The American culture is strongly embedded in western style of life. It reminds one of pictures of expansive territories and rough people. You could be traveling to Nashville country music festival or go to a ranch in Texas. You may simply wish to bring out a vintage touch in your day to day dressing. An insight into the cowboy hat wearing is inevitable in mastering this classic appearance. It is not all about the fact of having a piece of felt or straw on your head. It is concerning the respect to the long tradition and knowledge of the unwritten rules of the western fashion. The western wear is very serious among people of the United States. An aptly put hat is a sign of appreciation of the culture and an added confidence. This is a guide on the newcomer to everything about wearing this iconic American fashion. You will get to know of the right fit and materials on offer. You will also be able to know the necessary etiquette rules to be adhered to by every hat owner.
The Principles of Fitness and Positioning.
The most significant process of learning how to wear a cowboy hat is getting the fit. An ill-fitting hat will make one look clumsy and very uncomfortable. It may fly away in the air or it may make you a great headache. First of all, you should begin to measure your head by a flexible tape measure. Take the tape measure and wrap it round your head at the very spot where you want the hat to be. This is normally an inch or two fingers on top of your eyebrows and over your ears. As a guideline, you are supposed to have the tape level around your head in order to have the right number. The next thing to do is to go to a sizing chart to get the right one. Having made the right size you must know how to wear it on your head. Novices have the habit of wearing their hats in backward positions. It is always necessary to look inside the crown and then put it on. The inner sweatband always has a small bow almost attached to it. You have to always remember to put your bow in the back of your head. In case there does not exist a bow which you can look at the brand name or the size tag to indicate the back. The top of the brim is normally a little narrower and is more curved down on the front than on the back. When putting on or removing the hat, you should have the hat in the position which is close to the crown. You wish the hat to be there very comfortably on your forehead. It must be tight, however you should not have a deep red mark on your body. When you can squeeze a finger between the sweats band and the head of the hat, then the hat is too large. When it seems like a vice here it is too small.
Wearing Your Hat to the Right Occasion.
The various events in the country demand various kinds of western wear. You would not put on tuxedo in a baseball game. A dirty work hat is not something that should be put on to a formal wedding. The knowledge on how to wear a cowboy hat also entails the knowledge of what hat to wear to what event. Another hat that is ideal in formal occasions is a classic felt hat either black or dark brown. These fine hats will be found on the western wedding and country events at the high end such as Dallas or Denver. They appear well dressed in a pressed suit or clean shirt made of pearl snaps. In more relaxed occasions you can be as free to express yourself as far as your personal style is concerned. Outdoor festivals and country music concerts are the ideal locations where the experimentation with respect to shapes and colors can be conducted. You have options of a hat with a hatband or a more casual shape of the brim. Another best place to wear your western headwear would be in Rodeos. These events will have a combination of work hats and fashionable statement outfits. In case you are literally working in a ranch or farm you require a hardy hat. The work hats are supposed to be the ones that suffer the sun and dirt. They may not be that attractive but they give the much needed safeguards against the severity of the weather. Having two hats in your wardrobe is what you should have provided that you wear them frequently. One good hat should be kept in a nice occasion and another hat is a rugged one which is used on a daily outdoor activity. This will make you be prepared to any situation always.
Learning the Hat Etiquette and Rules.
The western culture has been constructed on respect and courtesy. The laws are very strict on the time you can wear your head wear and when you are to remove it. All the real gentlemen and ladies are expected to be aware of these rules of etiquette. You should never keep off your hat when the National Anthem is played. The right hand should be the one that holds it to the heart. You should also remove it when you are praying or it is going by in a parade and the American flag. This demonstrates high respect to your country and your people. Wearing western head wear also has indoor etiquette as another significant aspect. There is a broad guideline that you have to take off your hat when you are in a personal house. You should also take it out when you are having a meal in a restaurant. Others who may be casual diners or fast food establishments may be more relaxed but it is always better to have it off. It can be left unattended in most instances in the lobby or lifts of buildings. It is even something you can wear when you are at a bar or a dance hall. In case you encounter an older person or someone you are supposed to respect, you need to tip your hat. You do so by lightly patting the edge of the brim which is facing forward using fingers. When meeting someone, you should take the hat off all the way and shake hands as a sign of courtesy in the case of the first time of meeting him or her. These are the easiest guidelines to follow to gain respect within any western society in the United States.
