Aretha Franklin's inaugural hat trick

Maybe it's "Mad Men" or all the stingy-brim wearing hipsters in L.A., but hats are back. You only had to scan the crowd of berets and fur trapper caps at the inauguration today to figure that out. Ted Kennedy broke out a fedora and Aretha Franklin -- who has rocked her fair share of amazing headgear over the years -- wrapped her head in a crystal studded bow. The $179 hat, customized with Swarovski crystals, came from Mr. Song Millinery in Detroit where Luke Song has been making ladies dress hats for 25 years. (He wholesales his designs at many locations throughout the U.S., including Brasseur, Donna Vinci, Maxi, PJ's, Hat Library, Jean Nobles and Pam Imports in the L.A. area.) What did you think of Franklin's hat? Did you love it or hate it?

-- Booth Moore

Photo: Ron Edmonds/ AP

Comments

[aguy7]

The loved the hat and I hated the hat. It was so bad it was wonderful. Time and again Aretha has told the world she's her own woman and doesn't care what you think about it, and wearing that magnificently bad cringe inducing wonderful hat was the latest example. But hey, come to northeast DC on a Sunday and you'll see lots of church ladies in similar creations. Hats like that are made to be bold, not beautiful. They're a testimony to the wearer's strength, not her looks. They're primal--they proclaim "i'm the alpha female here."

[Brianna]

the hat is absolutely crazy..and probably nobody but her could pull it off.
its certainly a statement that will likely be raging the streets and making us cringe when we see them on less worthy heads..
but hey..a fashion's a fashion.
its a gutsy hat..and shows strength and a "hey. im aretha franklin. i can do WHATEVER i want" type attitude.

[valerie]

i think it's lovely! i wish more people wore fancy hats and oversized bows!

[Eddie Webb]

Aretha Franklin- Gave the queen of England (UK) a run for her money. I won't be surprise if the queen calls herself and ask Mr. Sung what other color(s) do you have?
I can't wait to see SNL skit on this. It has to be a skit about the Hat. Especially if you can get the arifcan america guy to do drag. I'ts great not to pass up.

[Seronica]

Why did she wear that ugly hat, she should've saved that hat for church.

[bobbie]

VERY fashion forward. Just watch for big time designers such as Chanel to add their spin. Hats are back in a big way!

[Kelly]

She looked ridiculous in that hat... what was she hiding?? Did the Secret Service check it out ??? It made her head look llke a huge balloon ready for Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade..a much smaller bow would have been more appropriate..

[a.g.]

I loved the hat! When I saw her Mahalia Jackson came to mind.

[Angela]

I really liked Aretha's hat! I was perfect and looked very regal. Her gray coat and gloves were capped off perfectly with the gray crystal and rhinestone hat! LOVED it!
Even my 18 yr old daughter and her senior friends, who watched the inaugural from school all loved her hats.

[Hat Trick]

Aretha has R-E-S-P-E-C-T! And well deserved, it is.

[tony eason]

"I love Aretha Franklin ..."

Also, whatever an individual decides to wear is "their business" - not to be judged by others . ...

There are many more important things one can do with one's life than talk about what others should do, what others should wear, what others should say ...

Let's create "change" - therefore, start by looking at oneself and bettering oneself and becoming that change .....

[Sherrie aka HatLover]

Where have all you so-called fashionistas been for the last 50 years?? Church women have been wearing over-the-top hats since the days of Rev. Martin Luther King. Aretha wears one hat (a demure hat by church hat standards) and white folks act like she showed up with a dead possum on her head.

[RedDog45]

Insane - there's already a website dedicated to it - http://www.arethahat.com .

The hat was cool, but come on people!

[Lil lady]

The hat made me laugh for over 24 hours. I was crying from emotion before the hat came alone and saved the day.

I don't know if Aretha chose the hat or it chose her. It seemed like a sentient being.

Paris Hilton could never pull it off. But Aretha owned and rocked it!

