by Suzanne Drnec

Last time, I introduced my Western Fashion Clinic Head-to-Toe series beginning at the top - with your quality Western straw hat. Then I explained some of the differences between felt and straw hats. Now, let's look more in-depth at things you probably should know before investing in a hat for the Western show ring.

Your show hat is an important investment. Hats can vary in price from around $40 for a decent straw to $1,000 for a 100X Stetson. When shopping for a hat, consider:

Color

Black hats always look nice with black chaps, but can cast a harsh unflattering shadow over the rider's face. (see Choose Color Wisely sidebar below.) Consider a pale neutral felt hat to add more light and interest around your face. Neutral hats come in cool, grayish shades like platinum or crystal that look best worn with bright jewel colors like purple or red, or warm golden tones like buckskin or sand that look best with earthy shades - rust, beiges, and so on. Brightly colored hats to match chaps aren't popular in the show ring these days, though you may see them on the pages of fashion magazines.

Style

A basic cattleman's crown with a 4-inch brim is pretty standard these days, but women with smaller faces and children should certainly consider having their brim trimmed by at least 1/4 inch. Full 4-inch brims are designed for men, and often make smaller people look like mushrooms. A little judicious trimming and shaping can make a world of difference in a hat.

Care

Even the finest hats look horrible if you don't take care of them. Learn how to put your hat on, never touching the delicate brim, and also how to clean it with a curved handle soft hat brush. Invest in a good case, and never leave your hat in a hot car or horse trailer in a plastic bag - it will warp in the heat and look like a tortilla chip.

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Sourcing

It's imperative to buy your Western straw hats from an experienced retailer. Don't trade at a store that isn't serious enough about hats to offer shaping, trimming and expert consultation. Spending a few more dollars to have your hat professionally shaped and fitted is the way to go, whether you have a great Western straw hat store in your area, shop at the trade show of a major event, or discuss your exact needs over the phone with the resident hat expert from a store far away.

Remember, you'll never get a second chance to make a first impression, so strive to create a winning impression the moment you step into the ring!

Choose Color Wisely

Your Western straw hat tops your show presentation and creates a frame for your face. A trendy look - and a good one - is to wear a pale hat instead of black to add light and interest to your face, to draw the judge's eye upward, and to add the illusion of length to your silhouette. The photo shows how a light and dark hat can change the mood and impression a rider creates compared in similar outdoor light.

Black visually compresses the rider and casts a darker shadow over the top half of her face - an effect that's much more noticeable indoors or in marginal light.

A neutral sand hat makes the rider's neck look longer and adds soft light around her face.

Both hats are appropriate, and both blend nicely with the rider's outfits, but which creates a more pleasing silhouette? Though there's no right answer to that question, keep in mind:

Tall riders can shorten their look with a dark straw hat.

Short riders can lengthen their look with a pale straw hat.

Hat shape, color and size affect the final look.

Overhead lighting exaggerates hat shadows on your face.

Certain outfits beg for a particular hat - compare.