Women’s Comprehensive Styling Guide for Western Show Felt Hats:

Introduction

What to Expect from this BLOG

Felt Cowboy Hat Style & Shaping considerations for Women

Complete guide to shaping & styling Felt Hats for Western Shows
Helpful Hat style tips & practical advice to help you shape the perfect hat!

Hello, Equestrian Fashionistas!

First impressions matter! Your hat is the first thing that most people will notice. In competition, a poorly maintained, fitted or shaped hat will be very noticeable to a judge. To the contrary, an extremely tidy, “crisp” hat shows the world that someone really takes pride in their appearance.

As every fashionista knows, we’re different from men and our hats are too. We have different proportions, styles & needs. To us, a cowboy hat isn't just a piece of attire; it's an extension of our personality and a crucial element of our show ring ensemble.

In the last article:

we covered Hat Basics

Hat parts & terminology
Hat types & quality rating
Hat crown & brim shapes
Hat sizing & proper fit
Hat care & maintenance
Hat storage & transportation
Other helpful hat tips

Hat Style - considering everything before purchasing a felt hat
Hat Colors - you, your horse, your outfit
Hat Size & Shape - Crown Heights, Brim Lengths, Hat shaping
Uniquely You - your needs, your proportions, Your Style
Hat Customization’s - Buckles, lacing, engraving, embellishments & more
Current Hat Trends - What’s hot & what’s not
Hat Style Tips & Suggestions - Need To Know Info For All Hat Owners!

Cowboy Hat Style

Who are you & what is your style? This is what makes it so difficult, we are all so unique!

With so many styles, materials, and trends to consider, selecting the perfect hat can seem overwhelming. But fret not! We're here to guide you through selecting the perfect hat, shaping your hat, and staying atop the latest trends in the show horse industry.

Special Cowgirl Hat Considerations

What are your hat needs

Felt Hats for a Western show - should have a cattleman’s crown
What division - different classes have different brim shapes & rules
What level of show - higher level shows demand higher quality hats

Who are you

Physical Stature - hat size, crown height, brim length
Face Shape - hat shapes, angles & proportions
Personal Style - preferences, hat colors & customization’s

Considering these things will help you find the perfect hat

Hat Color Considerations

Consider hair color,
complexion,
outfit,
horse
Tack

Consistency in color and style creates a visually appealing ensemble that can catch the judge’s eye.

Color Options

Classic colors - versatile & never go out of style
Other colors - compliment & match your attire
Bold colors - are more fun & add variety!

The right color can make your ensemble pop in the show ring

Classic Colors

Black - the most popular & timeless classic go-to option
- Your collection should start with a nice black hat and expand from there.
- is the most versatile color hat that can coordinate with the most different looks.
Sand & Neutral - other classic colors that will never go out of style.

Other Color Options

White
Sliverbelly
Chocolate

Bold Colors

Red, Royal Blue, Hot Pink, etc.

these are very fun colors
great for expanding your collection
great for kids
can be difficult to match
limited use-ability

Hat Size & Shape

Crown Heights

3⅞” - Short Gambler
4” - Standard Gambler
4¼” - Short Brick, Tall Gambler
4½” - Short Cattleman, Standard Brick
4¾” - Standard Cattleman, Tall Brick
5” - Tall Cattleman
6” - FULL open crown

Cattleman Crown

〰️

4½-5" Crown Height

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Cattleman Crown 〰️ 4½-5" Crown Height 〰️

Cattleman Crown Shaping

A “U” shaped crease down the center with “Dents” on each side
The crease can vary in depth, width and slopes
The dents can vary in size shape & depth

Their final shape and taper can vary & should be adjusted to compliment facial structure

The Crease

Depth
Width
Slope

Ridge Top - Like a cattleman but pinched steeper, narrower and tighter at the top

The Dents

Size
Shape (taller dents will prevent hat from dropping too low on the head)
Depth

Brim Lengths

BRIM Lengths - can range from 3⅞-5”

3⅞” - Short - Kids & Petite Women
4” - Standard - Kids, Women, Men
4¼” - Standard + Women, Men
4½” - Standard ++ Women, Men
4¾” - Long usually Men
5” - Long + usually Men

the bigger the brim, the more dramatic the look (they can always be trimmed)

“Cowboy Hats at Western Shows usually have a 4-4½” brim”

Brim Shaping

Careful thought and consideration about the hat’s PROPORTIONS (crown height, brim length) & SHAPE (crown shape, brim shape) is required for a winning look.

