Fabulous Fifty and Counting… The Red Hat Society Celebrates Sisterhood, Wisdom and Tea

Photo courtesy of Redhatsociety.com.

“When I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.”
—Jenny Joseph

Tea seems to be the libation of choice for the ladies with “hattitude.” Free of the inhibitions, which plague the self-conscious “under-fifties” crowd, the Red Hat Society women enjoy celebrating age, friendship, and fun at gatherings that inevitably revolve around tea. They transformed the Tea Party into an art form!

Red Hat Society was founded in 1998 by California artist Sue Ellen Cooper, who set the wheels in motion by giving her friend a 55th birthday gift: a red fedora hat and a copy of Jenny Joseph’s poem, “Warning” (quoted above). The idea caught on and, not surprisingly, word spread. Now, over a decade later, the Red Hat Society has become the largest social networking community for women, with over 30,000 chapters throughout the world. Television shows, stage productions and comic strips have all tipped their hats to the Society. Wherever they go, they seem to cause a stir — people gape at the audacity of their attire and envy their joie de vivre, while newspapers photograph them for the social columns.

At Bigelow Tea, we have been fortunate enough to host a group of Red Hatters from Nampa, Idaho at our Boise facility.  These discerning tea aficionados were interested in how teas, like “Constant Comment”®, are made. A fabulous time was had by all, and several cups of Bigelow Tea selections later the ladies went on their merry way.

To all the Red Hatters out there (and the under 50 Pink Hatters too): come visit us again at Bigelow Tea – it’s always Teatime here!