[Gigi]

When Aretha came on screen and we saw that hat, we all laughed right out loud! Then we caught ourselves and clamped our hands over our mouths. But it was the funniest hat we'd ever seen. Not the right fashion statement, but we do love Aretha!

[DON]

I hope she paid for the hat! If you search for her tax problems she owed over $17,000.00 in back taxes last year

[Sylvia C.]

SHE SHOULD BUY ANOTHER HAT JUST LIKE IT AND THROW THEM BOTH OUT. PEACE

[Alicia]

Hats may or may not be back in style, but I wouldn't look at the inauguration crowd for evidence. Everybody there had a hat on because it was COLD! I'll chalk this up to the writer being in LA.

[judi]

I always Love Aretha, LOVED the hat, and if possible would like to trade it for my GAP clogs.

[Spencer]

Who cares what she was wearing?!?! Let's have a serious discussion about how atrociously bad she sounded. I wouldn’t call what she did "singing" - her performance is best described as "screaming." I would think the Inauguration Committee would have asked Denise Graves or Jessye Norman to sing. Thank God she (Aretha) was presented before Itzhak Perlman & Yo-Yo Ma! I was embarrassed for her. She was the only part of the Celebration I would consider “less than elegant.”

[LADY2CNTX]

The hat was fabulous. Most of the people who don't like the hat that Aretha were are probably not African American and don't understand our 'culture'. The 'big hat' is worn in our churches especially in the South.

Get prepared to learn more about Black culture and style.

Michelle's ensemble was gorgeous too. We tend to dress like that for any Sunday service! Unlike other cultures who go to church in a pair of khaki and an Izod shirt.

[Kamala]

The hat was awesome, it represented the African American culture as well as being very savvy.

Aretha Franklin is the queen of soul and she rocked that hat.

[V'Ness]

I loved Aretha's hat. Jean Nobles is my aunt & I thought of my aunt when I 1st laid eyes on Aretha's inaugural hat.

[Brenda Garrettt]

"Tha Hat" Love, Love Loved Aretha did her thang in fashion and song all I can say Yes You Did

[Mr. Know-it-all]

Answer to Corliss Brown: Coat is from Ton and Linda Platt, New York City. Shown on their Web page (http://www. tomandlindaplatt.com) in red. They made it forAretha in both colors.

[lisa silvera]

The hat was odd but it worked - please, she is the Queen of Soul, ANYTHING she puts on her head IS A CROWN!

[Sharon J.]

I thought Aretha, her song, her spirit and her hat were indescribably beautiful.

[Azzurra]

That is the ugliest hat I have ever seen LOL

[GILBERTO MELLO]

IT JUST PROVES THAT ARETHA IS NOT ONLY THE QUEEN OF SOUL BUT ALSO THE QUEEN OF BAD TASTE. ARETHA DO A FAVOR TO YOURSELF: TRUST AND RESPECT FASHION, COSTUME DESIGNERS AND STYLISTS AS WE RESPECT YOUR MUSIC, YOU JUST HAVE EVERYTHING TO GAIN.

[Irish]

I just saw the hat today and I love it. It was a perfect hat for the very cold weather, and Aretha had the stuff to wear it beautifully. I only wish I could wear a hat like that, but without a doubt I do NOT have the stuff to pull it off. LOL

[Lady J]

I loved Aretha's hat. I thought she looked regal and like the queen she is. The ladies in my church wear hats like that every Sunday. Way to go Aretha!

[Lila]

Hat rocked....but Ms Aretha wasn't too impressive.

[Suzanne Morten]

Aretha's Hat
Diidn't knoe whether to laugh or cry

[Michel]

I loved Aretha's hat. Those of us who grew up attending Black churches know that the hat is the crowing glory of church ladies from before Aretha to the present. She was a class act.

[carol]

SarahHart----what is wrong with the "old staid anthem"? I think it's beautiful just the way it was written and should be sung that way.

