Cowboy Hats and More

Movies impact  a wide variety of styles around the world. Whether it’s a hat, a dress or a car, the decision to buy is often impacted by what is seen as cool in the movies. With the release of the first Indiana Jones movie in 1981, the hat industry has never been the same. Instantly the fedora was popularized.

The only thing that has had a greater impact on the hat industry is the realization that hats serve to protect us from skin cancer. Cowboy hats, western hats, outback hats, fedoras or any hat with a brim of at least 2 3/8” meet the requirements set by the American Academy of Dermatology as part of a total sun protection regimen to help prevent skin cancer and premature aging. Now we find out that we can have good looks that are good for us, what could be better? But even that fact has come in to second to the impact of a movie series on fedora sales!

Indy’s hat is such an icon that it is even in the Smithsonian.  Indiana Jones style hats are safari style fedoras with a medium-to-large brim that is turned down in the front and back. This hat style has come to embody the character of the man: strong, adventurous, a bit unconventional and … well, handsome. With a boost from this image, sales of all fedora styles skyrocketed.

Banish the thought that real cowboys only wear one hat. For real cowboys, their hat is part of who they are … their image. It reflects their rugged, independent spirit and adds that something extra that makes them, in my opinion, well .. irresistible.A real cowboy has a cowboy hat for every occasion and weather condition.

As you know, cowboy hats are distinguished by wide brims and high, distinctly-shaped crowns. Straw, fur, and wool felt cowboy hats are the most common. Straw, aside from being cheaper, is the best hat for during hot weather. However, age and long wear might cause it to become brittle. For durability, fur felt hats of either beaver or rabbit are best.

Straw and hats of light color are fashionable, but must be worn only in the summer or dry seasons. This is because they are airy, breathable, and  their light colors absorb less heat. The season for dark colored and felt hat is during the colder months. Aside from protecting the head against the bitter weather, these hats also absorb more heat, thereby keeping the cowboy warm. Though no clear reason is given why, white hats are no-no after the celebration of Labor day. You might just be branded as a fashion flop if you do so.

Real cowboys have hats to fit every need … rougher more durable hats for outdoor work, more high quality hats for church Sundays, fancy trim for Saturday night and classic black hats for Monday morning.

If you think that you can put on any cowboy hat and it will do, you might be surprised at the many styles and variety of brims and crowns available. You need to match the hat to your face as well as your style … More on that subject later.

Both the American West and Australian Outback were among the final frontiers of exploration and colonial conquests in the last half of the 19th century. While separated by many miles both territories were characterized by hot desert conditions, wild/untamed land, frontier justice and conflict with native peoples. It took hard work to tame both lands. Necessity being the mother of invention it is no wonder that similar conditions gave rise to similar hats in both locations.

Working hard in tough outdoor conditions heightens the need for protection from the elements. Like the cowboy hats of the American Wild West, the hats worn by the men and women of the Australian Outback were meant to protect the wearer from sun, heat, rain, and sometimes, even snow. Like the cowboy hat they could carry water or spur on a reluctant horse. Head gear in both environments had to be comfortable, durable and light weight. The outback hat is usually smaller than the cowboy hat overall with brims that are 3″- 4″ wide and tapered up on the sides. Crown shapes can vary, but the classic outback hat has a teardrop shape that is generally much shorter than typical with cowboy hats.

There is an unmistakable bond between the environments that generated the cowboy hat and the outback hat. Both generated stylish functional hats that symbolize the spirit of their wild, rugged and independent territories. The outback style is popular around the world and, thanks to numerous movies and popular characters, easily recognizable by just about anyone. Anyone looking for something a bit different than the American Wild West, and the cowboy hat, may find something rugged, durable, comfortable and fashionable in today’s world of outback hats.

The term cowboy, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is “a hired hand, especially in the western United States, who tends cattle and performs many duties on horse back.” There are still many cowboys living and working in the United States these days, although they may occasionally trade their horse for a pickup truck or a 4-wheeler. Most of these cowboys still live by the same codes and standards as the cowboys of the Old West.

Tradition means a lot to cowboys … the old ways, proper etiquette. There’s a proper way to handle every situation and proper attire for every occasion.  What’s right, stays right.  And that goes for cowboy hats as well. A cattleman’s pride never changes and the traditional Cattleman crown with a Southwestern brim remains a staple in every true cowboy’ hat rack.

The original cowboys were Civil War soldiers who had no home to return to and started drifting to the west. The West was wide-open territory and these men only owned what they could carry on horseback. Ranchers would hire them to tend to their herds and to round up the wild and loose cattle on the range. When it was time to sell the beef these “cowboys” would round up the herds and drive them to the markets many miles away.

Although the era of the cattle drives only lasted about 30 years, the cowboys who herded those cattle made a huge impression on American History and have been the center of much folklore. The American Hero that we call “cowboy” has less to do with Wranglers, boots, and hats and more to do with a passion for life and for living it to the fullest. We see the “cowboy” as someone who was free to roam the wide open spaces of the Western Prairie with no boundaries or fences to stop him.

Those are the qualities that we hang on to as Americans today. Perhaps that’s why western fashions never go out of style and we still love to listen to country western music. It’s why we collect and cherish the relics and fashions of the days of the cowboy’s west.

However, you don’t need to don a pair of Wranglers and own a cowboy hat or a pair of cowboy boots to live like a cowboy. You don’t even have to listen to country western music.

Living like a cowboy is to always wear the “white hat”, to have that same passion for life and live your life to the fullest. That is the legacy that the cowboys have given us.