Selecting the correct Material of the Season.
The weather has the biggest influence regarding the way to wear a cowboy hat. The seasonal rule is extremely strict and followed by the majority of the traditionalists. This principle is quite close to old principle of wearing white shoes. You have felt hats in the winter time and you have straw hats in the summer time. The date of transition is normally associated with the great American holidays. You put your felt hat up and bring out your straw hat in Memorial Day of May. The first thing is you change back to your warm felt hat in September at Labor Day. The felt hats are normally crafted out of beaver fur or rabbit fur or wool. The best quality fur is the beaver fur, and is quite impervious to the rain. Wool is cheaper but in case it becomes too wet it loses its shape. Felt is also warmer and will keep your head quite warm even on the bitter winter days of the states such as Montana or Wyoming. Straw hats would be very necessary when one is in the southern states to survive the scorching heat. They are easy to carry and permeable. They enable the wind to cool the head and the unpleasant sun will not burn the face and neck. Another item that is very good during summer is palm leaf hats. They are very strong and can easily be reshaped by means of getting them wet. You will at once outshine among the crows, when you put on a heavy black felt hat in the middle of a July in Texas. It is important to dress according to the season so as to be comfortable as well as look natural.
Looking after Your Western Headwear.
Your hat is an investment that would last long as long as it is well maintained. It is not something that you can leave in the corner of a room and wake up the following day and find it attractive. The rule of hat care is most significant in terms of the way to put it down. You should never have your hat lying on the edge. This will soon distort the form of the brim, and destroy the appearance. This you must always place your hat upside down on its top. This shields the frail bends of the rim. You must also spend some money on a nice hat brush to have your felt look good. It must be brushed frequently to get dust and dirt. You are supposed to brush in a counter clockwise direction beginning at the front and rounding the crown and the brim. In case your felt hat is wet in the rain then you should shake off the water. It is necessary to allow it to dry under natural temperature. Hair dryer or placing it close to a heater should never be used since the heat will make the sweatband smaller. The straw hats are simpler to take care of, but they would crack in case they become too dry. A wet cloth can be used to wipe a straw hat to have removed the sweat and dirt. When not in use, you are expected to store all your hats in a cool and dry place, and not in direct sunlight. Their best way of keeping them in their perfect shape is to keep them in a good hat box so that they can last years without losing their shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Would I not be able to make my own hat at home? Yea you can make your own hat at home by steaming. You may put the rim over a kettle of boiling water until the material will be soft and pliable. Then you can use your hands to put the brim into a shape of your desire. One should keep the shape until the material cools and hardens once more.
What is the most popular shape of the brims? The traditional and the most popular one is the Cattleman crease. It has one crease on the mid crown and two dimples on the sides. The brim is normally a little curved upwards on the sides. The traditional style is a great way of wearing on nearly all shapes of the face and can be used at any event.
Is it appropriate that my hat should suit my boots? Your hat is not necessarily required to match your pair of boots but it is a good fashionable touch. Black hat and black boots do make a very sharp and coherent appearance. It is possible to blend brown colours provided that they go well with each other. What is needed the most is the fact that the whole ensemble seems to be one and comfortable.
Is it possible to have females wearing similar styles as men? Absolutely yes. The western wear is mostly unisex. There are lots of women who are dressed in Cattleman or Pinch Front. There are also styles that are made in specific designs of women with slightly smaller crowns or wider brims yet the traditional designs are so popular and used by all.
What makes me know whether my hat is of good quality? On felt hats you must look on the X rating in the crown. An increased number of Xs is usually an indicator of increased percentage of quality fur such as beaver. In case with straw hats you need to consider the tightness of the weave. The higher the weave, the higher the durability would be and the higher the sun protection quality would be.
Final Thought
The process of knowing how to wear a cowboy hat is a satisfying one as it links you to a rich tradition of the Americans. It makes a mere garment a declaration of the self-confidence and casual masculinity. It is necessary not to forget that you need to pay attention to finding the ideal fit and select the material to wear during the season. You will also need to adhere to the etiquette laws that have been in existence for many years, which constitute the western culture. It does not matter whether you are enjoying an evening on a dusty ranch working hard or dancing to a country concert your hat will be of good service. Wear your headwear and carry it with your head so high and so well everywhere you go.
