Hats Galore at the Easter Parade

Yes, that's real moss. (Photo: G.Tanaka)

I’m disappointed in you, Portlanders. Could it be that a plunging thermometer and intermittent downpours were enough to keep you away from the very first Easter Hat Parade through downtown on Saturday??

Never fear, though. About 20 intrepid PDXers kept Portland weird on your behalf. And Jackie Uh-Oh was there to document as well as participate!

Hat Fanciers -- Including parade organizer Lulu (blue skirt); designer Elizabeth Rohloff (orange); and Weird & Wonderful's Jackie Uh-Oh (green hat).

Photo by P.Fitzgerald

Cowboy chic

We pioneers of Portland haberdashery assembled at Pioneer Courthouse Square and gave passersby plenty of opportunities for oohing and aahing and picture-taking. And with good reason, too.

The fabulous headgear on display included:

• Originals from the 1930s & ’40s.

Styles from Yesteryear

• An elaborate Victorian reproduction worn by one of the Victorian Ladies, a group that likes to wear authentic antique dress to community events.
• Custom designs by local milliners–who proved that they have both exquisite taste and abundant creativity.
  

  Pretty in purple

• Costume store knockoffs made unique with the addition of fake flora, fauna & Easter eggs.

Springtime green for Jackie Uh-Oh

But what about Jackie Uh-Oh? My hat for the day was a pale green silk+ number (label Giovannio, of Britain) bought at Macy’s Lloyd Center just for this event.

And, because the organizer of the Hat Parade, Lulu of Lulu’s Vintage, loves vintage fashion, I wore the white mohair ’60s-era coat that came to me a few years ago from a friend’s stepmom. Tres retro-chic!

A butterfly "hovers" over the flowers.

PDX Factoid of the Day:
Did you know that the Lloyd Center Macy’s (formerly Meier & Frank) is the only Macy’s branch north of Los Angeles that carries an extensive collection of fashion hats? That’s according to Joyce, who has staffed the department for nearly two decades and knows her hat stuff. Definitely worth a visit!

An array of styles (Photo by P.Fitzgerald)

THE PHOTOS

Unless otherwise noted, the photos here are by my dearest one, John Recht. (That’s him, above, in his much-loved Stetson fedora, which recently survived an unfortunate encounter with clam chowder.   btw, the fedora came from the terrific, family-run hat store that is No. 1 with PDXers in the know: John Helmer, 969 SW Broadway.)

Other photos are by folks who generously shared their shots by email, Patrick Fitzgerald and Gaby Tanaka. Here are links to other Parade photos by them on Facebook and Flickr.

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