In Asia where most countries depend on rice as the most significant part of their meal, straw hats became a tradition for hardworking farmers to protect them under the harsh sun due to all day farming. These traditional hats retain their designs and elements although modern hatters transformed a simple straw hat into one of a fashion necessity just like straw hats for women.

Modern straw hats for women are still made to protect the head, face and neck from the sunlight and as a form of fashion statement as well.

Straw hats are made from woven straws or reeds. Most of straw hats are formed in a similar way like those felt hats. The straw were softened by submerging it in a hot water then shaped into a hat using the bare hands of a skilled hat maker.

Most expensive straw hats for women are made from finer class of straw which makes for a more consistent weave and elegant style. Larger straw hats for women are more expensive since it takes more time and effort to create it.

Tips on How to Wear Straw Hats for Women

Cowboy hats existed in the early 1860′s and these were commonly worn by men working in ranches of North America, Mexico, Canada and even early country singers. Back then cowboy hats were made for the optimum function of protection against the heat of the sun and shield against drops of rain.

Today not only men are capable of wearing these masculine hats. Modern hat makers took risks and started producing cowgirl hats for women. Cowboy and cowgirl hats for women are spotted today not only in the wild wild west, you can also see them in the heads of Americans walking in the sunny streets of Los Angeles.

Hats were invented to provide warmth in a cold weather like a chullo (hat with ear flops made from sheep wool commonly worn by Peruvian and Bolivian), shield against falling debris like a hard hat, protection against the intense sunlight like a simple baseball cap and as a status symbol just like the montera (crocheted hat worn by bullfighters).

The traditional hats were pushed to the next level by modern hat makers. Philip Treacy is known for making out of this world hat designs which creations were spotted in the royal wedding of William and Kate and in the set of Sex and The City. Lots of embellishments were added and brims were widened calling it the wide brim hats.

Wide brim hats are a necessity in every women’s closet nowadays. Aside from its very chic and fashionable, it is a great armor against the harsh sun.  Wide brim hats cover your neck, ears and entire face. Wide brim hats are also useful in parties held at an open area like a garden wedding, sudden rain can protect your mascara from smudging.

Black or white colored wide brim hats put a drama in funerals, drama in a good fashion statement way.  Wide brim hats ensembles elegance, you do not need to put extra effort with your accessories anymore. Wide brim hats are also a perfect solution for women having a bad day, just roll your hair, tie it in a pony tail and put it under your hat then voila! You have a neat and slick look.

Wide Brim Hats Phenomena: Elegant Tips in Wearing Them

Wide brim hats can literally make or break an outfit. They are one of the outrageous hats that when worn in the right way, you can make people’s head turn. But if worn the wrong way, you will be arrested by the fashion police.

Tying your hair in a bun and securing it under the brim is a neat and sexy look most especially when wearing strapless dresses. This look will give definition to your shoulders and you’ll surely be getting lot’s of compliments to different strangers in any party.

Having curly and wavy hair takes lot of time to style which includes towel drying of the hair, application of mousse then drying it with a hair dryer. But what are you going to do when the party starts in 30 minutes and you still ain’t got everything set? Pull your hair onto one sides then secure it with some hair pins most especially at the back portion of the hair. And for the last touch put one of your wide brim hats on. Warning, this look only works for curly and wavy hair.  It wont look good on straight hairs.

Wide brim hats aren’t only for formal occasions. Wide brim hats can also be playful and casual like those designed for outdoor activities like beach picnics, biking or a normal stroll in the park. It is the time where you could just put on those wide brim hats of yours while letting your hair down to give you a more casual and laid back look.

Everybody loves wholesale items compared to retail ones. You could get a product with a huge discount by buying bundles or bulk orders.  Wholesale commodities are usually composed of 6 to 12 similar items, and sometimes there’s color variation just like wholesale cowboy hats.

You can buy a high quality made cowboy hats around $30 to $60, but in wholesale you could get 12 sets of cowboy hats for more than half the price. Wholesale cowboy hats are a perfect solution as gifts this coming Christmas or for costumes and weddings.  Some companies even offer extra freebies like discount on accessories, free belt or free shipping for some online stores.

