Newby Questions

[KCD]

Hi, everybody. This is a great resource.

I have some newby questions and would appreciate your indulgence:

1. I have two Stetsons and would like to know what model they are. What is the best way of determining that? No model markings are apparent.

2. What's the difference in day-to-day quality of fur felt vs. wool felt hats. For instance, should wool felts be avoided?

3. Is an Open Road with the standard cattleman's crease appropriate to wear with a suit and dress shoes?

4. Can a standard Cattleman/Rancher's western hat (4" brim) be appropriately worn with anything other than cowboy boots?

Many thanks in advance for your responses and patience. I've tried to do some basic searches, but am a bit overwhelmed.

 

[zetwal]

1. It may not have a specific model. Some do not. Show us some pics for more feedback.
2. Most everyone prefers fur felt over wool. Fur felt is almost always superior. Often it's far superior.
3. Perhaps, with the right suit and crowd. No doubt others will disagree (especially with regard to the shoes).
4. I would always wear western boots with a big brim western hat. For me, it's a matter of preference.

Welcome to the Lounge!

 

[scottyrocks]

4. I would always wear western boots with a big brim western hat. For me, it's a matter of preference.

Welcome to the Lounge!

Welcome, KCD.

I agree with zetwal, but I would add that it can depend on where you live.

For example, in Texas, yes to boots with said hat. In New York City or the surrounding burbs? Doesnt matter (as much). Of course, YMMV.

 

[hatophile]

Hi KCD and welcome.

There are some threads regarding Stetsons and models, etc. Sometimes there was no model name at all. I have several hats that for all intents and purposes look like Open Roads,
but there are no markings to verify anywhere on the hat.

Wool hats are not bad, especially for beaters or starting out, but most folks here prefer the feel and durability of fur felts.

Personally, I feel a nicely blocked Open Road is perfectly fine with a suit and dress shoes. After
all, many gentleman wore them years ago for "Sunday Best". This is something that would probably be looked on more favorably in a Rural or Western setting.

Well, I have seen Willie Nelson wear fur felt cowboy hats with tennis shoes-- then again, he's
Willie. I think it depends on the hat and what else you are wearing. Here in Ohio, true cowboy hats are rare, unless working around horses or attending rodeos, country and western concerts, etc. So I will wear ORs, but tend to avoid a huge brim cowboy hat unless the occasion calls for it, and when I do, I wear cowboy boots or lacers. I say wear whatever you're comfortable with.

 

[Neophyte]

Hi, everybody. This is a great resource.

I have some newby questions and would appreciate your indulgence:

1. I have two Stetsons and would like to know what model they are. What is the best way of determining that? No model markings are apparent.

2. What's the difference in day-to-day quality of fur felt vs. wool felt hats. For instance, should wool felts be avoided?

3. Is an Open Road with the standard cattleman's crease appropriate to wear with a suit and dress shoes?

4. Can a standard Cattleman/Rancher's western hat (4" brim) be appropriately worn with anything other than cowboy boots?

1. Need pictures, but someone ought to be able to help you.
2. There are many, many debates about the qualities of wool versus fur felt. The majority will agree that fur felt is superior, although that depends on the quality of the fur felt itself.
3. Fellow Lounger Mr. Paladin frequently shows up in the "What Hat Are You Wearing Today?" thread with a Open Road sporting a cattleman's crease. He wears it with a suit, often for Sunday church, and it has always looked great!
4. I'm branching out into westerns, and I do not have any cowboy boots. I find that leather loafers work just fine, so perhaps as long as you're wearing something leather; though Scottyrock's idea about locality may apply as well.

 

[monbla256]

Hi, everybody. This is a great resource.

I have some newby questions and would appreciate your indulgence:

1. I have two Stetsons and would like to know what model they are. What is the best way of determining that? No model markings are apparent.

2. What's the difference in day-to-day quality of fur felt vs. wool felt hats. For instance, should wool felts be avoided?

3. Is an Open Road with the standard cattleman's crease appropriate to wear with a suit and dress shoes?

4. Can a standard Cattleman/Rancher's western hat (4" brim) be appropriately worn with anything other than cowboy boots?

Many thanks in advance for your responses and patience. I've tried to do some basic searches, but am a bit overwhelmed.

