b'Cowboy Hat Etiquette(WHAT YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW BUT PROBABLY DONT.)By Terry Sullivan Reprinted from RANGE MagazineS o, youre a cowboy and you already know thehome or dont wear the hat, or better yet get yourself rules of properly wearing your cowboy hat. Wellan umbrella. But bear in mind Ive never seen a then, dont read this; but then maybe you need aself-respecting cowboy use an umbrella unless refresher course, so you probably should. When youhes escorting a lady down the street and then hes read the word hat in this piece, please rememberholding it over her head and not his own.that I am referring to cowboy hat. A proper cowboy only refers to his cowboy hat as hat. If you need a stampede string (thats the little string that connects to the hat and goes under your First, you really need five hats and it could take you achin), then you probably didnt buy a hat couple of years to get to the proper number. Heres why. that fit right to begin with. There might be someplace on earth you would need The Felt. The felt hat starts out as your winter hata stampede string but I cannot think of and also your formal dress-up hat in summer orwhere that might be. If your hat fits right winter. Thats the hat you wear to meetings orthen you just pull it down real tight around downtown to dinner or dancing. The way I workyour ears and pray it doesnt blow off my system is when the good hat gets a little floppyor youll be ridiculed by every it then turns into my daytime go-to-town hat, socowboy who sees you have obviously after it gets more than floppy it becomesto get off your horse your work hat. and pick it up. Oh.if you can reach Now your work hat can be sweaty and dirty and youdown and grab dont worry too much about its shape. This is whyit while youre it could take several years to get your formal hat,still on your daytime downtown hat, and work hat. horse that looks goodespecially The Straw. The straw starts out as your summer hat.if there happens This is for going downtown day or night as long as itto be a pretty lady isnt a formal get-together like a wedding. Well, youwatching.might want to wear your straw hat in winter if its Arizona, Florida, Hawaii or Texas, but only if its realNow you know hot. So after it gets a little sweaty and dirty it turnsof course that into your work hat. Some folks like their straw hatswere talking about to be bent in all directions. I dont. In fact, Ill wearcowboy hats and not a floppy felt hat but I like my straws to be in theircaps. Caps have nothing original shape. So, like the felt hats, your second-bestto do with cowboys unless the straw is your work hat. cowboy is driving a tractor or bucking hay. Caps do not belong I dont like fancy hatbands. If you are buying a goodon your head when you are on quality hat you dont need to add decorations. Well,a horse. The exception might be maybe if youre young and want a feather stuck in itif you live in Montana and its 40 thats sometimes acceptable but older guys shouldbelow. Note: If you want to wear just stick with the originals. sandals or tennis shoes then by all means wear your cap. Its an Now that you know which hat to use where, Imabsolute disgrace to a cowboy hat going to tell you when they should be on or off.sitting on a head that has anything Always tip your hat to a lady, of course, and if yourebut boots on its feet.on an elevator and a lady gets on please take that hat off until she departs. You can wear your hat atIf you follow these rules then mythe bar with a lady but never at the dinner table andhats off to you. If not, go downtown certainly take your hat off when you go in the house,and buy a cap.even your own.One more thing ~ if you value your way If you think you have to have one of those plastic hatof life do not ever put your hat on a bed. covers when its raining, then I suggest you just stayIts just plain bad luck. 40 February 2023'