Reminders When Buying Wholesale Cowboy Hats

When measuring not only the head part, always start on the middle and work your way around to get the entire circumference. The process will be easier with a tape measure, but if no tape measure is around you could use a ribbon or the tie of a rubber shoes then measure it using a ruler afterwards. Measuring for childrens cowboy hats can be easy since they are at the age where they start to behave unlike toddlers and infants. Just tell them to stay still during the whole measuring process so that it would be accurate.

Here are the possible interpretations of your measurement reading.

Childrens cowboy hats  Sizing Chart

19-19 3/4″…………… 6 1/4 or CHILD (50)

20 1/4″…………………6 3/8 or CHILD (51)

21″ ……………………..6 1/2 or CHILD (52)

21 1/4″ ………………..6 5/8 or CHILD (53)

Good thing about childrens cowboy hats is that they could use it up to their teenage years, so it is quite important to use more mature designs for them. They might be fond of wearing Jessie and Woody childrens cowboy hats today but not after 5 years.

Tips in Wearing Childrens Cowboy Hats

No one can tell for sure when the first hats existed in this planet. However it is certain that the prehistoric men wore head covers using animal skins. Different styles of hats serves different purposes like fashion, protective covering and warmth during cold winter days. Among the first styles of hats are the Phrygian cap which is also known as the liberty cap, these were worn by slaves in Greece and Rome when they first celebrated their freedom.

In 1529, Millener, the maker of women’s hats, began crafting women’s headgear in the late 17th century. Women’s styles of hats were not overtaken by the designs of early men’s hats. Instead early women’s hats were designed for fashion, class and glamour.  Milan, one of the fashion capitals, added ribbons, matching gloves and straws to their 17th century styles of hats. As fashion continues to flounder, hats became bigger together with its ensembles (flowers, ribbons, feathers and tulle).

They say that the earliest hat ever recorded was invented in 7500 BC in  Çatal Höyük. In the United States, John Batterson Stetson is the first person to invent and sold his first styles of hats in Central City, Colorado. He is well known for his wide brimmed high crowned crafts which he named “Boss of the Plains” which now known as the “ten-gallon cowboy hat”.  Stetson, the brand name of the manufactured hats, is still existing to day as one of the most trusted hat makers.

Today there are lots of famous hat makers like London hatters James Lock&Co of St Jame’s Street London, Sharp & Davis of 6 Fish Street Hill and David Shilling. Elvis Pompilio and Fabienne Delvigne are Belgian hat makers whose designs are being spotted worn by European royalties. Another hat makers who is most trusted by royalties is award winning Irish milliner Philip Treacy.

Styles of Hats Around the Globe

There are lots of interesting styles of hats you can find in the world almanac. But one thing is certain, each styles of hats are made according to their culture and the environment they live in. The following are the uniquely designed hats found all over the globe.

• Ayam from Korea is a traditional hat for women to keep them warm during winter.
• Bearskin from Buckingham Palace are the tall, furry, full dress uniform hats worn by Brigade of Guards.
• Beret from France are usually made from wool felt. It is a soft round hat with a flat crown  which is worn by both men and women. This hat symbolizes early French tradition.
• Capotain from England and Northwestern Europe most commonly known as a Pilgrim hat already made its way to the heads of Englishman since the early 1590s.
• Chilote cap from Chiloe Archipelago was made from raw wool to maintain warmth and it usually has a pompom on top.
• Taqiyah is the round cap made from fabric which is worn by Muslim men.
• Salakot from the Philippines are traditional hats made from rattan. These hats are worn by the farmers to protect them from intense heat of the sun while planting rice.

The cowboy hat phenomena in the United States had open doors to different manufacturers for them to exhibit their potentials in cowboy hat craftsmanship. The first creations of John B. Stetson’s cowboy hats which designs were limited only for men of different status were now transformed to widen their target market. Today different cowboy hat manufacturers offer different styles not only for women but also they created an infant cowboy hat for ages 0-2 years old.

