Why Do British Women Wear Hats to Weddings?

Dear British Women: Why the Hats?

February 21, 2011

Why Do British Women Wear Hats to Weddings?

Source: Getty

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by Colleen Barrett 11

3 / 12

by Colleen Barrett 11

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11 Comments

amber512 2 years 12 weeks

I don't like them. If someone else wants to wear one, more power to them, but I don't like the look and I especially hate the feel of wearing a hat!

spacekatgal 2 years 12 weeks

I think hats are a little fru-fru and grandmothery, personally. But, style is all about what feels right to you.

katialoves 2 years 12 weeks

i'd do it if everyone else was (ie i was in britain at a wedding) i think it would be super fun to choose a fancy little hat

Pistil 2 years 12 weeks

I think it looks classy, but I've never been a hat person.

Colleen Barrett 2 years 12 weeks

As I said, "American women (namely me), don't get the tradition of wearing decadent hats to weddings," so I was not trying to speak for all American women. In a quick conversation I had with some Sugar employees (think young, secular women in California), none of us knew exactly why, which is what led to the post. I know some American women do this, but I was writing about the royal wedding and the British tradition of women wearing hats, which seems more pervasive and extravagant than anything I've seen in the US, having lived on both the East and West Coast. I apologize for leaving anyone out, because honestly I'd love to hear about any religion or culture that does it!

Colleen Barrett 2 years 12 weeks

As I said, "American women (namely me), don't get the tradition of wearing decadent hats to weddings," so I was not trying to speak for all American women. In a quick conversation I had with some Sugar employees (think young, secular women in California), none of us knew exactly why, which is what led to the post. I know some American women do this, but I was writing about the royal wedding and the British tradition of women wearing hats, which seems more pervasive and extravagant than anything I've seen in the US, having lived on both the East and West Coast.I apologize for leaving anyone out, because honestly I'd love to hear about any religion or culture that does it!

2 years 12 weeks

Black American women where hats like that to church, weddings, etc.. The older ones at least. A lot of southern white women wear them too.

Gdeeaz 2 years 12 weeks

Yea I have to agree with honeybrown. Majority of the black members in my family have tons and tons of hats. Every Sunday when they go to church they wear some kind of hat.

scorpstar77 2 years 12 weeks

I was going to say the same as HoneyBrown1976 - you are NOT speaking for all American women...I have tons of black friends and, more particularly, their moms and grandmothers, who have more hats than shoes in their closets!

HoneyBrown1976 2 years 12 weeks

Well, apparently, you don't visit black churches in America. The hats are there and lovely!!! I think it's an awesome British tradition.

mallorycurtis 2 years 12 weeks

I saw a wedding of two British people in Central Park the last time I was in New York and from that day on I've wanted everyone to wear hats or headpieces to my wedding. It just looks so fun and festive.