My Hat's Off to the Beanie

As a kid, it was ridiculously uncool to be caught dead in a hat of any kind, except for when you were either playing Little League or going out in blizzard-like conditions. In fact, the only time I’d don a hat was to go build snow forts or prepare for snowball fights, and only under the threats of punishment from my mother. Once she went back inside, the hot, woolen mess on my head was pulled off and thrown behind a bush. My, how things have changed! Today, hats are all the rage. Even the players on my son’s soccer team wear these promotional items on the field. The kids opt for the knit beanie with stripe, because it can be customized with the team’s colors. You can do the same for your team, group, or event. I bet the recipients will wear those beanies to promote your message. And while we are on the subject of how hats got so popular and so couture, since when did hats start being called “beanies”? Perhaps that is why the lowly hat has become such an icon of style -- because it’s no longer referred to as simply a hat. It’s gotten a massive overhaul as the beanie.