“Welcome to the place where there is fun after fifty (and before) for women of all walks of life,” says the Red Hat Society website. “We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life and, since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together.” While their apparel fashion often turns heads, there is more to these women than meets the eye, however. The website adds: “Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next.”
The Red Hat Society was founded in 1998 for women who were nearing 50 years of age and older. Founder Sue Ellen Cooper of Fullerton, California gave out the first of her signature red hats (a fedora) to a friend for her birthday, along with a poem by Jenny Joseph that read: “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple with a red hat that doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me.” Over the years, several more friends received red hats and purple outfits and they began to hold tea parties. While she never initially intended her womens apparel idea to become a global phenomenon, Cooper was happy to start a society that promoted “fun, friendship, freedom and fulfillment.” As of July 2009, there are over 40,000 registered members and nearly 24,000 chapters that span 26 countries.
To become a bona fide member of the Red Hat Society, one need only sign up through the website and pay annual membership dues. Unlike sororities, there are no initiations, no fundraising projects and no mandatory service hours. The RHS is more like a social club, where members enjoy parties, outings and other fun events. According to the society rules, women who are under 50 may join the group, but these “Pink Hatters” must wear pink hats and lavender attire until they reach 50. Then they may switch to “Red Hatters” status, wearing red hats and purple attire. It’s this womens apparel that distinguishes them from a crowd and intrigues passersby wherever these confident women go. Often they are adorned in elaborate accessories apparel too — like feather boas, wild party hats and gaudy jewels.
There are many places to shop for Red Hat Society clothing apparel. At www.marylusuniquegiftsonline.com, there are a number of fashionable red and purple hats ranging between $6 and $45, including fedoras, pill box hats, Kentucky Derby hats, newsboys, visors, party hats, feather caps, sequined hats, cowboy hats, baseball hats, straw hats, veiled hats and more. At www.redhatfashions4u.com, there are t-shirts, pantsuits, dresses, jackets, gloves and feather boas, priced for $50 and under, to wear to all the Red Hat ladies’ social events. At www.kakyco.com/redpurplef09.html, there are more special hats to choose from, many that are classy, elegant and formal, and of utmost quality. These hats are priced between $45 and $60 and offer a number of eye-catching red and purple designs.
Thomas Bronson is a foremost expert in generating a ton of traffic and leads to any websites, and one of the course which he recommends is John Reese traffic secrets. He is also a foremost expert in starting an online business from home and you can check out his free course from his site today.