B&W photographs of black women in church hats. Photos from the time of publication.

I'm not much of a hat maven myself but I absolutely loved this book! "Crowns" is a perfect title for this book because these women are nothing less than regal. ( )

I love hats, ergo, I love this book. Social history, fashion, photography, memoir all rolled into one. "Countless black women would rather attend church naked than hatless", according to the book jacket. Why? This book, through the words of the women themselves, strives to answer that question. Each woman is beautifully photographed in a hat of her choosing, and describes its history and its meaning for her.

Editing to add a link to a Chicago Tribune story (with video) about a woman who designs these hats.