Aretha Franklin’s hat steals show at Barack Obama’s inauguration

6a00d8341c873353ef010536df1d42970b Aretha Franklins hat steals show at Barack Obamas inauguration

  We weren’t going to mention it, but seeing the issue was raised in the comments on our Michelle Obama post, we’re going to raise our heads above the parapet and admit that, yes, we totally thought Aretha Franklin’s hat stole the show at Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony today. Aretha, The Fashion Police salute you – and would love to know where you got it…




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Read 34 comments below on “Aretha Franklin’s hat steals show at Barack Obama’s inauguration”

  2. I seriously heart that hat – I want one. She looked so pulled together in her grays. Smokey gray eyeshadow, coat, goves, hat – she is the Godmother of Soul (and hats!)

  5. According to comments posted at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2009/01/inaugural-hat-t.html and http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/aretha-franklins-hat/raving_over_arethas_hat the hat is by Mr Song Millinery in Detroit. Unfortunately the web site (http://www.mrsongmillinery.com/) isn’t very interactive.

  11. I missed the opening parts before the speech this morning so I didn’t see The Hat then. But remember Fanny Brice? I took one look at this hat and thought Baby Snooks!

  12. I thought it was a great hat!!! It was like Sunday hats worn to church by a lot of mature black women. I would have preferred an aqua/teal/turquoise colour in the same design, rather than the current colour, because it was a little bland. But controversial??? Not even a little bit.
    I am an older mature white woman, so it wasn’t my cup of tea, but I thought it was fantastic!!! It had character! But did it draw attention away from the President and make today “less than” it could have been otherwise???
    We just inaugurated the first black president of this country in 233 years and we are actually entertaining the question of the impact of a hat on the specialness of this day????? How petty are we, anyway??? Don’t we have something better to do?

  13. I both noticed and loved the hat also. I am in shock that people think it was controversial.

  15. GH Cameron – “We just inaugurated the first black president of this country in 233 years and we are actually entertaining the question of the impact of a hat on the specialness of this day????? How petty are we, anyway??? Don’t we have something better to do?”
    Well, no, actually, because this is a fashion blog, therefore it covers fashion. We’re not going to write about politics, because there are plenty of political blogs out there that do that.
    Did you post this comment because you thought we meant the hat had ACTUALLY “stolen the show”? Because that was just a joke…

  17. Aretha’s hat rocked the house. After all, she is the Queen of soul. Why would she wear anthing less. It’s always been part of the black culture to wear a really fantastic hat to a special occasion. It was Aretha’s way of showing respect to our New President and a source of Pride. Thank you.

  18. Aretha’s Choice: I’ve looked at many hats form east to west. But that hat worn by Aretha, I think was the very best. As she looked in her closet, I can almost hear her say, “I must honor the President in a very special way. The red hat with the yellow sash is a little too bright, the purple one with the ruby trim does not quite honor him. The red, white and blue show, like many, that I think that he is true, but for a start it should make a statement from my very own heart. Oh yea, I see it now!
    It’s Gray with a Big Bow and it’s brand new. This way I can Salute him and all that he will do.”

  19. Well Aretha is old school and black women of a certain age are gonna wear those type of hats at the right ocassion. This was in my opinion the right ocasion. She was just wonderfulin her own right! Aretha can not help it if people don’t have a fashion flair! I thought that the former first ladies could have looked a little more dressed up.

  20. Well Aretha is old school and black women of a certain age are gonna wear those type of hats at the right ocassion. This was in my opinion the right ocasion. She was just wonderfulin her own right! Aretha can not help it if people don’t have a fashion flair! I thought that the former first ladies could have looked a little more dressed up.

  21. I truly hated that hat…………resembled the Statue of Liberty though………..that’s a blessing

  24. Retailers can purchase the MR SONG BEDAZZLED BOW HAT worn by Aretha Frankin from The Immediate Resource-Dallas, Texas 1-800-966-5517
    Pricebreakers-Atlanta, Georgia 1-800-440-0845
    Consumer purchasing 7th Avenue Ave Fashions-Dallas 214-819-3999

  25. OH MY GOODNESS!!! It “lookted” like AUNT JEMIMA got bizzzzy wid da BEDAZZLER! HA HA ! ! !

  29. what’s the deal? You delete every negative comment?!? isn’t this a free country now run by President Obama?!?

  30. Her hat looked like Aunt Jemima abused a BEDAZZLER! Now, please show my comment as we live in a country of free speech, now run by President Obama. THANK YOU.

  32. Just image what that hat on her head will look like in 40 year like a cat sat on her head sorry……………. BUT IF I SAW A OLD FILM I WOULD THINK THAT….. WHEN FILMS GET OLD IT’S HARD TO TELL what’s what……..

  33. Linda – we don’t delete “negative” comments, but we do delete comments which are abusive or which constitute personal attacks. We don’t have to put up with that.
    You’ve managed to post your “hilarious” Aunt Jemima comment about three times now on this thread, so I don’t think you can complain. Freedom of speech, however, does not mean freedom to abuse people, so anyone who does that gets deleted.

  34. I think if Aretha was going to church, the had would have been appropriate. This wasn’t church, people it was an inauguration. She did wear the hat well though, for the Mother’s Board. The color was appropriate too.