Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I am preparing to attend a wedding this summer and I notice that with all the Royal wedding coverage for Prince William and Kate Middleton that the women are expected to wear a hat. Now its making me wonder if I should wear a hat to this wedding. And before you ask, no its not a British wedding but I like the tradition. So do you think it would be okay to wear a hat to the wedding, and if so, what kind?

Signed,

A Hat for a Happy Occasion

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Dear A.H.F.A.H.O.,

British women have worn hats - and fascinators! - to weddings and formal events for centuries. Something as formal, regal and public as a royal wedding requires all the pomp and circumstance traditionally associated with the affair, which means guests would want to be seen - and photographed - in the finest plumes and brims. As it was mandated in the invitation for the royal wedding of the now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the female guests were required to wear a hat.

But if a hat is what you want to wear, then by all means, wear a hat! Formal occasions are the perfect time for your own pomp and circumstance. In fact, many women wear hats regularly for church, horse races, funerals, Easter, Mother's Day and the like, so a wedding would fall into that group perfectly.

As far as choosing the hat goes, that's purely personal. However, there are a few"commandments" to keep in mind while you're searching for the perfect topper, especially for a wedding or formal event:

The Eight Commandments of Hat Wearing

I. Thou shalt not wear a hat wider than the shoulders.

II. Thou shalt not wear a hat a shade darker than the shoes.

III. Thou shalt only wear hats with the colors of white, cream and pastels for Easter.

IV. Thou shalt not wear a hat with crumpled, wrinkled or droopy feathers or flowers.

V. Thou shalt always look tasteful and tidy when wearing "the hat."

VI. Thou shalt remember your bone structure. If a hat doesn't fit the face, don't buy it.

VII. Thou shalt not allow a hat to compete with accessories and jewelry.

VIII. Thou shalt always let the hat be the focal point of the outfit.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com