February 5th, 2010 by Jeffrey Jackson

The history of the of the Red Hat Society began in the sunny city of Tucson, Arizona. A woman by the name of Sue Ellen meandered along a thrift shop looking for things she might like to buy. She decided on buying a bright red fedora hat that struck her fancy.

Years later she happened upon a poem “Warning”, written by the author Jenny Joseph. In the poem, a woman explains how she would like life to be when she is older. As she read the poem, she remembered her red fedora she had bought.

“When I am an old woman I shall wear purple, With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves, And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.” At the end of the poem it explains that the woman presently needs to continue to be a good example to those around her, but maybe she could show a little bit of that impishness through so people wouldn’t be too shocked of her actions when she’s older.

Sue Ellen instantly fell in love with the poem and the idea behind it. She was determined to share the poem with others, and so presented the poem with a vintage red hat to her friend Linda Murphy as a birthday gift. She had hopes Linda would hang the hat by the framed poem in her home as a fun decoration.

What she didn’t realize was that the gift would soon be on to many others. Linda enjoyed the hat and poem so much that she gave the same gift to a friend, and that friend gave the hat and poem to another, and then another. Ms. Joseph’s poem was an instant success.

These wonderful women decided that they were going to start a “Red Hat Society”. They decided to get together to have tea and enjoy each others company. The dressed up in purple dresses and red hats that didn’t go, and had a very successful first tea party.

That was when the first official Red Hat Society tea began. Each member of the Red Hat Society continued to invite new members, and the number of members and red hats began to grow. Now there are many sibling groups celebrating across the Nation.

The Red Hat Society started with a simple, important idea. Life is meant to be celebrated. Don’t save everything you can enjoy for later in life.

Hip Hop 50’s Shop specializes in Children and Adult Poodle Skirts, crinoline slips, saddle oxford shoes and complete 50’s costumes. We are passionate about Sock Hops and the 1950’s, so our experts share tons of advice and tips on our blog. Come visit anytime.