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RHS doesn't have rules. It does have a few guidelines, one of which is: Members 50 or over wear purple with red hats, while members under 50 wear lavender with pink hats. (And, of course, we can reverse our colors during our birthday months, if we want to.)

As you know, the colors of the Red Hat Society were inspired by the poem, "Warning," in which a young woman declares that, when she is old, she will wear purple, with a red hat. She says she'll wear these bright, "clashing" colors to symbolize the freedom she will have attained by then - freedom to please herself and pair colors that "don't go" if she feels like it. That's why we started doing it. From the first gathering, the ladies made sure they wore (predominantly) purple, with red hats. Beyond that, there were made no rules; after all, this was all intended to be done in fun.

Bling bling is good

At no time did anyone have to wear solid purple from head to hemline, nor a hat of any certain shape or size. It's the spirit of the outfit that's important - not the specific shade of purple (plum, amethyst, royal, or eggplant) or the specific type of headgear. Wearing these colors - together - is what identifies us as RHS members and makes the public statement that we are "not dead and not done!"

Our colors have become easily recognizable as a symbol of the sisterhood we share.

But, just so you know, the founders have been known to wear purple tops with black, red, or white pants or skirts - even denim - on occasion. Red poufs clipped onto the hair usually pass muster with us too. At our Red Hat Society ConventionS, many attendees wear blue jeans with purple-fringed shirts and red cowboy hats. In our regalia, as in every other area, it's the spirit that counts.

Next year is the Red Hat Societies' 10th anniversary, so we hope that all chapters plan to celebrate in some way throughout the year! Maybe some Red Hatters might reverse their colors - even when it's NOT their birthday month - in order to honor the year-long birthday of the whole disorganization. You may see more red - along with purple - in some outfits too - skirts, pants, scarves, what-have-you. It goes with our hats, and it's such happy celebration! Be yourself!

More bling!