So, THIS Is Why Kyle Richards’ Favorite Hat Store, Kemo Sabe, Is “the Best”
The RHOBH cast member takes her hats very seriously — and it is not OK to turn down an invite to the Aspen, Colorado, shop.
On the September 14 episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the group waited in anxious anticipation for the excursion Kyle Richards had planned to Kemo Sabe, a hat store based in Aspen, Colorado. (Well, some of the group — but more on that later.)
“When my friends come to Aspen, it is a rite of passage to go to Kemo Sabe and get a hat,” Kyle explained in an interview during the episode. “You’re going to get your initials on it, we’re going to adorn things on it, we’re going to set it on fire. It’s the best.”
So, what exactly is this coveted shopping experience? According to Kemo Sabe’s website, customization is key: The western-wear shop promises customers a “rare experience” with the “ability to take one of [their] exclusive items, like a hat or buckle, and transform it into a personalized heirloom to pass down from generation to generation.” Hats range from $350 to $1,595, so the women were appropriately shocked to learn that setting them ablaze was part of the process.
“I’ve never set $500 on fire, so it’s a bit scary to see my hat catch on fire,” Sutton Stracke said in the episode.
“We’re distressing it,” explained Kyle, while Sheree Zampino added, “It just adds different color and texture.”
Other perks, as we saw in the episode, include a dreamy western-inspired backdrop and a bar complete with a shotgun shot ski.
Kyle went to great lengths to shut down the store for her friends, so she did not take it lightly when Dorit Kemsley called to say that she, Erika Jayne, and Diana Jenkins would not be attending the soiree. “I’m going to be really hurt if you don’t come,” Kyle told Dorit. “I took over this whole space… That’s not OK. That’s not fair.” Kyle later doubled down by issuing a resounding “F--k you” to the no-shows.
In an episode interview, Kyle explained that her appreciation for toppers runs deep: “I always grew up loving hats. My mom loved hats, and I started collecting them — I don’t even remember how long ago. It’d be hard to pick a favorite. They’re like my children.”
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