Cowboy Hats – Facts and Types

It was only in the 15th century that hats started being used as part of the code or used to complement any attire. These hats have evolved over the years and every time it has been tried with different types of materials like taffeta, velvet, silk, wool, felt, and leather.

However, it was found that the materials that you see above were not strong enough to make these hats were sturdy as over time these were subjected to the elements like rain, and snow to be precise and lost their shape and texture.

Interestingly, when hat weavers added beaver fur with felt or mixed felt and rabbit fur, the longevity of these hats was assured as they became weatherproof. Not only that the cowboy hats also retained their shape, which was essentially one of the main requisites.

During the 17th century, it was found that North America had an abundance of beaver and as such, these hats started being made right here.

Types of cowboy hats to explore

There are several hats that you can explore if you are a hat lover and wear often to complement your dress, whether formal or informal.

Aside from the ones that we are seeing here, you can try out leather cowboy hats as well which have always been in fashion and vogue.

You will find that most of the cowboy hats are made up of two materials, either straw or felt. The function of these two materials is different. When is the best time to wear the hats made up of these two materials?

You can wear straw cowboy hats during the summer and felt made cowboy hats can be worn during the winter months. However, at the end of the day, you can always deviate depending on the occasion or your sense of style and fashion. So, there is no specific rule of thumb, although as mentioned above these two materials are best worn during the above-mentioned season.

Some of the hat types are mentioned below which you can try to lay your hands on. These are as follows-

• Straw hats

The origin of straw hats date to many thousands of years ago. You will find that using headgear that is made of lightweight material like straw has always been popular and is also a tradition.

To counter the extremely hot conditions in the desert heat during the Wild West period, these straw hats were made. If your straw hat has a floppy brim with a loose weave, you can use it as a casual hat. It is a style statement and a perfect accessory that you can flaunt during the summer season.

If you want a stylish look, go for the elegant-looking cowboy hats that are tightly woven, have detailed designs, retain the perfect shape, and are sealed for protection.

• Felt hats

Over the years, it has been seen that the felt cowboy hats have served better as compared to the straw cowboy hats. And how was it? The felt material present in the hats kept the head cool during the daytime and it offered warmth during the night.

You will notice that cowboy hats that are made up of felt are classic. You can team up felt with wool, animal fur, or dye them and offer great protection from cold and moisture.

There are a couple of terms that we use for the cowboy hats, regardless of whether they are leather cowboy hats or hats that are made up of straw or felt. Take a look at these terms below. By knowing the terms, it will be easier for you to buy the right one for yourself.

• Crown

The crown as the name suggests is the topmost part of the hat where your head fits in.

• Crease

The crease is that portion of the hat that forms a kind of pinch on top of the hat and is responsible for keeping the crown in shape.

• Brim

This is that portion of the hat that forms the circumference of the hat.

Caring for your hat

If you have a cowboy hat, there are few special instructions that you must follow to improve the longevity of these hats. Let us find out how you must take care of the cowboy hats.

• You must store the hat with the brim of the hat facing up.
• If you want to hold the cowboy hat, grab it by its brim. At no point in time must you grab it with the crown.
• If you are using a cowboy hat that is made up of straw or wool, remember, it can hold moisture but you must let it dry adequately.

Taking care of your leather cowboy hats can increase the longevity of the same.

John is a Business Tech Analyst. He is very responsible towards his job. He loves to share his knowledge and experience with his friends and colleagues.