The Sophisticats of Levittown
You have probably seen them…perhaps at a luncheon or at a theatrical show. It is easy to identify them by their signature purple clothing and flashy red hats, they are the ladies of the Red Hat Society, an organization which has grown to proportionately since its inception in 1998.
The world was waiting for something special for women who had passed the high point of their lives. No longer did they have to care for young children or devote themselves to household duties. It was time for them to reap the benefits of life.
One inspiration was a poem by Jenny Joseph: When I am an old woman I shall wear purple;With a red hat that doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me.
The move to that goal began when Sue Ellen Cooper of California purchased a red hat for a friend’s birthday and offered both the hat and poem as a present. The combination began to represent an exciting move toward a positive time of life. Friends began repeating this ritual and so the Red Hat Society blossomed. The idea grew so rapidly, in fact, that this organization expanded to 40,000 chapters in the U.S. and in 30 other countries.
With the internet, redhatsociety.com as mentor, a structure began to take shape. The Sophisticats (of Levittown), like many Long Island chapters, represents a list of 40 active members. One or two “events” are planned each month by the membership and can range from restaurant lunches to a game of miniature golf.
For those applicants who have not yet reached the Red Hat age of 50, pink hats are ready for those ladies in waiting.
