Red Hatters Travel to Las Cruces for "100 Years of Hats" Presentation

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

On Wednesday, March 23, 2016 four members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society drove to Las Cruces, New Mexico to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library for a 2:00 PM presentation by Sheri Gaines of "100 Years of Hats".

Sheri is a collector and restorer of hats and this collection spans the eras from 1860 to 1960. Some hats were in perfect condition when she got them while others needed small to major repairs. Sheri started her presentation with her assistants passing out lovely cookies shaped like teapots and cups and they were delicious. She was dressed in an 1890's ensemble including a lovely black riding hat.

As she went through the first five eras describing hats, how to care for them and how to do some simple repairs, her assistants were also her lovely models. When she arrived at the 1900's, she took a break and returned dressed in a 1920's ensemble with a cloche hat.

I believe in this case, "a picture is worth a thousand words", as someone once said, so I will post the photos and let you see for yourself.

Sheri Gaines attired in her 1890's ensemble

Model wearing an 1890's creation

These hats were not exactly worn with "Hatitude"

Model wearing an 1880's hat

Front view of 1880's hat

Isn't this a beautiful style Sheri wears!

Sheri is holding a 1920 Elsa Schraparelli hat

The Schraparelli hat as modeled

This is Sheri's grandfather's WWI hat

Model wearing a 1930's hat

Model wearing a 1940's straw

Another 1940 creation

Modeling another 1940's hat

Another 1940's fruit decorated hat

Late 1940's hat

This one reminded me of a toreador's hat

This is an interesting hat that must be kept on the head with a hat pin

Modeling a 1950's hat

Another 1950's cute hat

The beginning of the pill box hat in 1960

Garden Party 1960's hat

Another 1960's hat

Carla modeling the upside down planter hat

Gail modeling an 1870's hat

Trudy modeling the 1890 hat

Back in Alamogordo we see this goat in the back seat of a very nice car

I wish I had taken a tape recorder to remember all of the history and hints Sheri gave in her presentation. It was well presented and informative and the time flew by. There were about 30 people in attendance, including several men.

Before we went to the library, we stopped at Red Lobster for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves including decadent desserts but we only got two that we shared with each other.

Vice Queen Donna Williams and Gail Swineford

Trudy Reese and Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr

This is all I have to say for now.