If you’ve ever watched western movies dreaming of getting into the wild western spirit, you’ve got the opportunity – country style is as trendy now as it has been years ago! Besides appearing on the screens in various movies and shows to this day, the style is also present on the catwalk considering many brands have started incorporating cowboy elements in their fashion lines.
Don’t worry if you’re lacking the courage to go fully country and dress up wearing all-things western, and can’t quite picture yourself wearing cowboy boots - you can start welcoming the style in your life by introducing piece by piece in your outfits. The following two are cowboy accessories you can give a go:
Hats
Though as accessories they were primarily used for protection from the weather elements, like the harsh sun, wind and rain, nowadays the wide range of country and western hats available at the cowboy stores are essential for the aesthetic purposes too. Not surprisingly, in the Land Down Under the Akubra hat is one of the main components of country wear!
To be able to buy the ideal one for you, you’d have to take the hat styles, materials, size and shape into consideration.
- As the defining staple of country wear the hat has been available in various styles over the years. Those that still remain popular are the Pinch Front, the Cattleman, the Gambler, the Tom Mix, the Gus, the Brick, the Open Crown and the Fedora. Basically, their differences are in the crowns and the brims, the highest crown being that of the Tom Mix and the lowest of the Open Crown. Those looking for the classic style should get the Cattleman.
- As the longevity of the western hats depends on the materials, you can’t omit this aspect from your decision making either. You’re going to come across options like wool felt, fur, blended fur and straw. If you’re up for spending more, then wool felt and straw aren’t for you as they’d last you just a few seasons as opposed to the other two. Details like leather inner sweatband also have a say in the quality and pricing so pay attention to them too.
- Same as with shopping for any type of hat, sizing is one of the most important aspects. Though visiting brick and mortar stores give you the chance to try out and see for yourself which one is the right fit, when shopping online it can be somewhat challenging. Be sure to check the store or manufacturer’s size chart before you buy the country and western hats.
- Though the shape and size of the crowns come down to personal preferences, and how much protection it is you require for your daily chores and lifestyle, your face shape is related to them as well; in other words, not every hat is suitable for you so don’t forget to choose the one that best fits your face. Medium height crowns are meant for people with elongated faces, whereas those with rounder face shapes should stick to the low height crowns.
Belts
Same as with the ultra stylish country hats, the belts are those must-have accessories to add some of the country flair to your day to day outfits without attracting the wrong kind of attention. Though there are all sorts of models nowadays, you won’t make a mistake if you invest in those made from genuine leather as they’d serve you for years and years, seamlessly elevating the style of your looks
- First and foremost, when shopping for the best cowboy belt, you need to make sure you’re getting one in the right size for you. If you can’t try before you buy, it’s important to look for the centimetres, or the waist number specifically listed for a certain belt online, and once you know that number, it’s advisable to buy the one that’s two sizes larger than your pant size for perfect adjustment.
- Again, there are various materials the belts can be found in, including polyester, however if you want something that will last you time and time again, no matter how much wear and tear you put it through, avoid cheap options and invest in genuine leather. Besides the incredible smell and feel of the belt, you’d be able to find it in different colours to match the different outfits, or even different leather accessories like that eye-catching wallet.
- Okay, we can’t talk about belts without mentioning the ever-so-stylish buckles as the jewellery. Buckles were especially made popular in the western movies, and it shouldn’t come as surprise they’re still trendy considering they can be found in many designs. As they can add a focal point for an outfit, you have to make up your mind on whether you want something that really grabs the attention or something not that flashy. Besides choosing the metal you want them in (make sure they match that of the other metallic touches like denim zippers and jacket buttons), you can also pick the kind of embellishment you most find suitable for you. It could be your own initials, a brand’s logo or some western motifs.
