The Cowboy Boot

Photo via plan59.com

Boss of the Plains is a phrase we all know so well. The type of cowboy hat manufactured by Stetson is a flat-brimmed headgear that features a straight crown. It also had round corners. According to historical accounts, Boss of the Plains was manufactured in 1865 and became quite a hit among cowboys despite the popularity of the bowler’s hat during those times.

Because of its lightness and its natural color, the hat with a four-inch crown gradually became the standard hat in the west. Since Stetsons are made from felt, they are also waterproof making it possible for the owner of the hat to use it like a pail.

It also had a plain hatband making it possible for the user of the hat to adjust the size. The sweatband, according to historical accounts, bore the name of Stetson. While Stetson only made one style of hat, Stetsons came in different qualities depending on the materials used for the hat. Regular hats with one-grade material were sold at $5 a piece while those that boasted pure beaver felt were sold at $30 at the time.

Although the bowler’s hat was quite popular in that era, J.B. Stetson marketed the Boss of the Plains and later on, the cowboy hat we fondly call the Stetson became an icon and a universal image of the West. This somehow built a reputation for the West, with its charisma and its taste for adventure. During the 19^th century and the early part of the 20^th century, hats were needed by every man. In fact, it was an indispensable item. This is where Stetson got the idea of focusing on making high quality and expensive hats since hats were considered as an investment for every working cowboy and a fashion statement for men who lived in the city.

Photo Via Wikipedia

A lightweight hat used for all types of weather, the Boss of the Plains is not just a design done by John B. Stetson but also an icon when it comes to cowboy hats. This hat is a part of history and definitely something a cowboy would want to have.

This elegant yet durable hat is waterproof but what makes it special is that it is the boss among all cowboy hats. It has the refinements of an elegant hat and the sturdiness required by every cowboy. It has a hat band for tightening and had a brim that was stiffened just the right way. The Boss of the Plains’ design includes a high crown made to give better insulation to the top of the head of the wearer. It had a wide brim and a stiff one too as means of sheltering the wearer from the elements protecting not only the face but also the neck and the shoulders.

The Boss of the Plains did not just come out as the perfect hat the first time it was made though because for years, John B. Stetson worried so much on how to waterproof the hat. He later on decided to make them from beaver felt. According to history, it took about 42 belly pelts from the beaver to make a high quality Stetson hat –high quality Boss of the Plains to be exact. Because of the quality of the felt and the stitching style used for it, this particular hat was sturdy enough to be waterproof. What is actually impressive about this hat is that it was also used as a bucket by cowboys of old –making the boss a multipurpose garment for every cowboy. One of the most popular cowboy stories is that of a man whose canteen had a leak. He saved his water by putting it on his Stetson.