The Headwear Association Announces 

2014 Headwear Hall of Fame 

Inductees are Sophia Loren, Diane Keaton,

Queen Elizabeth II, Bruno Mars,

Spike Lee and Elton John

(LOS ANGELES) The Headwear Association (THA) has announced the inductees for the 2014 Headwear Hall of Fame, and this year’s honors go to Sophia Loren, Diane Keaton, Queen Elizabeth II, Bruno Mars, Spike Lee and Elton John.

“Each year, The Headwear Association recognizes six individuals who are renowned for wearing hats. This is our sixth year for the THA Headwear Hall of Fame, and each year we try to select honorees that are known for their signature style, which of course includes wearing a wide variety of hats,” said THA President, Todd Gardner. “We are excited to welcome this year’s inductees to the Headwear Hall of Fame, which now totals thirty-six members.”  

For more information on the 2014 THA Headwear Hall of Fame, you can visit the THA Website, or to see photos of all the 2014 THA Headwear Hall of Fame Inductees visit the THA Facebook page. Be sure to LIKE the page to be registered for our monthly hat giveaways. 

Sofia Loren has appeared in more than 80 films and epitomizes old Hollywood glamour. The Italian-born actress has worn hats throughout her esteemed 64-year career, and at 79 is still regaled as one of the most beautiful women in the world. Whether she is wearing a dramatic wide brimmed hat, a fanciful feathered creation or even a simple headscarf, no one wears a hat quite like Ms. Sophia Loren.

Diane Keaton has perfected the masculine-meets-feminine look. There's no denying that Diane Keaton single-handedly brought the menswear trend in vogue, and women have been imitating her timeless style ever since. She debuted the look complete with wide-leg trousers, neckties and bowler hats in her iconic performance in "Annie Hall," and she has stayed true to her signature style ever since. It seems as if Keaton has a hat in every color, and can be seen wearing them on and off the red carpet, as well as indoors and out. THA honors her legendary style with an (Annie) Hall of Fame nod.

Queen Elizabeth II is rarely seen without a hat and has worn more than 5,000 different hats over the past 50 years. Since her accession to the throne in 1953 at the age of 25, Queen Elizabeth II has worn a wide variety of styles, from faux-flower swimming caps in the early 1960s to dramatic wide-brimmed milliner creations and furry winter-weather Cossack hats. The hats represent more than simply a fashion statement, according to royal biographer Robert Lacey. "Hats, you see, are obviously very significant items of clothing in a monarch," Lacey said. "You could say when she's wearing a hat that she's wearing a sort of crown substitute." 

Bruno Mars is a multi-platinum, chart-topping musician, rarely seen without a topper of his own. Bruno Mars has a dashing, polished modern day style, and his hats are the crowning glory of his signature look. Bruno Mars told MTV that you have to pick your hats based on chemistry, “the hat has to speak to you, from your soul.” The American star is renowned for his love of hats, and he is constantly being spotted in headwear of every style including beanies, street-wear style caps and trilbys. But it is the old-school fedora hats that has become his trademark. His love of hats is well documented, and when commenting on his hit song ‘Billionaire’, he remarked that if he was a billionaire himself, he’d want a “diamond-encrusted golden hat made from unicorn fur.”

Spike Lee is a legendary American filmmaker and a hat connisseur. Since 1983 he has produced 35 films and has been a commited champion of race relations. Recognized not only for his social activism but also for his distinctive urban fashion, he is the quintessential hat aficiando and has worn virtually every hat style out there. Spike Lee is known for his signature Brooklyn cycling cap, but has also been seen in fedoras, bowlers, NY Knicks ball caps, driving caps and even berets. When it comes to fashion, you can always be assured that Mr. Lee will do the right thing.

Elton John is a genius songwriter and performer known for his eccentric fashions, and he has made dramatic headwear part of his statement costumes throughout the decades.  His outlandish looks in the 1970s included feather headdresses, galaxy-themed hats, furry Russian-inspired looks, an Eiffel Tower topper, band leader hats and dozens of other whimsical creations. In later years, the Rocket Man adopted a sharp-dressed man persona, pairing suits with top hats, boaters, panamas, fedoras. Thank you, Mr. John, for decades of hits and show-stopping fashions.

Members of The Headwear Association nominated more than 50 legendary hat wearers, living and deceased. The Headwear Association board of directors voted and approved the final six honorees who will be formally inducted into The Headwear Hall of Fame at the 106th annual THA Gala event at The Central Park Boathouse on April 24, 2014.

The THA Headwear Hall of Fame now totals thirty-six stylish individuals. Here is a look at the previous Headwear Hall of Fame inductees:

The Headwear Association is a 105-year old trade association, the oldest in the fashion industry.

Our birth was a chance meeting of traveling hat salesmen in 1907 who had just finished their seasonal selling trips in NYC. The first dinner was held at the Waldorf Astoria (then on 34th Street) on January 30, 1908 with 34 industry members present.

Our mission is to promote hats and the headwear industry throughout the world, and to foster goodwill and fellowship among those engaged in the headwear industry.

The 106th annual THA Gala will be held at The Central Park Boathouse on April 24, 2014, and is open to anyone in the fashion and headwear industry.