Hats off during a recession-friendly Easter? No way
Adelle M. Banks/Religion News Service
Issue date: 4/12/09 Section: Divine Intervention
SILVER SPRING, Md. - There are many things that Paula Settles is willing to forgo in these budget-conscious times, but an Easter hat isn't one of them.
"I wouldn't consider going to church without a hat on," said Settles, an African-American retiree who's already planning her outfit for Easter services at her Baptist church in Washington, D.C.
She's decided on a saucer-sized number with two long pheasant feathers for Easter morning, but in an effort to keep costs down, she's pairing it with an outfit that's already in her closet.
"My hat will freshen up an old outfit," she said. "It was more cost-effective for me to get a new hat than a new suit, new shoes, all of that."
Settles isn't alone - either in her desire for a striking fashion statement to greet Easter morning, or her desire to keep costs in check, hat retailers say. "I bought a small hat this year," Settles said. "I didn't buy a huge, outrageous hat."
Despite the economy, a proper lady still needs a proper topper. That's why at Andrea's Fine Hats, owner Andrea Bray is spearheading an effort to acquire donated "gently worn" hats that can be refurbished or repaired for cash-strapped patrons.
The refurbished hats will be distributed to churches and nursing homes for Easter and Mother's Day. Settles is volunteering to give the hats another go with a steam press or fresh decorations.
"With the economy being so tough, some of the people that may be hardest hit by this are those who may be in nursing homes or maybe in the hospital or somebody at the church who can't afford to buy a new hat," said Settles. "If we can get it to look good enough, it'll look like a brand new hat."
While Bray has made a point of stocking more affordable options this year, she's still selling pieces of holiday haberdashery that costs of hundreds of dollars.
"We don't call anything in here cheap," Bray said. We call it 'popular price' - anywhere from $39.50 to maybe $100."
"I wouldn't consider going to church without a hat on," said Settles, an African-American retiree who's already planning her outfit for Easter services at her Baptist church in Washington, D.C.
She's decided on a saucer-sized number with two long pheasant feathers for Easter morning, but in an effort to keep costs down, she's pairing it with an outfit that's already in her closet.
"My hat will freshen up an old outfit," she said. "It was more cost-effective for me to get a new hat than a new suit, new shoes, all of that."
Settles isn't alone - either in her desire for a striking fashion statement to greet Easter morning, or her desire to keep costs in check, hat retailers say. "I bought a small hat this year," Settles said. "I didn't buy a huge, outrageous hat."
Despite the economy, a proper lady still needs a proper topper. That's why at Andrea's Fine Hats, owner Andrea Bray is spearheading an effort to acquire donated "gently worn" hats that can be refurbished or repaired for cash-strapped patrons.
The refurbished hats will be distributed to churches and nursing homes for Easter and Mother's Day. Settles is volunteering to give the hats another go with a steam press or fresh decorations.
"With the economy being so tough, some of the people that may be hardest hit by this are those who may be in nursing homes or maybe in the hospital or somebody at the church who can't afford to buy a new hat," said Settles. "If we can get it to look good enough, it'll look like a brand new hat."
While Bray has made a point of stocking more affordable options this year, she's still selling pieces of holiday haberdashery that costs of hundreds of dollars.
"We don't call anything in here cheap," Bray said. We call it 'popular price' - anywhere from $39.50 to maybe $100."
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