Straw Cowboy Hats: Bargain Fashion

By Ned Dagostino

The cowboy hat is steeped in the lore of the Wild West! The hat was an essential feature of outdoor life. It protected the cowboy from the weather, and doubled as a temporary vessel for water. More than 150 years ago John Stetson gave the cowboy hat an aura, a branding which has now turned it into a fashion statement. Straw cowboy hats are as popular today as they were two hundred years ago.

Cowboy hats of all pedigree are walking the ramp nowadays. Leather hats, felt hats, ten gallon hats, slouch hats, you name it, they're all seen on the heads of supermodels, superstars and the super-rich! Cowboy hats exude a nostalgic charm which cannot be denied. They're different, though, from their ancestors. Today's cowboy hats come in all colors, and are patterned and decorated as well. You might even get them in pink especially for the ladies!

Among all types of cowboy hats, the straw cowboy hat is by far the most popular. They appear to be the all time favorite of hobby gardeners. Tourists have their pictures taken in them. Going on a picnic? Don't forget to carry your straw cowboy hat! Anything is a good enough reason to wear a straw cowboy hat, especially in the summer.

Do you know why straw is used in cowboy hats? It keeps the weight down. Wearing straw cowboy hats for a long time is not fatiguing at all. Then the woven design helps air to circulate inside the hat, thus keeping the head cool. The wide brim helps to keep the sun's glare from your eyes. Your head is protected from the sun's heat. The only drawback is that it doesn't keep the rain from your head.

The straw cowboy hat can be made from many types of straw. The straw used for making the cowboy hat is not very expensive. Toquilla is a popular variety of straw used in the making of cowboy hats.

The straw cowboy hat made of toquilla is also called a panama hat. That's because panama is very close to Ecuador, the home of the toquilla straw that goes into the making of the panama hat. OK, I agree, someone got a little geographically confused! Thinking of buying a straw cowboy hat? Here's a tip for you: try the gardening section at a department store! The awfully nice thing about these hats, apart from their romantic good looks, is that they don't cost you the earth. They're downright cheap to buy.

Straw cowboy hats are favored over felt or leather cowboy hats for many reasons. The straw cowboy hats are cooler to wear in the blazing summer heat. The straw cowboy hats are much cheaper than the other two. And they do a good job of protecting your head and eyes from the sun. - 29957

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