February 27, 2009

The American Cowboy Hat – Icon of the Old West

The American cowboy hat has traditional look that is a truly American. Cowboy hats have come in many shapes and sizes over time, yet their popularity endures. It’s a unique object that commands such a love affair for any culture. The American cowboy hat will likely remain a archetypal symbol since it stands for so many traditional American qualities.

For many people today the image of the old west is full of ideals that are still held dear. Few things are more American than the stories of hard working cowboys, moving out west to build better lives for their families. The premise of the American dream strikes a chord for so many. Thus we find ourselves a long standing cultural attachment to this iconic fashion item.

The period known as Manifest Destiny is an important part of American history. The American cowboy hat is a symbol that reminds us of that time. Seeing it’s image we remember our past, a time when courageous men and women who set out to move west, tame the frontier lands and create the nation we love today.

More than our history, the American cowboy hat has also become an icon for the values that drive our nation still today. The people of the United States still pride themselves on a sense of hard work. Few jobs are tougher than that of the cowboys in the old west. It was a job that could be dirty, dangerous and tiresome, but it was also making a wholesome and honest living. This is still an important aspect to many people of our culture today. That is why it is fashion that is still worn by anyone from music stars to politicians. It is an iconic symbol that represents an undying national spirit.

The American cowboy hat also represents much about the image of our country. Americans enjoy a great sense of pride in the power of our international presence. There are few images that have represented this spirit and toughness more than the image of the old west. It is no wonder that some of our biggest icons have been tough actors from the wild west movies, like John Wayne. Similarly the hats worn by these legends have also become images of the toughness and grit of American culture.

America is seen as a land of opportunity for many people around the world. Beginning with the gold rush of the 1800′s, people have wanted to move west to seek their fortune and a build a better life. This is when the American cowboy hat became popular. It’s no surprise that it is an image of both the national and personal prosperity that has brought so many people from around the world seeking their own American dream.

It is no wonder that since our young nation, relative to the rest of the world, latches on to such a symbolic piece of apparel. Even though technology has come about and changed our nation for the better, eliminating the American cowboy of the past, it has ingrained an image that America clings to. While our culture has changed, the American cowboy hat has still found a place today.

The American cowboy hat will always be a popular fashion item. Regardless of how much the country changes, it will still be a reminder of the qualities that created a nation that forever changed the world. It can be wild and tough, or cultured and dignified, and more than anything it is a timeless symbol of our nation.

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