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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

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

By Ned Dagostino

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.

Leather is a natural material, and has a tendency to take the shape of the wearer's head with time, giving a comfortable fit. Unlike felt and fabric, it is wrinkle resistant, and retains its shape and size for its lifetime. It breathes well preventing perspiration from building up in the scalp, yet it stops cold winds from affecting the wearer's head. Hence it is comfortable wear in all seasons and weather conditions. Available in many natural shades from black to tan to light buff it complements the wearer's complexion and hair tone.

Cowboy hats made of materials other than leather are available. Of these the straw and felt cowboy hats are very popular. Although they have their own good qualities, the leather cowboy hat stands head and shoulders above them. Maybe that's why rock stars, pop stars, society's movers and shakers, both ladies and gents, all dress up with this piece of elegant masculine haute couture.

Straw cowboy hats can't be worn in the rain and snow, and strong sunlight (and its heat) can penetrate the straw fibers. As a result, straw cowboy hats are not a good choice for inclement weather conditions. The other popular choice in cowboy hats, felt hats, do give good protection from all but the extremist weather conditions. Felt cowboy hats lack the natural feel of leather. They give the wearer the impression that he's wearing a cardboard hat on his head! They have a propensity to get deformed, and if the deformation is excessive, felt cowboy hats crack and break. Leather cowboy hats weather well, age well and wear well. They provide reliable protection from all climes and require little or no care and maintenance. Thus, they are well worth their price, even considering they're quite a bit more expensive than the other varieties.

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.

A leather cleaner is recommended for getting grime out of the grain of the leather cowboy hat. Choose a high quality cleaner which is formulated to maintain the natural oils in the leather itself. The natural oils prolong the leather's life and hence, the hat's life. Ask a reliable vendor of high quality leather wear about the best leather cleaner for your hat. Always make it a point to test the cleaner on a hidden patch, before using it on the whole hat.

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!

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