Western hat and rugged face
What better way to describe the appearance of a true cowboy than with these two characteristic features? And of course, this is no coincidence.
Although the rugged face merely reveals grooming habits of the time, the history of the Western or cowboy hat holds much more fascination.
Nyugodtan kimondhatjuk: több száz éves történelemre tekint vissza az a tény, hogy az emberek fejében ez a ruhadarab ma már szorosan hozzátartozik a cowboyokhoz, és tágabb értelemben az USA délnyugati lakóihoz, észak Mexikóhoz és nyugat Kanadához, illetve a rodeósokhoz a countryénekesekhez és ki tudja még kihez.
We can confidently say that this headwear has a history spanning several centuries, tightly associated with cowboys, the inhabitants of the American Southwest, northern Mexico, western Canada, rodeo performers, country singers, and who knows who else.
Like many things in that region, it all started with the Spaniards who introduced the predecessor of the flat-topped sombrero to Mexico. From there, the vaqueros (local cattle herders) shaped it into the familiar round-topped sombrero we know today.
Of course, this style of hat underwent various influences, such as the "hardee" hat shape used by the United States Cavalry, until it took on the well-known appearance that suited local needs and tastes, providing protection against sun rays and raindrops.
The first true Western-style model, known as the "Boss of the Plains," was designed and manufactured by John Batterson Stetson in 1865. These hats had a flat brim, straight-sided crown, and were made of tightly compressed animal fur, making them lightweight and highly waterproof. The brim width and crown height were both 4 inches.
Since Stetson initially designed hats of a single style, he expanded his offerings by focusing on the quality of materials used. The range varied from the simplest $5 hat to the high-quality $30 felt hats made of beaver fur.
Another common name for cowboy hat style, popularized around 1925, is the "Ten gallon hat." However, this name emerged from a misunderstanding or mishearing. It is an error to think that it refers to the hat's capacity because it is approximately 3 gallons or about 3 liters.
n reality, the name comes from the Spanish phrase "10 galón," which refers to the number of hatbands. However, when the name was translated into English, the meaning got lost.
Did you know?
A high-quality cowboy hat made of quality material is so waterproof that you can use it as a bucket and even measure water with it. In Stetson's early advertisements, they often depicted cowboys using their hats to water their horses.
Modern cowboy hats are typically made of fur-based felt, leather, or straw, adorned with a narrow band or decorative patterns.
Canadian-style leather cowboy hats were usually made from accessible leather, primarily from cattle, but occasionally bison hide was also used.
As embellishments, you can find leather bands, braided leather, or Native American concho decorations on the hatband. In some cases, embroidery or leather overlays make the crown distinctive. These overlays are often crafted from exotic skins like snakeskin or alligator.
Felt or fur hats are usually sold with a high, round crown and a wide, flat brim that can be shaped according to individual preference after steaming. After shaping, the sides of the brim can be easily folded up, and the crown can be molded to preserve its new form after drying. It's worth mentioning that different regions and even individual ranches had such well-defined and distinct hat styles and shaping traditions that an expert could instantly tell where the wearer's hat originated.
Of course, the Western hat is not exclusively for men. Let's not forget about cowgirls who have also worn this practical headwear since the beginning! Today, the hat market offers numerous styles and sizes specifically designed for Western-loving ladies. Additionally, there are also children's sizes available.
The popularity of cowboy hats and their success today can be attributed to the contribution of many well-known individuals. Just think of Ronald Reagan's portrayals in movies, Buffalo Bill Cody, Tom Mix, or John Wayne's roles, the uniforms of the Texas Rangers, and the figures of Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower.
And now that we have recalled these great individuals, we only have one thing left to do: retrieve our own western hats - or if we don't have one, acquire one quickly - and with our most masculine gaze, let's put away the razor for a few days...
