There are women in Atlanta who have worn hats for years — to parties, to church or to nowhere in particular — but once a year, the Atlanta Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. encourages even the uninitiated to take the plunge.

"I just started wearing hats," said Letoshia Walker, who attended the sorority's 2008 Mad Hatters Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show earlier this month. "This is my first venture into dressy hats."

Becky Stein/Special (ENLARGE)

A model shows off a look from designer Carolyn Wilbourn.

• More photos from the fashion show AJC fashion page

Feathers, wide brims, sequins and mounds of ribbon twisted into fancy bows are de rigueur for these ladies.

"It's a regal feeling and you stand taller," said Darryal McCullough of the hat wearing experience. Her wide brim gold hat with ribbon accents is "versatile," she said. "I can wear it with anything."

A good thing this season, as hats seem to be making a comeback.

One need only look at the world's fashion runways to witness the trend. Last year, designer Marc Jacobs sent almost every model in his fall 2007 collection down the runway in large brim or cloche-style hats. In February, London-based Justin Smith of J Smith Esquire, who previously did commission work, plans to launch a collection of hats for men and women during London Fashion Week.

Even in Atlanta, custom hatmaker Tina Kite has seen her clientele evolve over the years.

"Many of my clients are younger females in their late 20s and early 30s who have a unique sense of style on their own and like the look of wearing a hat," said Kite, who learned the craft of millinery in 2002 after reading about a hatmaker in Ohio. Kite went to visit the featured hatmaker, who taught her the basics of blocking and finishing. Today, Kite's custom designs can be spotted everywhere from local churches to the Kentucky Derby.

Tiffany Petty, 31, is among the new guard of hat wearers, though she acknowledged that the more mature Mad Hatters were the real pros. "They are serious about hats," said Petty, who once purchased a floppy brimmed chapeau popularized by J. Lo (or Ali McGraw, depending on your reference point). "As I mature, I wear [hats] more," she said.

Maybe that's because wearing a hat requires a good bit of confidence.

"When you wear a hat, you get noticed — especially in cities like Atlanta where people don't often wear hats unless it is for church," said Kite.

"If you are comfortable with yourself, and you have some flair to your personality, it's not a problem wearing a hat. It's just another accessory."

FINDING A HAT THAT WORKS

• Speak to a milliner to determine the hat shape that is best for you, said Kite. "If you are really short, it's not as becoming to wear a larger brim hat," said Kite.

• "The worst thing you can possibly do is put a hat all the way back on the back of your head," Kite said. Make sure you are wearing it the right way so that it looks the best on you.

• When in doubt, said Kite, "Try on a bunch and just see what makes you feel good."

HAT PRIMER:

• Cloches: The French word for bell describes the silhouette of this close-fitting women's style popularized during the 1920s. These styles made a major comeback in 2007 in fashion magazines and on the runway.

• Fedoras: A classic hat shape that began as headgear for the upper classes has been spotted recently on celebrities including Justin Timberlake and Mary Kate Olsen. It is characterized by a pinched-in crown.

• Berets: Yes, these are military headgear, but these flat, circular hats, most often worn to the side, were also a favorite of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in the 1930s. Today's styles are roomier and can be worn slightly askew or centered.

• Porkpie: Similar to a Fedora style but with a shorter crown and flat top, the Porkpie is often associated with jazz culture.

— Nedra Rhone