Uniquely You

Women, Girls & Felt Hats

Cowboy hats are unisex & the same exact hat can be worn by both genders
That being said, there can be a lot of proportion differences between genders
The exact same hat might look much better on one person depending on it’s proportions relative to the person wearing it

assessing Stature & Face Shape

Height - short - medium - tall
Weight - thin - medium - thick
Face Shape - Smooth or angular lines
- smooth lines - circle, oval, long oval
- angular lines - rectangular, triangular, diamond

Compliment your stature

A smaller stature should have a smaller hat

shorter, more angular crown
shorter - medium brim

A larger stature should have a larger hat

taller, more rounded crown
medium - longer brim

Balance your features

Soften hard lines - angular faces

more rounded crowns for angular faces
curved front brim & rounded brim for angular faces

Shape soft lines - smoother faces

angular crowns for round faces & small stature
flat front brim & angular brims for round faces

previously we discussed head shape for hat opening shape

Face Shapes

Round face - add some height but not width

high crown height
curved front brim
avoid wide brims, rounded crowns

Oval face - almost anything can work

consider other things like your overall stature
your division
personal style

Long narrow face - moderate hat that sits lower

medium crown height
smaller dents - sit the hat a bit lower on the head
curved front brim
wider brim in front

Square face - should have softer lines

rounded crown
wide front brim
avoid harsh creases

Triangular face -

shorter brim
narrower in front (teardrop shaped)

Diamond face -

angled brim
curved front brim

Felt Hat Customization’s

Does your class allow hat customizations?

western pleasure - yes
Reining - no

Details, Embellishments, Customizations

Adding special binding
Adding borders to the hat
Whip-lace embellishments (have been trending for years).
Painted tattoo print on underside of brim (is allowed in some classes)
Crystals can be added in some classes (becoming less popular)
Many hat makers offer customizations, from unique hat bands to personalized creases. Custom features can set your hat apart and reflect your personal brand in the arena.

Current Hat Trends

what’s in and what’s not

Trends that are in

Trends that are in

While trends are exciting, there’s something to be said for timeless elegance. Classic shapes & colors never go out of style & ensure your look stays polished & professional
A Black hat will never go out of style
A quality, well-fitted, well-shaped hat will never go out of style
Personalized embellishments like custom hat bands and unique colors are trending

Things to AVOID

Brims no longer go as high & tight around the crown as in the past (no more “Taco” fold)
Be careful, some trends may not always compliment your facial and body structure.
Flat Brims
Extremely pulled down brims
5” brims
Chunky headbands
Stampede strings

Cowboy Hat Style Tips

The Look - Style, Shape & Proportion - this is what makes a hat unique!

Style - for this purpose its REAL Cowgirl Hats for Western Horse Shows

All-around events (Halter, Western Pleasure, Showmanship, Horsemanship)

Looking for an overall HIGH, tight & crisp hat appearance
Brims should be creased upward with no dip in the front. “The show crease”
Crown should be creased fairly narrow
Vents should be pulled out a little longer

Do your homework, learn as much as you can about hats before making the big purchase.

Ask a professional for help.
Try on multiple hats of different shapes before you decide
Pricier hats usually include lifetime free maintenance & re-shaping at horse shows

Next article - Finding a Hat: Guide to Cowboy Hat Brands & Retailers

Hat Tips by Discipline/Class

Western Pleasure

Architectural shapes with clean lines and sharp corners
Often has a slightly longer (4-1/4” brim)
Is open to more customizations (see below)

Halter

Horsemanship & Showmanship

Prefers a more classic, clean-look with no customizations.

Reining - shape hats to fall between the cutter and the show crease

Each Discipline Has it’s own look such as the “High Quarterhorse brim”

Selecting a Western show hat goes beyond aesthetics; it's about finding a piece that resonates with your style and enhances your performance. A good hat just looks right, matches your personal vibe and draws attention to your beautiful face.

The Hat Style

Shapes and Proportions…face shapes

Tall - tall
Corners of the brim should be the width of your face (the narrower the face, the narrower the brim)

IN THE NEXT ARTICLE>>>>

Shopping for a hat - online or at a horse show

Crown - overall height of the hat should be in proportion to your face & body structure

All hats begin with an open crown
Crown height is usually ~5¾”
Crown shape may be round or pointed
The Crown often contains a “crease” and “vents”

Crease or Dent - the pinch or depression at the top of the hat

Several types exist, but for western shows we want the “Cattleman’s Crease”
This is the most defined shape of the Western all-around hat

Brim - the ring around the outside of the crown

Brims may vary from 3¾” (for kids and small stature) - 5”
Brim length may vary from 3¾”-4¼” (4” on avg)
Brim should be flat in the front and creased at the same width as the face.
Back of the brim should have a nice, rounded shape.

Bend - the “Crisp” sharp corners are the most important part of the hats shape.

The creases should begin at the edges of the face.
The crease should be more squared or sharp in the front
The crease should relax as it moves toward the back creating a more rounded look from behind
The angle of the bend at the front of the brim can vary depending on your Class.
“The Western Pleasure Crease” “Quarter Horse Crease” “Show Crease”
The crease on a child’s hat should be a bit narrower in the front

Sweatband - the leather ring around the inside of the brim

The leather breathes, absorbs sweat & keeps you comfortable
This band determines the ultimate size of the hat
It often contains padding for improved comfort
You can custom pad the hat to match the shape of your head even better.

Hat Band - the decorative band around the outside of the crown
Shape of head opening - usually an oval

If you have a round head, most hats off the shelf won’t fit properly
In this case it’s best to size up and add extra padding in front and back.

Concluding Thoughts

Conclusion - suggestions, brands, where to find and links to hats!

Equestrian Fashionista * Horse Community & Women's Promotion Blog

Cowboy Hats 201: Guide to Selecting, Shaping and Styling your Hat for the Show Ring