Dear Reader,
I don't like it, I don't know how I lost it, but I feel sad and I want it back. I've lost the spontaneity of something I used to love--wearing a vintage hat. It used to be an everyday thing for me. It felt totally natural. Put on a shirt, skirt and shoes and then pick out a vintage hat from my collection and I was ready to go--anywhere. The market, the dentist, taking my cats to the vet. I didn't think twice. I felt fun and fancy free when I was wearing one of my hats.
I was introduced to the vintage look when my friend's husband passed away years ago. He had been ill for a long time and the heart transplant that doctors thought would solve the problem, unfortunately didn't. My friend owned a vintage clothing store at the time, and I offered to help out as she was going through a difficult time. Every day I volunteered in her store I was wearing one of my vintage hats--and I absolutely loved it! After I stopped helping out at the store, my everyday habit of wearing a vintage hat continued, or I guess I thought it did. Granted, I'm not going out all that much these days, but looking back, I realized it had been a few years since I'd worn one of my hats. And I wanted to change that, so in the midst of writing today's column, I took my favorite hat off its hat stand and gently put it on my head. Instantly, I smiled because the 'hat magic' was back. And when I looked in the mirror, I smiled even more.
But later, as I was ready to walk out my front door, I started thinking, 'Should I wear this? What will people think? People are going to stare at the hat.'
Thankfully I fought my way through the self-doubt, finally believing what I know to be true, 'Yes, Suzanne, some people will stare, but the hat brings out the best in me and apparently in some other people too. Because the hat made some people smile, and they even complimented me on how adorable it was.'
And the people who couldn't appreciate the fun of wearing a vintage hat? Not to worry, they just haven't experienced the 'hat magic' yet, but give them time, they will.
Looking for a vintage hat photo? I'll get some photos of all of my hats and publish them in a future column.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
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