Frederica Wilson was known as the Florida state legislator who owned a massive collection of fancy hats. But when the Democrat was elected to the 17th District congressional seat on Nov. 2, representing portions of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, her fashion statement ran afoul of the rules.
On Nov. 17, Wilson talked about her hat woes in an interview with The Miami Herald's Naked Politics blog.
Wilson is hoping to have a conversation with the likely new speaker, John Boehner. At issue: whether or not the longtime lawmaker can wear her signature hats on the House floor. The House bars members from wearing hats while the body is in session, but Wilson said she believes the speaker can waive the rule -- which dates to the 1800s.
``It's sexist,'' Wilson told the Herald. ``It dates back to when men wore hats and we know that men don't wear hats indoors, but women wear hats indoors. Hats are what I wear. People get excited when they see the hats. Once you get accustomed to it, it's just me. Some people wear wigs, or high heel shoes or big earrings or pins. This is just me.'''
The blog post continued: ``Wilson had to take her hat off for her official congressional picture, but plans to appeal that ruling as well. She did wear her hat on the House floor the other day -- but the House wasn't in session.''
She managed to show off at least one of her hats in Washington, D.C.: She arrived for freshman orientation wearing a black cowboy hat with sequins, according to the Washington Post.
Roll Call also wrote about Wilson's hat dilemma on Nov. 4: ``But while we expect Wilson to become the Hill's newest fashionista -- for better or worse, depending on who you ask -- she likely will have to ditch her trademark headpieces while she's on the House floor. Although there isn't a specific dress code, hats have been banned on the floor since September 1837. Even the late Rep. Bella Abzug, D-N.Y., couldn't sport her trademark broad-brimmed hats when she served during the 1970s.''
Read more:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/29/1949212/members-will-have-to-vote-to-let.html#ixzz16pfc9Ng0
