Tea Parties, Hattitude, And The Southern Spririt: An Interview With Sissy Brodie
A lifelong resident of Aiken, Sissy Brodie is the definition of a Southern Belle. Some of her earliest childhood memories consist of posing on the steps of The Willcox with her little sister for family pictures. “I loved to get glimpses at the elegant woman inside. I would see their beautiful dresses and hats and listen to them stirring the sugar in their iced tea. I swear I can still hear them today,” Sissie recalls.
Her love for tea parties began in her early years, when her imagination ran wild around a miniature table adorned with play tea sets. As she grew into adulthood, her affection for timeless manners and Southern traditions never waned. This great love affair would continue to grow, eventually culminating into her famous tea parties. Little girls who received invitations to these famed gatherings would be required to send both a handwritten letter of acceptance and a thank you note in order to attend.
Along with her adoration for Southern culture, time-honored etiquette, and the lightheartedness of a graceful tea party, Sissy has also accumulated a stunning collection of hats over the years. Whether she has acquired them herself or received them as heirlooms from others in the Aiken area, Sissy refers to the idea of “hattitude”. Adorned in her cream beret on a beautiful day outside of The Willcox, learn more about Sissy’s fascinating story by watching the video below.
