Red hats of all shapes and sizes bobbed and swayed with dinner conversations. Some were bedecked with ribbons, others feathers and fur.
The extravagant display didn't make one of the 14 women wearing the hats bat an eye. After all, extravagance was the point.
This was part of their "regalia," their uniform as the Royal Rubies of Newton, the city's new branch of the Red Hat Society.
Marie Walker of Nonantum was wearing the red fedora with feathers she found in Florence, Italy. One of her friends had a curious reaction when Walker told her she had joined the Red Hats.
"'Oh, you just want attention,"' Walker said the friend had told her.
Without balking, the newly minted Red Hat had said, "Yes, I love the attention."
The Red Hat Society Newton's chapter named itself the Royal Rubies and has 23 official members since launching in early August.
Each member attends monthly meetings and outings in their full regalia. Those under 50 wear pink hats, while those over 50 don red hats of their choosing. Purple outfits complete the wardrobe.
That level of coordination takes planning.
Nancy Scammon, the city's senior director, called the Royal Rubies' first meeting organized chaos.
"Nobody looked this good," she said.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Fran Towle proposed launching a Red Hat group in Newton after she saw an active chapter while on a trip to Florida. Taking Towle's recommendation, Scammon sent a letter to seniors on her contact list and circulated fliers announcing the first meeting at Albemarle Fieldhouse.
Scammon and Jeanne Stewart, who works for the Newton Housing Authority, did not know what to expect for that Aug. 1 meeting. When they walked through the fieldhouse door, 30 women awaited them.
"(She) and I were shocked," Stewart said.
Organizing the group of strangers was difficult at first. Stewart stepped forward as Ruby Queen, the official head of the Newton Royal Ruby chapter. All other members became her "chaperettes."
While some chapters limit the number of members, Newton's has decided to stay open to all.
"We don't believe in closing the chapter," Stewart said. "We don't care that there's 100 people."
Despite the hierarchical system, all Royal Rubies help determine their social agenda. So far, members have been on a tour of the Louisa May Alcott house, seen a couple of shows at The Reagle Players and had lunch at the Wayside Inn.
The group's early Christmas party Dec. 16, was part fun, part business. Getting from one to the other was a chore.
Scammon stood in front of the group and rang a crystal bell to get everyone's attention. Women continued to chatter over their pumpkin pie, Italian cookies and coffee.
Scammon rang the bell again.
Shushing rushed from both sides of the room before there was silence. Sort of.
The senior director commended the Royal Rubies for a very successful fall. She ended her short speech with an announcement: The group might soon be meeting in a "gorgeous room" in the Scandinavian Center.
"Oh my word!," one of the women cried. An excited murmur ran through the crowd.
"If you know that room, it's beautiful," Scammon said.
"And the bathrooms are wonderful, too," Walker added.
The Royal Rubies then set their agenda for coming months, when winter would surely keep most of the women inside. A soup buffet and cookbook workshop, game night and a trip to the JFK Museum were marked on the social calendar.
Throughout the discussion, women shot comments from one end of the room to the other. Scammon orchestrated the session, while Stewart stood nearby, expanding on members' suggestions and helping to keep order.
Jean Visco of Upper Falls sat among the Royal Rubies. She said she enjoys the activities the group organizes.
"It's an exceptionally friendly group - not a cliquey group," said Visco, who wore a red floppy straw hat decorated with a ring of fake red flowers.
Beyond being a strong social network, the Red Hat Society gives women entering their golden years the opportunity to be recognized, alive and vibrant, Stewart said.
She noted that many of the women live alone after having lost a loved one. "I think they feel a little bit invisible," Stewart said.
No one was invisible that Tuesday afternoon. Especially not Lillian Sagan of Newtonville. She wore a purple dress, toted a rainbow sequin purse and sported a giant black winged hat with red flames and fur edging.
The hat was a Halloween treasure.
"I just happened to come across it," Sagan said.
