When dressing up for formal or casual get-togethers, a hat remains a great accessory to make a splash and project your personality. With a general decline in the custom of wearing hats in the 21st century, you may not like to go to the trouble and expense of buying several hats. Often, it boils down to choosing one hat to wear on occasions from among the many styles available. The choice, more often than not, is between buying a fedora hat or a cowboy hat since they are unarguably two of the most popular hat styles. Both hats are incredibly versatile and can transform your wardrobe. Read on for more information on both the hats so you can make up your mind easily the next time you go shopping for a hat:
The First Impression
The first difference between a fedora hat and a cowboy is the shape of the brim. While the fedora hat’s brim is turned up both in the front and the back, the cowboy hat is much larger and may be either turned up on the sides or flat. A large-brim fedora can give good protection from the sun, wind, and rain, but if protection from the elements is what you seek, a cowboy hat is a better bet because its brim is larger. A fedora hat is smaller with more compact proportions, which is ideal for formal occasions. The cowboy hat’s flamboyance is perfect for making an impact on casual occasions. However, there are no sharp lines of difference regarding their suitability for use. Increasingly, people are wearing fedoras with smart casuals like a blazer with jeans for informal occasions instead of reserving them for formal business settings.
The Pros and Cons
While both the fedora hat and the cowboy hat are classic icons in the world of fashion, each of them is not perfect and has its benefits and disadvantages. Some of the main advantages of a fedora hat are it goes well with different shapes and sizes of heads, you can turn the brim up or down as you like, the felt or straw construction makes for comfort, and it does a good job of blocking the sunshine. There are not too many disadvantages of fedoras, save that a felt or wool fedora is not suitable for wearing in warm weather. Cotton fedoras are comfortable but do not hold their shape well.
The cowboy hat offers excellent sun protection and is generally lightweight enough for wearing over extended periods. It can take a lot of rough and tumble and holds its shape well. Most importantly, it complements the much-favored western look for standing out in the crowd. Wearing a leather cowboy hat in warm weather may not be an experience you will want to repeat, but those made of straw offer great comfort and sun protection.
Cowboy Hats Explained
The cowboy hat is undoubtedly the most iconic symbol of the western way of life. It has a distinctive and wide brim that curls on the sides and a large crown, the shape of which buyers can suit to their preferences. The cowboy hat was the mainstay of cattlemen and ranchers who wore it for protection from the sun, wind, and rain, not for fashion. However, now more people in the towns wear it as a fashion accessory. According to National Cowboy Museum, John B Stetson invented the original cowboy hat, which featured a tall round crown and a flat brim. While the design of the cowboy hat has evolved, it remains true to its original design and construction. The most preferred material for cowboy hats is straw because of their low weight and breathability.
You can choose from a wide variety of cowboy hats for men. The Cattleman Crease sports a five-inch crown and a medium-width brim. There’s one crease on the top and two on the sides of the crown. The Montana Crease is similar to the Cattleman; however, the indentations on the sides are smaller than the one on the crown. The dent in the center of both the front and the back is more. Other popular cowboy hat styles include the Telescope Gambler Crease and the Pinch Front Crease.
Fedora Hats Explained
A fedora hat has a characteristic teardrop shape. The crown sits low, and the brim is generally medium-sized. A crease runs along the top of the crown to the center. Even though it is not compulsory, most fedora hats sport a hatband, typically made of leather or grosgrain. More than a specific type of hat, most experts agree that in the current context, the fedora is a set of characteristics common to several hat styles. The contemporary customer can choose from many combinations of crown shape, brim width, and material type.
Classic fedora hats are typically fabricated from fur felt, wood, or furs of various small animals like rabbits and hares. If you have a deep pocket, you can hunt for some exclusive ones made from chinchilla fur. Many people prefer wool since it is cheaper than animal fur, is soft, has good looks, and holds shape better. Fedoras made from animal fur felt look great and go very well with formal wear. While rabbit and beaver fur are common, you can choose from many other kinds of more exotic furs. The straw fedora is increasingly becoming popular for wearing on casual occasions, especially in warm climates. The quality and price vary according to the type of straw, uniformity of color, the tightness of the weave, and whether it is handmade or machine-made. The original Panama hat made by the Ecuadorian craftsmen from Toquilla palm leaves remains the most exclusive and expensive.
Conclusion
Though it is foolhardy to recommend one hat over the other, fedora hats work the best for more formal occasions. You can also wear it informally if you get the rest of the attire right. Cowboy hats, on the other hand, make a flamboyant statement, and being discreet is not something they are good at. However, you must wear the cowboy hat following etiquette that preserves the dignity of the wearer and the occasion. Buying a hat of the right size and ensuring you carry it off confidently is vital.
