequins, and they can get away with anything). I have very short hair. I wear knit hats because… well, it’s durn cold! But I seldom wear hats with a brim because I think they look weird on a woman with very short hair. Care to comment, PB? [Hmmm. Let me get back to you on that. – PB]
Hats #1, 3, 7 and 8 would all look good on a short-haired woman. I have a bunch of hats (and shoulder-length hair) and one of the women I work with has very short-cropped hair. I’ve gotten her into hats since we’ve started working together, and all of those would flatter her.
PB, I’ll try to arrange a modeling session with my coworker and myself to give some other examples.
I made a grey wool cloche and attached a rhinestone brooch that had lost its pin. Is this too much bling for a graveside service when it’s freeeeezing? [Hmmm, I don’t know! What do you think? – PB]