The Cowboy Hat: You Don’t Have To Be a Cowboy To Wear It!

The cowboy hat today is definitely a fashionable and trendy hat.

The cowboy hat as we know it goes back to the 1860’s. Before John B. Stetson invented this hat cowboys wore many different types of head gear. There was no specific hat or “uniform” so it would be common to see cowboys wearing sailor hats, war gear, caps, tall hats and many others.

Thankfully, Stetson came along and created the cowboy hat. It was truly a great invention since most people look good in cowboy hats; not only cowboys. For many, cowboy hats are  great summer hats. People love wearing straw cowboy hats in the summer to block the sun from their face since it’s not just any other cap; it really is pretty. A cowboy hat adds a lot to an outfit and believe it or not, when you’re wearing a cowboy hat, you get the spirit of a cowboy. Suddenly you feel like you can do anything! Some wear them when going horseback riding or simply when working in the garden. It also makes a great hat to dress up a lovely summer outfit and makes you feel taller and stronger!

Just like any other hat, different cowboy hats are made of different materials. The most expensive and high quality cowboy hats are made from real felt, which is animal fur. A typical felt used in the cowboy hat is that of a beaver, a muskrat or a rabbit. However, it is very common to see a cowboy hat made from a mixture of beaver, muskrat fur and rabbit fur. Another fabric or material for a cowboy hat is straw, which is what we are mostly familiar with today. (Nowadays however, many straw hats are actually made from the pulp of a tree just like paper so often, cowboy hats and other straw hats will have 100% paper listed as the content.) These are definitely more affordable, comfortable, lightweight and stylish! They are worn by cowboys and many other men, women and children around the world.

There are many different styles and looks for a cowboy hat but the most common is simply a wide brimmed hat with a medium sized crown. In addition there is a prominent pinch at the front of the crown to give it that country look and cowboy twist.

Although the cowboy hat started out as a uniform and hat exclusively for cowboys, the cowboy hat today is definitely a fashionable and trendy hat. Put it together with a pair of cowboy boots and your good to go! So when packing for your summer vacation up in the mountains, a camping trip or any other summer getaway don’t forget your cowboy hat to add to the spirit! If you don’t own a cowboy hat or are just a little too feminine for them definitely go for a beach or straw sun hat which will do just the trick and look really good!

Spring Fashion 2013: All About Color

With the neon colors from the 80’s and 90’s back in style- you’ll be sure to make a fashion statement

Now that we’re finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and starting to get some nice and sunny days- it’s time to stock up on spring and summer head coverings and hair accessories. Every season brings along its own colors and styles; this spring, neon, pastel and bright hair accessories are sprouting everywhere like garden flowers after a long and cold winter. Luckily for us, the colors that are in are so hot that I’m sure you’ll agree with me that they were worth waiting for!

Firstly and most importantly, it’s not about one “in” color anymore. Don’t be afraid to wear something with a mix of different colors as long as they blend nicely together. With the neon colors from the 80’s and 90’s back in style- you’ll be sure to make a fashion statement. Colors such as coral and aqua not only complement every skin tone and brings the color you so desperately need after a long winter to your face but believe it or not, it also has positive effects on your mood. Color has the power to make dull and boring things exciting and cool! Try golden yellow, tangerine, cobalt blue and neon green to strike the proper mood. They make a simple black outfit into a summery, smile-worthy look. Trust me, the colors won’t just look good on you they’ll make you feel good.

As for pastels, lavender and mint green are rapidly making their way into the hottest and most fashionable colors this season! These colors have a fresh spring and summer look to them that have the power to make you feel like a new and “fresh” person. In addition, they are very feminine which makes it almost exclusive to us women.

Be sure to update your spring and summer head coverings and hair accessories selection with the right colors and start this season of on the right foot. Here are a couple of our favorite picks for our spring collection of 2013. The 3/8 inch Thin Colorful Hair Bands with Teeth ,the Coral Cotton Beret with Butterflies and the Shimmery Chiffon Headwrap.

Good luck!

How To Tie a Tichel- Classic Turban Knot Style

The classic turban knot style is a really easy and original way to tie a tichel. It is perfect for hot summer days when you want something light and colorful to hold all your hair back and keep your hair off your neck. It has a great fitted support and makes covering your hair a dream. The best part is that you can design your own tichel! Simply choose a headscarf of your choice with a turban knot head wrap in whichever color you like and you have it. You can go a little darker and simple for a dressy look and loud and colorful for an everyday or funky look. It’s up to you – be original!