[REV.DOUGLAS A. SMITH]

Whether we liked the hat or not, she was the right woman for the job. She is a national treasure , a voice of a people who have witnessed our leaders suffer and die for what Mr. Obama has managed to accomplish, with God's help and the help of so many Americans. It's time that we are less critical of other's conception of beauty and concern ourselves more with how to embrace our differences and emphasize our rich mutual heritage.
In other words, stop hating. Given the same circumstances, would YOU do much better?

[Lucy]

I thought it was horrible when I first saw it... but you know... it kinda grew on me. I like it now. I don't know why!

[Maria]

Aretha Franklin looked beautiful at the inauguration.

[Beverly Lewis]

She looked awesome! The best ever!

[edl]

sorry guys, but you have to admit this is one of the ugliest hats ever worn by anyone in public!

[Linda M]

It's nice for her, but I don't think I would wear one like that probably until I will be in my 60's or 70's!!

[Michael Isis]

I dont think Aretha's hat is silly!!!It fits her!!!!She looks good in it!

[bersy]

Oh, the hat was beautiful and it suited Aretha well . But I don't know what all the fuss is about.Hats of that caliber and above are found every Sunday in most Black Chuches. I think the sister was wearing the hat for its warmth. As she seemed a bit surprise when she was asked where she got it from. (No big deal ) and only modestly priced. Want to check my closet? It went quite well with her coat. But that's an every day attribute to most of us Southern Black Women. Thank You Aretha for keeping to your heritage.

[Jodine]

It is an old saying...if you don't have anything good to say about someone...don't say anything at all. Before you point the finger at someone who is trying to be a blessing to those who felt Ms Franklin presented herself in a fashionable, professional and extra-ordinary manner (good/bad notes, good dress/bad dress, and diamonds/gems, skinny/fat - it doesn't matter in the big scheme of things), look at the fingers that are pointing back at you. The hat may not have been you taste, style or liking and that is okay, but just as you may not have liked the hat, just as many did…and that is okay also. And ask yourself, what have you contributed, how do you look or sound? Do you really think that you are all that...? Try to find the good and pleasant things in people rather than what you can find wrong in them, with them or through them and you will have a long and prosperous life. The fact that they showed up and withstood the cold should count for something. Other words get a life of fulfillment and not one of negative criticism or complaints. It was a great day regardless if you agree or not and all who participated were a blessing regardless if they were perfect or not. I want each of you to have a blessed day!

[linda]

I loved the hat that Ree Ree wore. She is definitely the queen of soul and sister gal really wore the hat. That's the way hats use to be worn.You can still see women wearing them on Sundays. Also kudos to Ms Franklin for tearing the house down . She has a God given talent and like good wine she is aging gracefully. Keep on keeping on.

[Nina]

Carol, there's a personal touch to a song that makes it yours a Singer has to put their soul into it and Aretha is the queen of soul so she sang the song like the queen she is.

[winston sherman]

hat was great it gave u a look that called for R E S P E C T SO KEEP ON GOING ON'

[Karen M]

Aretha rocked the hat and sang that Anthem and make me so proud. I want to say that yes its true hats are a part of our (black women)culture and especially when it comes to church, I would see my momma in her hat and thought how awesome she looked. I loved Aretha's hat so much a friend of mine bought it for me from Mr. Songs shop,also I'm 47 yrs. and I will say the hat is not MATRONLY or for an elderly woman, it's simply a beautiful hat, even at my church the younger women are starting to wear hats so age is not even involved anymore!And anybody who complained about her singing, should try to sing in weather that cold! I have and it's a hard thing to do, your throat contracts and you're really pushing to get those notes out! Aretha keep doing YOUR thing, you are indeed the QUEEN!!!!

[will iam]

N. Lavanca, Spell obvious first then teach your hoards across the border to spell and sing in english. Let the work she has done speak for her. The words of my father. Queen of song now Queen of hats.

[wanda mosby]

i love that hat