Replies

In Britain women in the same position as Mrs Bush and Gov Blanco would most probably wear a hat and skirt or dress not trousers to such a service.

I know next to nothing about this, but from what I've seen of British services (Diana's funeral, Charles wedding, etc.) all the women wear hats.

But very seldom do I see women wearing hats here in the States. Somewhere in the last 30 for 40 years they just went out of style, I guess.

Quite true Jonny. My Mom wore hats when I was small, in the 50's. Then they went away and have not returned to frequent use. I do notice some African-American women wearing them now and then. And they do look smashing, I think, but ...

Oh, and the women go all out at the Del Mar Fairgrounds when the horses are running. That's IT.

***But very seldom do I see women wearing hats here in the States. Somewhere in the last 30 for 40 years they just went out of style, I guess.***

It was the enormous, teased, bushel-basket sized hairdos that did the hat in. I guess they couldn't make them big enough to cover the hair. Hats are back again, though, for lah-de-dah affairs if the woman looks good in them, and doesn't mind ruining her hairdo.

I think the hat thing in church for women in such position in Britain is more the "head covering for women" hang over from times passed which was always accepted as the norm in church rather than fashion or correct dress.

In the church I was bought up in all women over a certain age and many younger women at that time always wore a hat and in fact in some meetings though not my church if they had not worn a hat they would have been asked to sit at the back.

Today the rules are much more relaxed and everyday church wear normally for anyone under about 60 - 65 does not include wearing a hat and many women now wear trousers normally a smart tailored black or grey pair though other colours especially in summer are worn. At Weddings women of all ages wear them especially if they are on the official guest list.

Having said that the church where my mum's funeral was is still a very strict meeting and women there all wear hats and skirts in fact the women who belong to that church never wear trousers in or out of church and skirts are normally mid calf or longer.