Place your oblong rectangular head scarf on your head.

Take both sides of the headscarf and make a knot at the back of your neck.

Tuck the whole headscarf into the knot

Place the turban knot head wrap as the band.

We used the white turban knot head wrap but you can choose a color of your own.

We experimented with our purple oblong tichel with flowers.

In the demonstration above we used a hidden height undercover to make it look like there is a head full of hair. You can simply put your hair in a bun, or for those with thin hair or hair loss a hidden height undercover will do the trick.

1. When tying our headscarf in the Classic Turban knot style, we experimented with our Purple Oblong Tichel with Flowers. However, you may use any oblong headscarf of your choice. Start by placing your oblong rectangular headscarf centered on your head. If the head scarf is very long, fold it in half first.

2. Take both sides of the headscarf and make a tie or knot in back of your neck.

3. Now, gently take the whole headscarf that’s hanging down and tuck it in and under the knot you just made. It should look like a snood with no tails hanging down.

4. In the demonstration we chose a white turban knot head wrap. Choose the color turban knot you want and place it as the band to support and hold the head scarf in place.

Good luck tying! Click here for more exciting ways to tie a tichel.

The Merry Widow Hat

This was a women head covering that really did cover

Sounds funny doesn’t it?

Well, for a brief period of time in around 1907, the most popular and stylish thing in the fashion world was the Merry Widow hat.

Some background is required.

From the Beginning of the 1900’s, Women’s Hats grew in variety and became quite interesting, and as styles began to change and women’s dresses became sleeker and closer fitting, hats began to get larger and larger, both in width and height.

In the year 1907, a play was produced in London by the name of The Merry Widow, and Lady Duff Gordon created a hat for “Sonia” the leading lady. This hat came to be known as the “Merry Widow Hat”. This was a women head covering that really did cover. It was 3 feet wide and 18 inches tall with plenty of feathers and ribbons to boot. The hats quickly became all the rage and women rushed to buy them.

Sadly however, the style was short lived. London Theater goers complained that the hats were too big and obstructing their view, so theaters banned them contributing to their short shelf-life, and by the end of WW1 the Merry Widow hat was all but extinct.

So what exactly is a Snood?

The chenille snood comes in many different colors, is comfortable and has a soft touch.

So what exactly is a Snood?

The term “Snood” causes quite a bit of confusion, and rightly so. For years, different people have used the term “snood” to mean different things. So lets try  clearing up some of the confusion, and perhaps give a drop of background information on what a Hair Snood really is.

The term “snood’ is used to  refer to 3 separate thing.

1) Snood scarfs are used to describe tubular scarfs, these snood scarfs were especially popular with English Soccer (football) players until they were banned in 2001 by the sports governing body for being a danger to the players.

2) The term “snood” also refers to a 1 inch silk ribbon that was worn in Scotland in the late 19th century worn by unmarried girls and typically braided into the hair.

3) The Hair Snood is the form of snood that we are most interested in and as you guessed is actually a Hair Covering. A Hair Snood is basically a bag-like or sock like garment designed and sewn to wear on ones hair.

Now, most snoods you see now-a-days are crocheted. However, it did not start out like that . When it first started out snood head coverings were made from cloth or net fabric. And many of them were elaborately decorated with bows and ribbons. Gradually, they went out of style until WW2 when once agin women turned to them as headcoverings since the material used to make them was not rationed as the material used to make hats was. In fact, Snoods became a patriotic symbol! Now Snoods have remained as a popular headcovering for women looking to cover their hair for modesty reasons as well as for women looking for a hairnet to wear when working with food, canteen or hospital. A major difference between women wearing hair snoods for religious purposes and women wearing them as  Hair Nets is whether or not they have a lining. Women who choose Hair Snoods as a religious headcover will often ensure they are lined in order to be certain no hair will show through. Such is not the case in women wearing snoods as hairnets. Lately, the Chenille snood has come into style as a it is extremely soft to the touch and available in a wide variety of colors.

( Sources include Scottish Weading Dreams, Wikipedia, and Wise Geek)

By: B. Levi