Red Hat Society

[_Lisa_]

Have any of you girls heard about the Red Hat Society?

The Red Hat Society is very prevalant in my area among elderly women, although women under 50 can also join (wearing a pink hat & lavender dress instead of the red hat & purple dress of the elder members).

Both my mother and (deceased) grandmother are/were members of the Red Hat Society, & now my sister & I are expected to join. I have nothing against the society but I really don't want to join, nor do I want to disappoint my mother (or my grandmother's memory). The pressure isn't just coming from my mother but my sister as well who is excited to join.
I've told both my mother & sister that I wouldn't want to join the society & not be an active member as it wouldn't be fair to whichever group I did join. (Presumably the same one as my sister, mother, & grandmother; as there are several groups in my area.)

Honestly, if I found extra time in my schedule I'd rather spend it being more active w/ Sigma Kappa, not a society that means nothing to me! Why won't she listen?

[Rio_Kohitsuji]

In my town, we also have the Red Hat Society. In my opinion, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Go ahead and join, afterall it'll make your mama happy (I'd use it as some major mama-daughter time!) You never know what you might miss out on by passing this chance up to become at least a little bit involved.

[winneythepooh7]

My mom was talking about this over the weekend. They have these groups all over where she is in Orange County, NY. She attends a club for retired people and "senior citizens" and they are looking to get a group like this started. I think this is one of those things that sounds wacky to us at our young ages but if we get older would probably be much "cooler" LOL. But groups like these are great for older people for socialization and to make friends, especially when many people they know begin to pass away.

[AGDee]

My dad's wife is in it, in North Carolina. I think it sounds fun, once you reach the 50 year old age. This is the first I've heard that someone younger could join though. Perhaps that is a characteristic of their society only?

Dee

[RhoSigma2003]

My big sister, myself, and her neighboro have started a chapter of the Pink Hatters socitey. That is what the call ourselves until we reach 50. We have gotten together several times since our founding in Feb. and its a hoot to see all the look when we are dressed up in our regalia.

You can devote as much or as little time as you can!

[chideltjen]

My mom and some of her friends started a chapter. They were asking me a while ago if I could make a website for them. I don't really know what's the story behind them. But the ladies are already friends anyway that do everything together. I don't know why they need a title. Whatever makes them happy I suppose.

[RxyChrldr]

The local chapter is frequently in at the restaurant I work at for lunch meetings..they always look like they're having so much fun with each other! They never seem to have a particular agenda or anything to their meetings though..besides socializing

[_Lisa_]

Originally posted by AGDee
My dad's wife is in it, in North Carolina. I think it sounds fun, once you reach the 50 year old age. This is the first I've heard that someone younger could join though. Perhaps that is a characteristic of their society only?

Dee

Anyone at any age is welcome to join, they only ask that if you are under 50, you wear the pink hat & lavender dress. I read about this on their web site because after my mom suggested joining I was also curious about any age restrictions.

Originally posted by Rio_Kohitsuji
In my town, we also have the Red Hat Society. In my opinion, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Go ahead and join, afterall it'll make your mama happy (I'd use it as some major mama-daughter time!) You never know what you might miss out on by passing this chance up to become at least a little bit involved.

I never thought of it as a way to spend more time w/ my mom. Maybe its her way of being more involved in our lives (my sister's life & mine) because we don't make her more involved in ours? Hmmm...quite a dilemma.

[SiKeS]

I was always confused about those ladies...

I work at an antique mall and always saw them as a gang of old people who get together and antique shop...

Later, I saw them at Old Chicago tipsy as hell and having a good time...

These ladies are alright.

[preciousjeni]

My mother is a Red Hatter and I'll be joining/attempting to found a Pink Hatter chapter once I finally get a little settled. The whole idea is reminiscent of the old Southern ladies societies without the snootiness!

[swissmiss04]

The Red Hat Society is so awesome. At a restaurant where I used to wait tables, I got a few Red Hat groups and they were always so nice and so funny. I think it ends up being a support network for aging women, though most Red Hats I know also accept not so aging women. It comes from that poem "When I am Old, I Shall Wear Purple". I can't remember who wrote it. It's definitely not some stuffy, old-biddies group.

[IheartAphi]

A real RED hat society goes to the Grovepark Inn for Sunday brunch. At least so I read in the poem. My fiancee's grandmother is in one in Shelby, NC and once a year or month they go up dressed in red and purple and brunch.

TRUST ME any excuse to go to the Grovepark Inn should be taken. Its the best place on earth, even Lily Pulitzer mentioned it in her book.

[preciousjeni]

It's by Jenny Joseph and it's called "Warning: When I am an Old Woman, I Shall Wear Purple."

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired
and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
and run my stick along the public railings
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick the flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at a go
or only bread and pickles for a week
and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
and pay our rent and not swear in the street
and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.


I just wanted to say that my late Great Aunt, who was also my godmother, created a group called "GOSH" ("Girls Over Seventy, Honey") in Madison, Georgia. The women all got out and about on a regular basis and were each other's constant companions even as they lost loved ones.

I ADORE groups and organizations like these! They are so helpful and beautiful!!

[AlphaFrog]

I think of it as a soroity for older women....it kind of is....which is why I thought it was hilarious when my ex-boyfriend's mother ridiculed me for joining a soroity and then founded a Red Hat Chapter.

[ladyj39]

My boyfriend's mom is a member. She's showerd me pictures of their lunches and they all look so cute! She recently moved from the Los Angeles area to Carson City, NV and had an instant group of friends because of the red hats.