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Complete Forecast for  May 13 2008

By JACQUE HILBURN
Feature Writer

A few months ago, Brenda Johnson-Beedles of Tyler decided to make a leap of faith. She launched a business based on the deep-seeded belief that a good hat can make a woman look like a million bucks.

"I love hats, I adore hats. They give you a certain look," said Mrs. Beedles. "My mom loved hats, truly loved them, so I guess I got it from her. People call me the hat lady because I have so many hats."

Good luck on deciphering an exact total in her personal inventory.

"Oh, that's not a good question to ask a lady," she says, flashing a coy smile. "I just want to make sure I have enough hats to fit the occasion. Some people say hats have come back, but I don't think they ever went out of style."

Mrs. Beedles' hunch that this time-tested fashion staple can fit comfortably into today's more casual styles is proving correct.

Her tiny shop, located at 1716 N. Forest, is experiencing a surge in popularity among hat lovers.

The milliner has filled it with imaginative headwear ranging from casual to after-five, many designs of her own making. Some feature beads, feathers, sequins or custom stitching.

Future inventory is expected to include brightly colored cowboy hats encrusted in jewels.

"I learned to make hats and learned to embellish them. No matter how plain, you can embellish it and make it special," said Ms. Beedles.

A growing demand for hats among the city's fashion conscious keeps the phone ringing for style shows and events. The next show is set for May 3 at the Tyler Senior Center and benefits People's Baptist Church, the Rev. C.W. Jackson, pastor.

She points to a framed cartoon on the counter to further explain her position on this passion: "Your husband called and said you can buy anything you want."

"You can't buy just one," she said.



FASHION, FUNCTION, FUN

You can never have too many hats, said shop regular and friend Jacqueline Price.

"I feel special when I wear one," she said. "Right off the top of my head, I can't tell you how many I have, probably about 25. I have to stay out of the store because I always want to bring one home. Sometimes I walk into the store and say, 'Oh, I need that one.'"

On this particular day, Ms. Price had her eye on two hats - one tangerine, the other fuchsia, each with tiny shimmering stones.

Iris Omar, donning a lime green straw hat and sweater, said her reasoning is not only about style, but safety.

"Hats block the UV rays," she said. "I have six hats and I love them because they match my clothes. I've worn hats for a lot of years. The first time you wear one, it's a little different. You wonder if it's too big or if it looks right, but it's not that big of a deal to other people."

The women say it takes a certain level of confidence to wear a hat because heads do turn.

Shy, conservative women tend to stick with simple pill-boxes while the ultra-confident tend to choose larger versions that feature vivid colors and adornments.

Reabie Williams, who has a background in modeling, said she never leaves home without a hat.

She's worn them for about 25 years and has allocated an entire closet to her ever-expanding collection.

"Hats, hats, hats, I love any type of hat," she said, adjusting a wide-brimmed hat of shiny brocade. "I wear them to the grocery store and even out in the yard. Hats make me feel like royalty, like a queen. They are part of my personality."

Aside from style, hats are highly functional, she said, adding, "Hair doesn't matter anymore, I have a hat."

When it comes to pairing a hat with an outfit, it seems almost anything goes, but there are a few points to consider:

Women with wide faces look best if they don't wear wide hats.

Black hats are always chic.

Overly large hats are best reserved for special occasions, such as afternoon teas or social events.

Always, always, always use a hat box for storage, said Ms. Beedles.

Hats seem to carry their own set of traditions, especially when worn to church.

Women may wear them indoors, men may not.

"When you are married, you are to cover you head," said Ms. Omar. "Not everybody follows it. Back in the day, they did it as a sign of respect to their husbands."

A lack of headwear on a young woman also sent a subtle signal of availability.

Ms. Price said people just seem to act more respectful to a confident woman in a smart hat.

"I remember when I was a little girl, there was a tall lady at our church, who always wore at hat," she said. "I would go to church just to see her hats. She never wore the same one twice. And when she walked in, everybody would stand back and watch. She was tall and regal, and I wanted to be just like her when I grew up."

For Ms. Beedles, early memories have also withstood the test of time.

"I have one hat of my mom's that I wear one time a year, normally the first Sunday in fall," she said. "It's taupe and black. It never goes out of style. And when I wear it, I always think of her."