It is rumored that the chosen day of January 15th for National Hat Day was inspired by a court date. In 1797, a London man by the name of John Hetherington caused a scene by wearing the first top hat in public, leading to a “disturbance of the peace” and a January 15 court date.
Today, the holiday celebrates hats. And whether or not the court date rings true, National Hat Day is a yearly reminder to commemorate the true reason behind cowboy hats.
For ranchers and working cowboys, cowboy hats are more than a fashion statement, they’re functional tools. In fact, a cowboy hat can even be considered a tax write-off as part of a work uniform.
The brim of cowboy hats, the flatter exterior closest to the face, protects against harsh inclement weather. In the summer, the brim acts as a shade, and in the winter, it shields against snowfall. The crown of cowboy hats, the rounded top, encapsulates heat to keep cowboys warm in the cold. In the summer, cowboys will wear straw hats with ventilation that allow air flow. (When do cowboys make the switch from felt to straw? Read more.)
A cowboy hat is fundamentally a tool for cowboys, and some bronc stompers will even use it as encouragement. And yet, it's also a deeply personal statement of style.
“By the time a cowboy gets to be 25 years old he’s developed his own look. After that he’ll crease his hat the same till he dies,” said Joel Nelson of the O6 Ranch, in Last of a Breed: Portraits of Working Cowboys.
Cowboy hats can be personalized to each wearer. Through a process called shaping, felt cowboy hats are steamed, which then makes the felt malleable. Hat shapers can leave indents and creases to the wearer’s liking, which stay after the felt cools and dries.
Brim and crown shapes are based on the individual’s preference, but sometimes geographics have influence. For instance, South Texas cowboys are known to have their brims “pointed towards the herd,” creating a narrow brim with a subtle “smile.” California and Nevada cowboys pull Vaquero influences. Their brims might be wider and flatter, from the inspiration of sombreros.
Hat shape is so significant to cowboy culture that nicknames such as “flat hatter,” and the traditional “ten gallon hat” exist.
For cowboys, the cowboy hat is more than a tax write-off or an illustration of style. It represents the paradox of their life: ethereal beauty and the continual hardship of their lifestyle. They see the best country and the worst weather, the gift of life and the tragedy of loss, and time-honored traditions and ridicule of modern sentiments.
This National Hat Day, take a moment to appreciate the practicality and artistry behind the cowboy hat. It’s a piece of gear as functional as it is iconic.