Monday, December 29, 2008

Look Great In A Straw Cowboy Hat, At A Bargain

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!

The busiest type of cowboy hat is the straw cowboy hat. It sees duty in all walks of life. Politicians wear them for their electoral campaigning. The folks who turn up at these campaigns wear them. The campaign staff wears them. It's so popular with the gardening community that it is available in the gardening section of large stores right there by the secateurs. What's the right gear for touring? A camera, florid shirt and a straw cowboy hat!

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.

Actually toquilla straw is made from the bark of a palm tree that is found in Ecuador. Ecuador and Panama are neighbors. So, most people call the toquilla straw cowboy hat a panama hat. Panama hats are so popular with gardeners that you can pick one up in the gardening section of any large store. Their popularity is often attributed to their price, which is very, very low.

To recap, a straw cowboy hat is a great looking piece of headwear! There's a sense of history and nostalgia and romance all wrapped up in that li'l ol' straw cowboy hat. It has matured into a high fashion accessory. Apart from the fashionablenss, straw cowboy hats are airy and cool to wear. They are light in weight. Best of all they are so very cheap to buy. Needless to say, the straw cowboy hat is able to function as a protective gear for your head and eyes. - 15359

About the Author: