Western Fashion Trends

There is no accessory that better represents western fashion than the cowboy hat. The very name cowboy hat indicates a man’s hat and yet they are definitely not just for men. Women who sport cowboy hats look tough, capable and ready to take on anything that life might throw at them. Yet at the same time, they show a distinctive sense of style and femininity. The cowboy hat may not be the most fashionable or high style accessory, but every woman to wear it knows that it can make one heck of a statement.

The original cowboy hat was created out of necessity by the cow wranglers spread all over the western plains of the United States. These cowboys travelled over vast tracks of land and were completely exposed to a wide variety of elements from scorching hot sun to unending rain. What eventually developed was the cowboy hat with a wide brim to protect the wearer from the sun and the elements. The first commercially available distinctive cowboy hat is attributed to J.B. Stetson who marketed the “Boss of the Plains” hat, which remains the standard universal image for the cowboy hat. Today’s cowboy hats are modified to create different fashions through changing material, color, and brim or crown shape.

Despite the fact that ranch workers are described as ‘cowboys,’ women also worked out on the ranch and in the sun, wearing much of the same clothing as men, with the single exception of a long skirt and riding sidesaddle. As western culture became more popular and Wild West Shows started traveling the country, women began to modify their garb. Women could be seen sporting split skirts so they could ride astride and more colorful clothing choices in the traditional styles with added sequins, silver and fringe. This style was further refined as cowboy movies became a huge success in popular culture and movie designers developed attractive clothing for their heroines.

Today’s cowboy hat comes in a huge array of styles and choices from straw to felt, black or white to bright pink. Many are tough, functional hats with little decoration that can withstand both the elements and abuse heaped on them in a ranch environment. But now there are also cowboy hats for different events, from rodeos to fashion shows and each represents the wearer’s individual style. But no matter how the details may change, a woman who wears a cowboy hat makes a statement. “I am gutsy, tough, hardworking, and honest, but I am all woman.”