Crowns: Portraits Of Black Women In Church Hats

Countless black women would rather attend church naked than hatless. For these women, a church hat, flamboyant as it may be, is no mere fashion accessory;  it''s a cherished African American custom, one observed with boundless passion by bl... Read more

Countless black women would rather attend church naked than hatless. For these women, a church hat, flamboyant as it may be, is no mere fashion accessory;  it''s a cherished African American custom, one observed with boundless passion by black women of various religious denominations. A woman''s hat speaks long before its wearer utters a word.  It''s what Deirdre Guion calls "hattitude...there''s a little more strut in your carriage when you wear a nice hat. There''s something special about you." If a hat says a lot about a person, it says even more about a people-the customs they observe, the symbols they prize, and the fashions they fancy.

Photographer Michael Cunningham beautifully captures the self-expressions of women of all ages-from young glamorous women to serene but stylish grandmothers. Award-winning journalist Craig Marberry provides an intimate look at the women and their lives. Together they''ve captured a captivating custom, this wearing of church hats, a peculiar convergence of faith and fashion that keeps the Sabbath both holy and glamorous. Less