In 1961 Jenny Joseph wrote a poem entitled “Warning” which begins,

“When I am an old woman…
I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me…
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?…”

In 1996, a BBC poll found that “Warning” had become Britain’s favorite poem.

Inspired by the poem, and by her own enjoyment of a red hat, Sue Ellen Cooper of California, along with a few friends, started the Red Hat Society. Members meet for tea parties and other events, wearing bright purple outfits and red hats. (Junior members, who are under age 50, wear lavender outfits and pink hats.) As the society grew, the idea spread, and there are now over 55,000 members with over 2,000 chapters around the world.

Information about the original Red Hat Society can be found at www.redhatsociety.com. The rights to reproduce and sell copies of the poem “Warning” belong to Elizabeth Lucas, who has a website at www.elizabethlucasdesigns.com.

3 Comments »

1. Comment by Toni — 16 October 2007
   

   Great to have a group of woman who want to be independent living a fun life at any age. But!!! To me the only reason to have a group, club, gang, is to leave someone out that doesn’t fit the “group” idea. Maybe red hats should have members with other color hats, no hats, no hair, etc. You don’t need a red hat to have a great time at any age.

   
   
2. Comment by jimbo — 25 October 2007
   

   that’s a lovely poem, but I like this by WH Auden:
   perfection of a kind was what we was after
   and the poestry he invented was easy to understand
   he knew human nature like the back of his hand
   he was greatly interested in the armies and the fleets
   when he laughed, great statesmen burst with laughter
   and when he cried, the little children dided on the streets.

   
   
3. Comment by Ruth Grunberg — 29 October 2007
   

   I bought a red hat and purple dress long ago in honor of Bella Abzug. Her indominable spirit is perfect for the Red Hat Society and she should be one of their spirit leaders and inspiration for their activities. I believe any society should motivate their members to be more active in the world, to do good and have fun along the way. Another good song (a golden oldie) for the society is Young at Heart.

   
   

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