Cowboy Hats

Belt buckles, boots, and cowboy hats—the Texas trifecta. Offering protection from the rain and shine, a hat is a practical purchase, but it should also look good. Pay attention to size first. Too big and it will look cumbersome. Too small and it will look—and feel—uncomfortable. Some folks wear their hat high on the head and some wear it low, but up to a finger’s width of space between the ear and brim is standard. As for style, we’ve picked three trend-proof models to get you started.

Alpine’s Jim Spradley works only with beaver fur because of its fine texture and superior water repellency. There is a six-to-eight-month wait for one of his custom-made creations, like this Silver Select. $2,200; spradleyhats.com

Straw version of the open roads cowboy hat.

Inarguably the most well-known American hatmaker, Stetson produces much of its headwear at a factory in Garland, including this straw version of the Open Road, a hat made famous by Lyndon Johnson. $55; allensboots.com

Peter Bros. Hats, in Fort Worth, has been in business for more than a hundred years. Available in pure beaver or a blend with wild hare and domestic rabbit, the Gus features an Old West style, its slightly curled brim offset with a modern two-cord ribbon. $275–$800; pbhats.com