Infant cowboy hat is like a miniature version of adult cowboy hats but it’s still made from high quality. Either for costumes, props in a portrait studio or to polish an infant’s get up, babies really do look adorable with an infant cowboy hat on. Celebrity babies of Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and Angelina Jolie are being spotted sporting an infant cowboy hat. It seems like infant cowboy hat is the new trending fashion for posh babies and toddlers.

Infant Cowboy Hat, Boots and Accessories : Gift Ideas this Christmas

Christmas season is just around the corner, and few weeks from now you will be giving gifts to your nieces, nephews and your favorite godsons and daughters. Why don’t surprise them with a head to toe cowboy outfit or just one stylish infant cowboy hat if you’re in a tight budget this year. Here are some tips on the cheapest yet most elegant looking infant cowboy hat, boots and other accessories. Happy Shopping!

One of the most familiar and common styles of hats for your baby is the kind that Woody wears in the Toy Story movies. These “WOODY” Cowboy hats are felt hats which is ideal as it is both soft and light weight. This Toy Story inspired infant cowboy hat has a 3 1/2″ high crown, with a soft 2 1/1″ laced brim and an adjustable chin strap. The hat can range in size from infant to toddler and . The hat is available in several different colors – shown here are: brown, black, red and pink.

A great thing to go along with your babies cowboy hat are some Kid Rodeo Chaps.  Kid Rodeo Chaps are available in several different colors, like adorable pink for your little cowgirl and brown for your handsome cowboy. These tiny little chaps will make your tiny tot look more adorable that any cowboys of the Wild West. Keep in mind that many of the Kid Rodeo Chaps that you find are obviously not intended for protective wear. They are simply decorative and will not provide protection.  This is however a great accessory when you’re dressing your girl or boy like a cowboy and they’ll be so cute as your help them strut their stuff! Keep your camera handy.

Can’t find small cowboy boots that will fit on your babies? Try these cute cowboy boots baby socks. They are made from 100% cotton which will surely keep your babies’ toes warm without irritation. Each box of this cowboy boots inspired socks comes in a variety of colors: orange, red, blue, green, brown and black.

The popularity of cowboy hats gave opportunity to hat makers to expand their market and take risks at different markets. Today cowboy hats are not only limited to men working in ranches of Mexico, South America or Australia. Residents of the big city also got comfortable in wearing these fashion and protective element. And over the past years after the cowgirl hat were invented, here comes infant cowboy hat, toddler cowboy hat, and children cowboy hat.

How to Clean a Toddler Cowboy Hat:

Toddlers between the ages of 1-4 years old are very energetic. This causes them to obtain accidental dirt and stains. Here are some helpful tips in cleaning in case a toddler cowboy hat became messy:

• If the toddler cowboy hat is made from felt, sprinkle an ample amount of cornstarch enough to cover the stain and leave it for a couple of hours. Then brush the toddler cowboy hat in a gentle circular motion using soft bristle tooth brush. You can also use a towel in rubbing the hat. If those things do not work, try working with small make up sponge or an art gum eraser. For stubborn stains use fine grade of sandpaper however maintain a gentle rubbing motion.
• For toddler cowboy hat made from straw, a brush or a whisk broom can remove loose dirt or dust. Using a damp towel, wipe the hat carefully. A small make up sponge and an art gum eraser can also be helpful.
• Always remember to put the toddler cowboy hat in their casing to prevent it from getting dusts and dirt.
• For genuinely made toddler cowboy hat, a hat restorer can take care of putting the hat back to its perfect shape.

Toddler Cowboy Hat: Do it Yourself

Cowboys in the wild wild west, Hollywood leading mans and even girls wearing boots and denim skirts are all fans of the Bailey cowboy hat. These quality and top of the class riding hats are made by all American hat man George S. Bailey. In the year 1922 the Southern California’s economy was growing at an unstoppable pace, perfect timing for George S. Bailey to start his hat manufacturing business.  George saw the need for riding hats since farming, mines and oil field business are growing, he also dedicated crafting hats to complement the dashing look of leading men in early Hollywood movies. Over the past 87 years of Bailey company’s existence, they’ve been providing classic Bailey cowboy hats for men, women and even infants.