Article originally appeared in EZine Articles

Q: What’s a good price for a cowboy hat?

A: What quality level do you want?

Cowboy hats are available in a wide range of prices. As with many items, the quality of the hat generally determines the price. Cowboy hat prices can range from $20 - $4,000. There really is an affordable cowboy hat for everyone!

The material used for hat making often drives the price of the hat. Do you want straw, raffia, wool or the traditional felt?  People usually think of the traditional felt (the fur of animals such as beaver, rabbit etc) cowboy hat first.  The proportion of  beaver fur vs. the rabbit fur in the felt, determines the cost of the felt. The “X” inside the crown of  the hat indicates the quality of the fur that went into it. The greater the “X” the greater the quality (10X hats are of greater quality than 5X hats).  The cost of a standard felt hat can range from $70-$700. The 100% beaver fur hat price starts from $850. The recent rise in the cost of felt cowboy hats is due to scarcity of quality fur.

Cowboy hats feature variations in the crown shapes and brim sizes, which can be reflected in the prices. You can buy a standard hat off-the-shelf or you can design your own custom hat. The choice is yours. Designing your own custom cowboy hat is more affordable than you think. Branded cowboy hats usually maintain high quality. Beaver Brands allows you to combine high quality, custom design and affordability.

Economic cowboy hats are available in material such as straw, raffia, palm leaf etc. While most straw hats are cheaper, designer straw hats worth hundreds of dollars are also available.

It’s classic American Western symbolism — the sheriff (or other “good” guy) wears the spotless  white  cowboy hat as he stands off  against the cattle rustler (or any other “bad” guy) in his traditional black cowboy hat.  While today the symbolism still stands, in daily use the black hat has appeal well beyond its sinister heritage.

Actually, black cowboy hats are a great deal more versatile than just keeping the sun off a villain’s face! If you are interested in a black cowboy hat, you’ll find plenty of options. And whether you are looking for something that will see you through a long cattle drive or you simply want to make a statement on the streets of a busy city, there are options that are available for you!

There are many advantages to wearing a  black cowboy hat. The first thing that you will notice is that when you buy anything in a darker shade, it is usually warmer . The darker the color, the more heat is absorbed. When it comes to headgear, this quite important.  Black cowboy hats can keep you warm on long cold nights or days.

You’ll also find that a cowboy hat done in black is great when it comes to matching with other types of clothing. Black goes with just about everything,

One of the best reasons to wear a black cowboy hat is because of all the accessories that can go along with it. Choose a hat band and trim that express your personality. Whether it is leather or horsehair or silver, there is a hat band out there that will add just the right touch to make your plain black cowboy hat stand out with style. Take some time and really think about what sort of touches you want to add to this all important accessory.

There is a lot to think about when you are thinking of getting a cowboy hat.  Getting a black cowboy hat might be one of the most versatile and engaging things you can do to your wardrobe. Keep in mind that your new hat is a fashion statement, and black simply looks good as well.

Derby’s are one of the most recognized styles of hats in history. It was the first rounded crown hat. Their beginings strectch back to 1850 when the Bowler Family of Southwark (England) designed it for William Coke of Norfolk. In the tradition of the time, the hat was originally named for the person for whom it was designed and, therefore, called a Coke hat. As the hat’s popularity grew, however, it became known as a Bowler hat. In the United States it became known as the “derby hat” and was worn by all classes of tradesmen and artisans. Now there are several varieties of derbies, including the popular Homburg style.

The term fedora is derived from a play by Victorien Sardou.  In the play, a heroine princess named Fedora wore a hat similar to the fedora hat.  The hat was being called fedora in the late nineteenth century, characterized by its front pinched on both sides, its wide brim, and often a hat band.  In the 1920s and 1930s, the hat was thought common to mobsters and gangsters running illegal alcohol and moonshine due to the prohibition.  Modern films like The Untouchables featured several characters wearing fedora style hats, including the main characters of Andy Garcia and Kevin Costner. 

Fedoras are still popular today, though fortunately not often associated with crime or mob activity.

Since its release in 1986, people around the world have been captivated by Mick “Crocodile” Dundee.  Characterized by his outback hat, crocodile skin vest, big knife, and unique outlook on life, the Crocodile Dundee was a big hit at the box office and became a cultural icon for the decade.  In recent years, a follow up film to the original Crocodile Dundee was released, placing the same characters in the urban environment of Los Angeles, though it was met with only moderate success.  Though the crocodile man from down under didn’t fare so well this time, the original films excite and entertain modern audiences as well

Paraphernalia from the show is still popular as it has become a standard stereotype for Australian people.  Though real Australians don’t wear crocodile skin garments and tote large skinning knives, it’s fun to think about people who do. 

A well loved and worn hat will inevitably become stained at some point (even a well made 20X cowboy hat). The key is to treat it kindly and act swiftly to remove the damage. The starting point is, of course, regular maintenance.  Invest in a good soft brush (never stiff — it will tear the fabric) and use it regularly to dust your hat. A dark colored brush works best for dark hats and a light brush on lighter hued hats.

If you prefer, you can use a damp towel with a slight nap to do the same job — rub in circular counter-clockwise motion to remove foreign particles.

A makeup sponge (or any small-pored sponge) works well for stubborn stains.  In a pinch even foam rubber can be used.  The often overlooked advantage of foam rubber is that it is slightly sticky and adheres well to surface soil. Art-gum erasers work well for the same reason … just remember to rub in a counter clockwise motion to the grain.

Staw hats can be kept clean and good looking with a few regular passes of a standard whisk broom.