I'd like to preface my answers with this: These are my OPINIONS based on living in Texas all my life and having worn both traditional Western and Fedora style hats and western boots for over 50 years now
1.) Can't help ya out here as you did not furnish pics
2.) Only buy and wear FUR felt. IMHO wool felt is for childrens cowboy hats and circus souvinirs
3.) Remember LBJ ? Though he wore Resistols, they were all with the Open Road style . He wore suits with 'em and it all looked fine
4.) Most folks would wear a western hat with that size brim with boots, at least down here for sure. But we are in America the land of "we don't need no stinkin' rules" so make like the Nike ad and "Do it" with whatever you want to wear on your feet. Just remember, many folks might look at you funny but just keep on truckin'

 

[1961MJS]

HI

1. Need pics, but I'm not expert anyway.
2. Wool felt hats are perfectly wonderful, until either you sweat through it, or it rains. Wet wool hats are NOT perfectly wonderful.
3. It is in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and North of there. It's also o.k. in the Western states, which don't border on the Ocean, otherwise the rule seems to be "Cowboy hats are for Horse Owners". I have relatives who own (or owned) cattle and never wore a cowboy hat.
4. I'm ordering a Montana Peak Campaign hat, which I will wear with hiking boots or cowboy boots. The exception in wearing "Western hats" and boots might be wearing an extremely nasty looking straw cowboy hat while wearing wife beaters, cut off jeans, and untied tennis shoes. You don't put grilled onions on top of a hot fudge sundae...

Hope this helps a little. I've never been to Maryland.

 

[danofarlington]

Hi, everybody. This is a great resource.

I have some newby questions and would appreciate your indulgence:

1. I have two Stetsons and would like to know what model they are. What is the best way of determining that? No model markings are apparent.

2. What's the difference in day-to-day quality of fur felt vs. wool felt hats. For instance, should wool felts be avoided?

3. Is an Open Road with the standard cattleman's crease appropriate to wear with a suit and dress shoes?

4. Can a standard Cattleman/Rancher's western hat (4" brim) be appropriately worn with anything other than cowboy boots?

Many thanks in advance for your responses and patience. I've tried to do some basic searches, but am a bit overwhelmed.

I'll take my stab at answering the questions that I can. Re felt versus wool, I don't know about the wear, but felt looks cool and wool just isn't as cool. Re cattleman's crease, I live in Arlington, Virginia, and personally don't want to go around with a cattleman's crease. It's just too Western for here. Here, it's "urban casual" and "urban," unless you're out in the country. My Open Road was re-whacked to be "center dent with pinches," the way you see most of them here, and that's a good solution to my eyes.

 

[RobFedoraField]

Here's my 2 cents... well 3 after inflation

Hi, everybody. This is a great resource.

I have some newby questions and would appreciate your indulgence:

1. I have two Stetsons and would like to know what model they are. What is the best way of determining that? No model markings are apparent.
research this site, lots of info, but others are right, especially earlier ones didn't have a model name

2. What's the difference in day-to-day quality of fur felt vs. wool felt hats. For instance, should wool felts be avoided?
YES! they will not hold up as well as fur felts. fur is also much easier to modify a crease in to to repair a crease if your hat gets stepped on or blown off your head

3. Is an Open Road with the standard cattleman's crease appropriate to wear with a suit and dress shoes?
definitely... well mostly.... it really depends on the suit. if it's traditional or western, sure, if it's trendy or "modern" maybe not. I think the bigger trick is finding one that matches color / hue / etc.

4. Can a standard Cattleman/Rancher's western hat (4" brim) be appropriately worn with anything other than cowboy boots?
I would say western boots of any kind, I tend to wear mine with plain leather work boots. i would avoid them with tennis shoes or "loafers" but to each their own, not matter what you wear, there will be someone who gives you a funny look

Many thanks in advance for your responses and patience. I've tried to do some basic searches, but am a bit overwhelmed.

There is definitely a lot of information on this site and a lot of opinions. but I think the general consensus around this place is that you need "good taste" no matter what style you dress in.

Cheers and we look forward to pics of those stetsons!

 

[Mr. Paladin]

3. Fellow Lounger Mr. Paladin frequently shows up in the "What Hat Are You Wearing Today?" thread with a Open Road sporting a cattleman's crease. He wears it with a suit, often for Sunday church, and it has always looked great!

Neo, thank you for the recognition; I appreciate the compliment!

KCD, this is of course, just my opinion, but I am a native Texan who grew up on a ranch in West Central Texas "in the sticks". I have worn the Open Road style hat exclusively for 30+ yeqars, up until the last 4-5 years, when I branched out into fedoras and homburgs. It has been my experience that the older ranchers and farmers who dressed up "Sunday best" in their suits and ORs, would wear their best boots or dress shoes equally comfortably with that hat. I wear my ORs fairly equally with boots or dress shoes depending on the style. Two of my ORs have brims that are flattenened in the front more than the others (though not snapped down) and I generally wear them with boots. The others, with the standard brim up look, I can wear with dress shoes comfortably. None of my suits are western cut and that is not necessary for the OR.

I recommend boots only for the wider brimmed westerns though; they are definitely not dress shoe hats, but they still go nicely with boots and a non-western cut suit. Just my opinion, mileage may vary!