Vote for your pick.
1. Aretha Franklin

2. Princess Beatrice

You REALLY need a 'neither' button.

And I believe Beattie is wearing a fascinator, not a hat.

[ lines up quietly with Ben. ]

Gyorgy Ban:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/82 ... /lightbox/

I like that felt hat Jack!

As for the poll, I had to go with Aretha on the grounds that she has the mileage, talent, and gravitas to pull it off. She herself is an icon, and on her head the hat becomes almost charming. It can't help itself.

Otoh, this may mean that I approached the question wrong. It is, after all, the iconic status of the hat itself that Mutey appears to be asking about. It is a certainty that Bea's fascinator will be the go-to headwear for the next century (at least) when humans are asked to recall an absurd hat.

I find nothing iconic about these hats. I mean they are not Father Christmas hats, or Fools Caps, or Uncle Sam's Top Hat. Aretha's hat is slightly more inspiring, as it seems to have been modeled vaguely on traditional African women's head scarfs. But the bow is ridiculous, in both designs. I would file it under "hats worn by the rich and/or famous with ridiculous bows".

I believe that is a true "one size fits all" hat. All, of course, describing head size rather than taste. The badges look like he's a member of some fringe cub scout group

emm, I described the poll as I did because YOU PEOPLE would just do what you planned on doing anyway.

No, I haven't had my first cup of coffee yet, why do you ask?

Yay for Hans' (Dalai Lama's) titfer! He's a Red Hat! Sound Man!

that's a hard act to follow... poll? what poll?

Lobster hat for the win??

No no, Gaga's hats can't win. The hat must be worn with at least a feigned intention that it is actually a legitimate outfit choice.

I can't find the "Like" button for Em's post. The Dark Side has taken me!

Let's just agree that emm's right. That being said, I want that lobster hat. I'd even wear the x's over my ta-tas.