The Return Of The Wild West! Leather Cowboy Hats For Fashion

Cowboy hats are more than head wear – they epitomize the rugged outdoor life of the cowpunchers of early American history. As protective wear, the hats had to be as rough and tough as the life the cowboys led, exposed to the elements for days and weeks together. Leather and animal skins were the material of choice for hats because other materials were hard to come by in those days. Leather cowboy hats retain the flavor of the Wild West and have become a fashion accessory today. They are versatile enough to provide protection from sun and rain, heat and cold, and do duty as dress head wear for formal and informal occasions. They are durable and comfortable, making them suitable for everyday wear.

Folks living in the Wild West required a hat which would provide them with reliable weather protection from sun, rain, and hot, dusty winds – and which did not require any maintenance. They chose leather as the material for the hat because the other materials available then were just not up to handling all-weather usage. Leather was tough, and weather proof. Natural leather is permeable, it breathes. So the leather cowboy hat kept perspiration from building up on the wearer’s scalp even though he was working all day in the unbearable heat of the Mojave. Leather comes in a wide variety of natural shades: from almost white to almost jet. This degree of comfort with protection with good looks was unmatchable by hats of other materials, the closest competition coming from straw and felt hats.

Cowboy hats of different materials like straw and felt are very popular but those of leather have the best appearance. These hats have what is called ‘character’ which sets them apart from the other varieties. That’s the reason why film stars, singers and celebrities of every hue sport these great looking hats, to be stylish.

Another reason for leather’s dominance is that it is extremely durable in all sorts of weather, and that’s why leather cowboy hats are reliable and effective protection for the wearer in the severest of environmental conditions. Straw is very good and light, but its lightness is its very weakness! It cannot last one season in the rain or snow, and as for the sun, the sunlight and its heat easily pass through the straw weave and affect the wearer’s head! Felt cowboy hats afford much better protection from the weather than straw cowboy hats. But they are hard to maintain. They deform easily when wet, and are prone to breaking up with rough handling. Besides many wearers complain that a felt cowboy hat feels like a cardboard hat! The bottom line is that leather cowboy hats are well worth the high price tag that they come with.

The leather cowboy hat really scores over the other cowboy hats in the care-and-maintenance department. Just dust it off from time to time, and if the grime starts showing, a gentle wipe with a chamois and your favorite leather cleaner will get it clean once again. It is not affected by rain or shine, but if it does get really doused in a water trough, then all you have to do is to shake off the excess water and let it dry naturally. Remember to turn the sweatband outwards so that it can dry as well. That’s all the care and maintenance the leather cowboy hat requires.

Always use a high quality leather cleaner for best results. A high quality leather cleaner will preserve the natural oils found in leather. This will prolong the leather cowboy hat’s life. Get the recommendation of a reliable vendor dealing in high quality leather apparel. To prevent any mishaps, test the cleaning solution on a small part of the hat which cannot be seen.

You may want to get your leather cowboy hat cleaned by a professional cleaning service. Many stores carrying high quality leatherwear provide this service. Store away your leather cowboy hat if you are not going to wear it for some time. Storing it in a cool place away from strong heat and light sources, and away from direct sunlight, will prevent it from losing its shape and color.

Leather cowboy hats are very high-priced when compared to straw and felt cowboy hats. The initial expense is offset by the great good looks of the leather cowboy hat. Secondly, they are very durable, and will easily last a lifetime. Become the cynosure of all eyes – wear a handsome leather cowboy hat!