How to Purchase a Cowboy Hat

Do you long for the days of the Old West? Well, even if you can't ride, rope a steer, or ride the bucking bull, all is not lost. Buy a cowboy hat.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide what type of cowboy hat you want. There's a wide variety of styles: wide brimmed cowboy hats, straw cowboy hats, gambler's hats, flocked cowboy hats, straw cowboy hats with rolled brims, and more.

2. Measure your head for the proper size. Use a soft tape measure. Measure around your hair 1/2-inch above your eyebrows and just above your ears. You may need to have someone else do this for you.

3. Determine your head shape, which is, according to The Last Best West, either "Long Oval, Round Oval, or Regular Oval."

4. Choose where you wish to shop, such as a hat store.

5. Buy used hats through the classifieds or online.

6. Go to online retailers like Annie's Costumes, or for the real deal, the Western Shop.

7. Stand out from the crowd, and have your hat custom-made by The Last Best West.

Resources

• The Western Shop has genuine cowboy hats.
• Annie's Costumes has a selection of cowboy hats.