Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Straw Cowboy Hats: Bargain Fashion

By Ned Dagostino

Strange are the ways of fashion! The protective headgear of the ranch-hand and ranch owner alike more than two centuries ago is still in vogue! Back then its purpose was entirely utilitarian. Today, it's a style and fashion statement! This is the case of the straw cowboy hat.

In fact all types of cowboy hats are making it big on the fashion scene. Handsome hunks sport them, and so do svelte supermodels. They are an enduring symbol of the rough, tough, handsome 'knights' of the Wild West epitomized by such screen legends as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Can you forget that scene between Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef? Central to the scene was a cowboy hat that gets shot up and goes flying up in the air? Fairly makes me tingle, dagnab it!

Among all types of cowboy hats, the straw cowboy hat is by far the most popular. They appear to be the all time favorite of hobby gardeners. Tourists have their pictures taken in them. Going on a picnic? Don't forget to carry your straw cowboy hat! Anything is a good enough reason to wear a straw cowboy hat, especially in the summer.

Do you know why straw is used in cowboy hats? It keeps the weight down. Wearing straw cowboy hats for a long time is not fatiguing at all. Then the woven design helps air to circulate inside the hat, thus keeping the head cool. The wide brim helps to keep the sun's glare from your eyes. Your head is protected from the sun's heat. The only drawback is that it doesn't keep the rain from your head.

The straw cowboy hat can be made from many types of straw. The straw used for making the cowboy hat is not very expensive. Toquilla is a popular variety of straw used in the making of cowboy hats.

The straw cowboy hat made of toquilla is also called a panama hat. That's because panama is very close to Ecuador, the home of the toquilla straw that goes into the making of the panama hat. OK, I agree, someone got a little geographically confused! Thinking of buying a straw cowboy hat? Here's a tip for you: try the gardening section at a department store! The awfully nice thing about these hats, apart from their romantic good looks, is that they don't cost you the earth. They're downright cheap to buy.

Straw cowboy hats are favored over felt or leather cowboy hats for many reasons. The straw cowboy hats are cooler to wear in the blazing summer heat. The straw cowboy hats are much cheaper than the other two. And they do a good job of protecting your head and eyes from the sun. - 16651

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