The Smithsonian wants it, but Aretha Franklin is not keen about reliquishing her hat with the big wool bow sparkling with genuine Svarovski crystals. At latest count there are more than twenty-five Fan Groups for her chapeau at Facebook and probably as many at Flickr too. The hat’s Detroit designer has more than 3,000 requests for silk replicas at $180 each. The original in wool would cost upwards of $500, and it is unknown how many have ordered that version. And … Even I have finally got my own official “Aretha Franklin Inauguration Hat.” Mine is the original – all wool Svarovski. Now I can die happy. My only regret is that it was not available in fire engine red.
Slide Show at Flickr of Aretha’s Hats
The image, Edna-Aretha, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Barneykin’s 
account.
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Vanishing Memories 