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Cowboy Hats – The Evolution
Yee haw! Southern style has influenced all Americana, especially when it comes to cowboy hats. Cowboy hats, large or small, have been a popular staple among not only cowboys, but among popular movie stars and performers.
The Handsome, Early Years of Cowboy Hats
Cowboy hats were originally designed to be functional, shielding the eyes and faces of actual cowboys and ranch workers from the ever present hot southern sun. These styles inevitably were copied in popular films depicting western and southern living. John Wayne and Ronald Reagan proudly boasted cowboy hats in their films. These hats were simple, understated, and sans rhinestones or sparkly flare. Ah, memories.
These cowboy hats also found themselves in the music videos and live performances of country music singers. Garth Brooks and Johnny Cash both wore jet black cowboy hats, giving the trend a new flavor. However, these raven cowboy hats were still simple and stylish. They were still iconic and symbolic of classic Americana. When these fabulous entertainers wore these cowboy hats, they were wearing them as a tribute to all of the great southern stars who had worn them before their time. The look had not yet been corrupted or revamped by Hollywood. However, this would unfortunately all soon change.
Celebrity Mutations: Cowboy Hats Gone Wrong
With such prestige surrounding cowboy hats, it was inevitable that these styles would find their way into music videos and celebrity fashion statements. Snoop Dogg began mutating cowboy hats to fit his own “pimp” style, and the trend quickly infiltrated into popular mainstream culture. Stars like Pamela Anderson and Bret Michaels began wearing strange (and downright ugly) cowboy hats. We began seeing odd hats everywhere – straw cowboy hats, felt cowboy hats, fur cowboy hats. Suddenly, this treasured accessory of Americana went from iconic and classic to sleazy and cheesy.
Rounding up the Celebrity Offenders
To help you understand exactly who these cowboy hats offenders are, we have compiled a list of some of the worst celebs to ever don cowboy hats, in addition to clarifying just why these hats were so heinous.
- Pamela Anderson's Pink Cowboy Hats
Pamela Anderson would not last five minutes on a real American ranch. The same holds true for Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, who attempted to pull of the cowgirl look with flashy felt cowboy hats on their shortly lived television program The Simple Life. Girls, you are not ranch hands. Consider that a blessing because we hear that lounging by the pool and shopping is much easier than farm work.
- Bret Michaels' Straw Cowboy Hats
Bret, we understand you. You are struggling to hold on to the very last fifteen minutes of your soon-to-be deceased fame. We don't know if you are trying to endear yourself to middle-aged America by wearing those cheesy straw cowboy hats, but whatever your goal is, it is not working.
- Snoop Dogg's Fur Cowboy Hats
Snoop Dogg is not the only rapper guilty of this crime, but he was one of the initial perpetuators. Cowboy hats should be made of sturdy felt or leather and should serve a functional purpose, which is to block out the hot rays of the sun. A fur cowboy hat does nothing besides make your head hot, which is actually counterproductive! Now, we understand that you have a personal assistant who holds an umbrella over you 24/7 to block out the sun, Snoop. Nonetheless, the fur cowboy hats are still cheesy.
If you want to wear a cowboy hat as a subtle tribute to classic Americana, perfect! However, avoid anything pink, shiny, or furry. The message that these cowboy hats sends is: "I'm not really a cowboy, but don't tell anyone. Despite the fact that I have millions of dollars in the bank, I would prefer to be considered just an average Joe. You know, one who... sweeps their guest house themselves...or drinks their five hundred dollar bottle of cheap champagne from just an ordinary mug. Wait, what do regular people do again? |
