Cowboy Hats and More

For all of the older gentlemen out there who are looking for a way to feel young again, here are a few holiday gift ideas designed to make them look or feel like the years haven’t taken their toll.

~Custom Fedora Hats – feel like Indiana Jones or Eliot Ness with the classic fedora hat, soon they’ll want a bull whip or a stiff drink to go with it! 

~IPod Touch – these simple music and media devices are great for people of all ages.  With a touch screen, it’s easy to figure out what you want to do, most of the interface is just touch-and-go.

~Multi-Tools – having the latest and coolest multi tool for jobs around the house, camping, or opening a sealed package makes a guy feel valued.

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

Style is important, but fit is critical. Ever notice how well a cowboy’s hat stays on during rodeo events?  Even bull riders rarely loose their hats.  Of course, all hats go flying sometimes, but a good snug fit is essential … and it all starts with proper measurement.  Quality hats keep their size and shape. Here are a few tips on how to make sure that you choose the right size for your your head.

* Measure around your head approximately one finger above the ear and one finger above the eyebrow.
* Measure without any free space.
* Pull measuring tape comfortably snug. Remember, your hat will fit only as tightly as you measure.
* Note the inches and determine the right size using the sizing chart of the brand you intend to buy.
* If your measurement falls between sizes, choose the next largest size.
* To get the right fit, Measure Carefully!

A loose fitting hat is annoying and may blow off easily. If only a small adjustment is needed, placing cardboard or Styrofoam behind the hat’s inner band in the front and rear can sometimes correct the sizing.

Similarly, hats that are too tight may be stretched … a small amount.  Professional hat makers/ shapers can sometime make minor adjustments of one size or less. 

The key is to get the size right the first time. Always pull the measuring tape snugly against your head. Take measurements when your hair is in its usual condition. That is, if your hair is usually thick & curly, don’t measure your hat size when it is thin and straight for a special occasion (unless of course, the hat is for that special occasion).

Building your own cowboy or Western, fedora, or Outback (Aussie) hat is a special treat for someone who wears a hat often.  Cowboy Hats and More allows you to choose your style and color, give your head measurements, and choose the brim style, crown height, or fabric finish of the hat if applicable.  The inner hat band can also be personalized free of charge if you prefer.

A custom cowboy hat is the perfect way to get a hat that really fits you and suits your style and your needs.  Whether it is a dress hat you need or an everyday hat, Cowboy Hats and More can provide the perfect accent to your ensemble.