COLOR US PATRIOTIC RED, WHITE AND BLUE WEAR EVERYWHERE NOW.

Chances are if you sported red, white and blue at the beginning of the month, you'd be about as hip as Santa Claus in September.

No more.

After last Tuesday's unprecedented terrorist attack on the United States, star-spangled pins and colors are hotly patriotic.

``It is hip, all the way,'' said Pete Hernandez, 37, a security guard at Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga mall, fingering a new enamel American flag lapel pin. ``I put it on every day - pride in my country.''

Across the San Fernando Valley and across America, flags hang from porches. From businesses. From a parade of vehicle antennas down the road. Anywhere a flag can be flown - from lapels to earlobes to arms and fingernails - hung new coats of red, white and blue.

What were once just sport utility vehicles and Towncars have been suddenly transformed into USS Fords, Chevys and Lexuses. And once-somber duds have been brightened with enough bunting for more than one Fourth of July parade.

``I feel like Uncle Sam,'' said George McQuade, 45, of Winnetka, wearing a blue shirt and red tie, white socks and a blue jacket in a house covered with American flags.

``I'm surprised people don't salute me when I walk down the hallway.''

So painful was the hijacked airliners' attack that killed thousands on Sept. 11 that people say ``never forget'' in every sartorial and personal way.

At the Graffiti Palace in North Hollywood this week, at least a dozen residents have stepped up for patriotic memorial tattoos, from weeping eagles to flag-draped praying hands to a ``09-11-01'' shedding tears.

``They're coming out either to show their colors or to be proud and united,'' said a tattoo artist who identifies himself only as Graffiti Glen.

At Silver Liquors in Sherman Oaks, patrons have cleaned out every pin and nearly every item with red, white and blue.

``We ran out yesterday,'' said Maher William, a store owner. ``Everyone wants American flags. In fact, we have one American flag pen left - I'm keeping it for myself.''

And at the Studio City Hand Car Wash, American flag pins saying ``Remember 9-11-01'' were flying out the door Tuesday, courtesy of carwash management.

``We've handed out almost 300 now,'' said carwash spokesman Jack McGrath, handing out quarter-size medallions about noon. ``The response has been overwhelming.''

David Longoria, 32, owner of Del Oro Music Studios in Studio City, had just flown Old Glory atop his business before he pinned a ``Remember'' button high on his left pocket.

``This pin's great,'' he said. ``Where these wouldn't have been hip last week, they are now.''

Dale Harris, a former Los Angeles police officer and superintendent of operations at Los Angeles International Airport, was so moved by last week's devastation that he had special pins made.

``I carry them around, just to give to people, just to give people a patriotic feeling,'' said the 73-year-old Northridge resident, who's handed out hundreds to eager kids and adults.

``They jump right on it: It's just amazing.''

At Godiva's Secret wigs in the Topanga mall, Peggy Contreras, 63, of Tarzana manned a wigs booth with red, white and blue hair and flags painted on her thumbnails.

``Let me salute you,'' said the Tarzana resident. ``We need to show each other we're together in this. You may not know your enemy, but you will now know your friends.''

No mistaking Matt Walsh, 27, of Chatsworth, whose Ford Bronco flew a flag at half-staff and whose head flew a red, white and blue bandanna.

``I'm just proud, man,'' said the Dish Network employee. ``I'll wear this forever - this is not comin' off, ever.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Memorial pins were given away free Tuesday to customers at the Studio City Hand Car Wash.

(2 -- color) Julia McQuade, 7, of Studio City, gets a free lapel pin from Jack McGrath at the Studio City Hand Car Wash on Tuesday. Pins and star-spangled clothing let people show their love of country after last week's terrorist attacks.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

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PINNING PATRIOTISM