Woods, Elle (as she is sometimes known) is first seen wearing this hat in the movie shortly after her memorable appearance as a Playboy Bunny at her first law school party:

The party is a turning point in the film because Elle comes to realize that Warner will never see her as good enough for him and his future life. It is at this point that she finally determines that she will remake herself, and Elle donning a crocheted hat is one marker of the change that is to come.

Elle is first seen wearing a hat very much like this one in the same scene her classmates first see her with books. Later, the hat is more prominently featured in the scene when Elle and Paulette return to Paulette’s former home to take custody of the much missed and loved Rufus from Paulette’s former boyfriend of many years .

Also notable is the fact that the enormous flower that decorates the hat is on the right side which signals to any interested men that Elle is officially unattached.

So, I see this as Elle’s empowerment hat.

Red Heart Super Saver Pale Plum and Soft White (or any worsted weight yarn)
A 5.5mm (or I) hook

Using the pale plum, Chain 4 and join with slip stitch.

Round 1: Work 6 sc into the ch-4 ring and join with sl st to first sc made (6sc).
[Note: I do not make an additional ch 1 before making my first sc.]

Round 2: Chain 3 (counts as first dc), work another dc into same stitch as joining, work 2dc into each of the next 5 stitches, join with sl st to first dc made (12dc).

Round 3: Chain 3 (counts as first dc), work another dc into same stitch as joining, work 2dc into each of the next 11 stitches, join with sl st to first dc made (24 dc).

Round 4: Chain 3 (counts as first dc), work 2 dc in next st, *dc in next stitch, 2dc in next stitch, repeat from * 10 times more, join with sl st to first dc made (36 dc).

Round 5: Chain 3 (counts as first dc), work dc in next stitch, work 2dc in next st, *work 1 dc in each of next 2 stitches, 2dc in next stitch, repeat from * 10 times more, join with sl st to first dc made. (48 dc).

Round 6-12: Chain 3 (counts as first dc) work 1 dc in each stitch all the way around (48 dc). Fasten off Pale Plum.

Round 13: Using soft white, join with single crochet in first dc of previous round. Work 1 sc in each remaining dc. Join with sl st to first sc made (48sc).

Round 14: Continuing with the soft white, ch 1 (counts as first sc) in same stitch as joining. Sc in each remaining stitch, join with sl to ch 1 made at the beginning. Fasten off soft white (48 sc).

Round 15: Join pale plum with sl st to first sc of round 13. Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Work dc in each remaining stitch. Join with sl to to first dc made (the chain 3). Fasten off the pale plum.

For the flower on my hat, I used Red Heart Super Saver Dark Orchid, a 4.00mm hook, and Lesley Stanfield’s chrysanthemum pattern from her book 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet, but any oversized, over-the-top crocheted flower will do the trick.