H by Hudson shows us just how a distressed shoe should look with the Alaska flat saddle ankle boot. The dark rich leather used for the uppers are sealed into a casual, open lacing style, and finished with a soft wash. A moderate, stacked wooden heel gives you sturdy support on the feet, completing the look. Available from gravitypope.
The Western Cowboy Hat is probably the most defining piece of equipment in Western wear. Today, Cowboy Hats for most people are simply a fashion statement. However, in the earlier days they were a functional piece of equipment with a wide brim to protect cowboys from the sun and rain. They were also used to fan a campfire, signal others, swat a horse or filled with water to give your horse a drink.
There are many styles and manufacturers of hats. Probably the most famous is the Stetson. John Batterson Stetson was an eastern man, born into a hat making family, who made his way west. He developed a reputation for making durable, quality hats and manufactured the Ten-Gallon hat in 1865. There are many other manufacturers of quality hats such as Resistol, Bailey and others.
Hats are generally made from felt (Beaver and/or Rabbit fur), Wool or Straw. Cost can run anywhere from $20 to $4000. Price is usually determined by the amount of beaver fur versus the rabbit fur in the hat. This is denoted by the X marking usually seen on the inside of the crown. The higher the X number, the more expensive the hat will be. But it also will be more durable and have a much smoother softer feel. A good quality hat can last for 20 years to a lifetime because of the durability of beaver fur. Straw hats will have a much shorter lifespan.
To determine the size of a hat you would take the size number of the hat, for instance size 7, times 3.145 (22″). A head that is 23 1/3″ in circumference is 23 1/3″ divided by 3.145 which gives 7.4. The closest hat size to this is 7 3/8. Of course, this does vary a little bit depending on the manufacturer.
Hats should be stored properly to insure that they keep their shape and durability. Avoid laying the hat on the brim. If you must lay it down for a short period of time, always lay it upside down resting on the crown or hang it on a hook so that they brim is not touching anything. For long term storage, the best solution is to keep it in a hat box or make a cardboard ring that the crown will fit down inside of.
Always store your hat in a cool, dry environment. Heat and moisture will potentially cause the hat to lose its shape. The worst place for a cowboy hat is in the backseat window of a hot car or truck.
Felt hats were designed to be used in the rain; that was part of their original function. Straw hats can handle a brief amount of rain, but both kinds will need some care to keep them from losing their shape.
If your felt hat gets wet, turn down the sweat band and stand it on a level surface right side up on the sweat band. Do not use heat to aid the drying as it will cause the leather sweat band to shrink. Make sure the brim does not touch any surface as pressure of any kind on a wet hat will leave its mark when the hat is dry. You would do the same for a straw hat, except to use a dry cloth to wipe off excess moisture first. A good idea is to protect a hat from water damage by using a non-silicone based protector. Spray it on and then lightly brush it into the felt before it dries.
If your hat does get some rain spotting after it dries, you can use a felt hat cleaning sponge to remove the stains. For keeping felt hats clean, brushes work well. Hats should be brushed regularly with a brim brush to remove dust and dirt. If your hat gets really soiled and stained it would probably be best to have a professional clean and reshape it. They can bring a really hopeless looking hat back to life.