Using Your Bailey Cowboy Hats with Style

Every cowboy knows how to work his bailey cowboy hats, but for first timers here are some tips on how to sport your bailey cowboy hats with class.

• Putting on and taking off. Every gentleman sure does take his hat off as a sign of respect, but you don’t want to ruin the shape of your bailey cowboy hats do you? Always hold the hat with your four fingers on the front and back of the brim.  This will keep the crown clean and the shape untouched. Make sure that both of your hands are clean before touching your hat. If you’re not sure, you could wash your hands and dry them first.
• Hats off. When you are not wearing your bailey cowboy hats always place them upside down on the crown. It is an important tip to keep the brim in its original shape.
• Keeping it clean. When you noticed that your bailey cowboy hats are quite dusty and getting smelly you can use a hat brush, small plastic sponge or a whisk broom in removing the dust. And for the odor, you can buy air fresheners designed for hats. But if you are not confident in cleaning your own hat because you’re afraid you might ruin it, you could always turn to expert and let them do the work for you.
• Removing stain. Either alcohol or soda caused the stain on your bailey cowboy hats, rinse it with a cold faucet water. Let the water run for a few minutes then gently rub the stain with your fingers. Do this until the stain fades away. Let your cowboy hat dry naturally, avoid hanging it in direct sunlight or using a hair dryer it will cause your hat to shrink. But keep in mind that this will only work on stains that are not yet dry.
• Proper fitting.  It is advisable that you will wear bailey cowboys hats which are custom made for you. Aside from ill fitting hats don’t look good, it can cause headache if its to tight.
• Cover for your hat. Quality made bailey cowboy hats can withstand snow or light rainfall, except acid rains. But if you are too overprotective about your bailey cowboy hats, it’s fine to wear hat covers too.

Straw hats already existed a long time ago in Asian and European countries. These hats serve as protection for farmers and field workers under the heat of the sun and even the sudden rainfalls. Today traditional straw hats were converted into a very stylish and classic modern straw hats that will make any man in a suit look like a screen actor. The components of modern straw hats for men are from carefully selected and crafted indigenous materials to make an elegant hat. Easter and hot summer days are the perfect timing to wear straw hats for men. Always wear a straw hat that fits your head perfectly. Too loose hats can get easily blown by the wind and too tight will give you a head ache. Brims are also important, too wide front brims can darken your face making the dark circles under your eye more noticeable. Always put a gentle pressure as you wear those straw hats so that it will stay on your head even in a windy afternoon.

Straw Hats for Men: How are They Made?

Panama hats are unquestionably the world’s most popular and stylish straw hats for men and women which is why it is important for us to know how are these hats made. Panama hats were designed and crafted by hat makers in the early 19th century. Political figures like John F. Kennedy and Theodore Roosevelt had helped increased the popularity of these straw hats for men.  Today numerous celebs like Jason Mraz, Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt were being spotted wearing this Panama hats. The materials which are used in creating Panama straw hats for men are all planted and harvested in golden toquilla plantations. Afterwards, the straws are cooked in big bowls. After it’s been cooled down, artisans will now work in fabricating the fivers. The end product is not only limited to straw hats but also fine weavers produce purses and baskets which were sold at a much cheaper price. By observing the fineness of the weave and the number of rows in the hat’s crown you will be able to realize the true value and quality of Panama hats. Usually Panama straw hats for men can range from a very low price of $10 to a whopping $3,000.

Straw Hats for Men: How to Know if They are Authentic?

There are lots of people who are willing to spend thousands of dollars just to get what they want like high quality straw hats for men which are really expensive. Straw hats for men like Panama hats are hard to create, it takes more time and effort plus a talented and patient weaver too. Because of the popularity of straw hats for men and women, there are lots of hoax out there fooling consumers.

• The sunlight test. A good way to determine if the straw hat is made from high quality is by raising it directly in the sunlight. You will easily notice if there are holes and gaps in the weaves.
• Ask if how long the hat was made. A perfectly woven hat takes one month to finish.
• Buy in the store where artisans are displaying their skills in the public. This might give you a hint of their work process.