Iconic Hats - The Cowboy Hat

[An article in a series about Iconic Hat Styles]

Although related to the American West. probably the cowboy hat is not an American invention. There is no doubt that there was great hats with brims and large crowns popular in Mexico, come from Spain to Mexico, long before "the American West was won." Historians of the origins in Spain before the European invasions by the very reaches riders from Mongolia. However, as has all styles, variationsNotables such as John B. Stetson, has to bring new iterations on this old theme, and what we now know as the cowboy hat has been inextricably linked with a place and time.

The American West in both facts and legends, it was (and is filled to a large extent still is) with these hats. John B. Stetson - the style, and his name has become synonymous with - the introduction of "The Boss of the Plains" and became a multi-millionaire. His story is the American legend and is reminiscent of an intersection, the personality of the real lifeJohnny Appleseed and the fictional characters created by Horatio Alger. Stetson's rags beginning of 1906 ends with a death, when his factory was turning four million cowboy hats a year. Here is a hat, which was suitable for its surroundings. The wide brim and high crown protect the cowboy from the elements - sun, rain, hail, snow, dust, mosquitoes and flies, and low branches. He could carry water in his hat, or use it to his horse or cow whip. And, of course, those big, beautiful hats, shortThus became his sartorial art piece de resistance, when the ladies of the court.

From the beginning, the style of notables such as The Texas Rangers, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show was picked up, Annie Oakley, and George Custer wore a Stetson when he and his fate at Little Big Horn. When the film came, Tom Mix, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, and of course, John Wayne, all persons who are separated from the hat. Politicians such as Lyndon B. Johnson, RonaldReagan and George W. Bush now, are happy to wear their western hats, where they connect with both their home countries and the values of the Old West. The style is always tweaked by designers and milliners, and often the leading style of the moment for women. Now is such a time.

The film Runaway Bride came at about the same time, the pop stars Madonna and Mary Blige wore cowboy hats on stage and the fashion trend reached aTurning point and simply cut off. Around the world will come and go is the popular style, the essence of fashion trends, but when and where the cowboy hat and what it symbolizes, will be etched forever in history.