Help with Purchasing a Cowboy Hat

[jive1]

Don't laugh, but I have a gig coming up where I will need a cowboy hat. I don't have one, and this dyed-in-the-wool Yankee has no clue about them. I don't have much to spend, so if y'all have any suggestions, I could use the help.

[guy n. cognito]

Toby Keith had a line of cowboy hats if you're going for that modern douchebag look. Ironically, most of his models are made in China.......

[vbsurfer3001]

Leather :-)

[Phalex]

First off, you gotta decide on if you're a black hat kinda guy or a white hat kinda guy. Actually, I think you're more of a pink fuzzy hat kinda guy, but that may not be the image you're trying to project.

I think cowboy hats look best when they are beat to crap. Get a straw one and let your kid and your dog play with it for several days.

[Fat.Mike]

Stetson or Resistol. A basic beaver hide Stetson will run between $100-200 but last forever and look good doing it! Resistols and others can run even more ($500+). Of course if you want to go cheaper, western wear stores have hats in the $25-100 range; most would be straw or a cheaper material.

Good stores would be Drysdales, Sheplers, or Cavenders. I don't know the Western scene in VA, but all of those places have online stores (and multiple locations around OK) .

When you go to shape it, think John Wayne, Bill Monroe, or Clint Eastwood; NOT, (repeat) NOT like Kid Rock! (edit) Or Toby Keith!!! I'm ashamed that guy is from my state!

Regards,

Mike

[jive1]

Originally Posted by Phalex

First off, you gotta decide on if you're a black hat kinda guy or a white hat kinda guy. Actually, I think you're more of a pink fuzzy hat kinda guy, but that may not be the image you're trying to project.

I think cowboy hats look best when they are beat to crap. Get a straw one and let your kid and your dog play with it for several days.

High dollar casual gig. I don't think pink fuzzy, straw, or leather will work.

Am I gonna have to get the western shirt and bolo tie too?

[onosson]

I know nothing about this, but I have a great leather Australian cowboy hat, it's fantastic all-weather headgear, rain or snow, and looks great on stage too.

[Relic]

You're a derby guy, Jive. Don't fight it, just embrace it. Be the derby

[jive1]

Originally Posted by Fat.Mike

Stetson or Resistol. A basic beaver hide Stetson will run between $100-200 but last forever and look good doing it! Resistols and others can run even more ($500+). Of course if you want to go cheaper, western wear stores have hats in the $25-100 range; most would be straw or a cheaper material.

Good stores would be Drysdales, Sheplers, or Cavenders. I don't know the Western scene in VA, but all of those places have online stores (and multiple locations around OK) .

When you go to shape it, think John Wayne, Bill Monroe, or Clint Eastwood; NOT, (repeat) NOT like Kid Rock! (edit) Or Toby Keith!!! I'm ashamed that guy is from my state!

Regards,

Mike

Dang, it looks like all my gig money will be going to a cowboy hat.

How do you shape a hat so that it stays that way?

[jive1]

Originally Posted by Relic

You're a derby guy, Jive. Don't fight it, just embrace it. Be the derby

I actually own a derby. Unfortunately, this gig calls for a cowboy hat. Too bad I'm not in a Clockwork Orange tribute band.

[MJ5150]

How much DO you have to spend? I paid over $200 for my Resistol about 20 years ago.

-Mike

[richnota]

ask the man with the yellow hat.

[Smokin' Toaster]

Originally Posted by jive1

High dollar casual gig. I don't think pink fuzzy, straw, or leather will work.

Am I gonna have to get the western shirt and bolo tie too?

...and a belt buckle as big as a Caddy hubcap!!

[jive1]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

How much DO you have to spend? I paid over $200 for my Resistol about 20 years ago.

-Mike

I'd like to spend $20, but could expand to $50. I don't see myself wearing it that often.

I just don't want to look ridiculous. I know, probably a lost cause.

[vbsurfer3001]

Evilbay used if you have the time... Thrift shop if you don't

[Phalex]

Cowboy Boots, Western Wear, Wrangler & Levis Jeans, Ariat & Justin Boot, Cowboy Hats, Work Boots - Sheplers Everyday Free Shipping

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by jive1

I'd like to spend $20, but could expand to $50. I don't see myself wearing it that often.

I just don't want to look ridiculous. I know, probably a lost cause.

You can get a cowboy hat for $20-50 that won't look ridiculous. As Fat.Mike mentioned, it won't be high quality materials, but for a one time gig, that doesn't matter.

With Halloween around the corner, maybe WalMart has some costumes out by now. Here where I live, we have a costume rental shop. Maybe there is one by you that will rent you a hat for the gig?

-Mike

[Fat.Mike]

They use steam to shape them. If you have a local hat store they could most likely do it for you. All of the western stores usually do it for free. I sometimes forget I live in one redneck @$$ state, and that western stores, hats, boots, stockyards, ranches, eating cows you know the name of, etc. are a regional phenomenon.

[gttim]

Go to a local western wear shop (Google is your friend) and look at straw and felt hats. You can get a basic straw hat for $25 and a felt for a little over $50. No need spending a ton of money for a prop, cowboy.

[gttim]

Got boots?