Sombreros have become a widely recognized symbol of Mexican culture and heritage worn by people worldwide. Sombreros add an exquisite and timeless look to any ensemble while offering vital UV protection against harmful rays of sunlight.
The sombrero vaquero is a trendy cowboy hat available in multiple styles. Read on to gain more knowledge of this fascinating piece and how you can wear it!
Mexican Sombreros
Sombreros are an iconic component of Southwestern culture and make an excellent souvenir or home decoration piece. Our Mexican-crafted sombreros adhere to traditional methods.
Sombreros are broad-brimmed hats with high crowns featuring upturned edges at their brim edges to protect against sun rays and an upturn at their edges. Worn to protect from the heat and sun rays, they have long been an essential component of Mexican culture. Available in numerous colors, styles, designs, and materials such as palm leaves, straw, wool, and leather, they are often decorated with beads, sequins, embroidery embellishments, or beads for festivals, rodeos, cultural events, and rodeos sombreros are usually worn for sun protection against sun-rays brimmed design to provide shade from its harmful rays – worn to provide shade from its harsh rays.
A sombrero can be worn by men, women, and children of all ages and can also be worn with many outfits, such as dresses, skirts, or shirts. The sombrero has become a symbol of Mexican people and is often associated with their traditions, history, and culture.
The origins of the sombrero remain uncertain, though its design likely evolved in response to wearers’ needs. For instance, its shape and brim were intended to provide shade from rain and wind as well as provide protection. Meanwhile, its close cousin, the charro hat, originated out of necessity for cowboys riding horseback in hot and sunny environments.
The name “sombrero” may derive from the Spanish term for shade – “sombra”. First appearing in Mexico around 1550, sombreros became fashionable among both farmers and peasants alike, while wealthy classes often adorned their felt or velvet sombreros with gold thread around the brim or other types of decorations to show their more affluent status.
Pinch Front Style
The Pinch Front Style Sombrero Vaquero is an attractive cowboy hat, distinguished by its subtle pinch front crown and narrow brim. Versatile in terms of both casual and formal use, its moderate sun protection makes it suitable for outdoor activities; plus, its form can easily conform to wearer preferences by shaping, molding, and ribbon embellishments.
This type of sombrero vaquero features a low, round crown with an arched flat brim that curves up at its sides, originally intended as an effective means to block sun and wind exposure. Today, it serves both practical and aesthetic functions; made from felt, straw, or leather (such as the Sunbody hats we carry), they come in an assortment of styles and colors to add character and flair to any ensemble.
Gus sombreros have a more prominent crown and wider, upturned brim, perfect for ranchers and workers who spend long hours outdoors, such as fur/felt combinations or straw and palm leaf. Furthermore, these highly durable hats can easily be stored and rolled up into pockets, making them an excellent addition to outdoor adventures.
The Montana Peak Sombrero is similar to its Cattleman’s Crease cousin but features an amplified center pinch that causes its crown to slope toward the wearer’s face. First worn by Tom Mix – a legendary Western movie star – it has since been worn by presidents, musicians, and celebrities as an elegant yet sophisticated style of vaquero sombrero for formal occasions.
Gus Style
Cowboys have long-worn Gus styles of cowboy hats. This classic style features a center crease with side pinches. The brim is slightly curved while its crown slopes forward dramatically; Robert Duvall’s character in Lonesome Dove made this style famous, and many cowboys still wear them today.
Gus wore his hat throughout the entire series and never gave it up, even when it became damaged and needed repairs multiple times. It symbolized his integrity and showed why it’s crucial to maintain strong values while never giving up on dreams and ambitions. This shows just how vital integrity can be.
Sunbody’s Gus-style hat showcases their superior quality and craftsmanship. Handmade in Mexico from palm straw with a faux leather hat band and grosgrain ribbon-bound brim, it boasts a medium firm body for optimal wear with an approximate four-inch wide brim.
This Sunbody Gus Style hat is available in black, chocolate, and natural. Size options range from 6 1/4″ to 7″, making this an ideal hat for outdoor activities such as riding horses or walking through woods. If interested, click here to browse all Sunbody Gus Style hats!
Tom Mix Style
Tom Mix, born Thomas Hezikiah Mix in Mix Run, Pennsylvania, and known professionally by his military name Thomas Edwin Mix during the Spanish-American War as Sergeant of Artillery, though he never saw combat, popularized this hat style during his movie star days as a movie cowboy and rodeo clown.
Mix was an eye-catching character who delighted audiences by dressing in vibrant Western clothes and performing daredevil stunts. A skilled horseman and marksman with both pistol and rifle, Mix was also a top-rated attraction at small traveling circus shows as well as major Western studios. His charisma was sure to turn heads!
Mix earned big bucks as his fame expanded and eventually earned the moniker “Cowboy Millionaire.” He lived opulence and drove luxury cars. Married frequently and considered himself to be an attractive ladies’ man who often attended nightclubs, studio parties, and premieres wearing his trademark Stetson hat.
After silent films began their gradual decline, Mix shifted his focus towards talkies. He was offered a lucrative contract by Joseph P. Kennedy’s independent studio, Film Booking Office of America, which would later merge into RKO Studios.
A hybrid between the ten-gallon sombrero characterized Mix’s trademark look and pinch front style of cowboy hat – usually white – which combined features of both. He often wore this look in movies and on radio shows featuring Olive Ralston and Straight Shooters; today, this style is recognized as representing his classic Tom Mix look alongside Gus styles worn by Robert Duvall in Lonesome Dove.
Open Crown Style
The Open Crown Sombrero Vaquero is an adaptable and timeless cowboy hat style that can be customized by its wearer for ultimate customizability and Western charm. Popular among working cowboys as well as fashion-minded individuals looking to add Western-style flair, this style often finds favor with working cowboys as well.
A sombrero vaquero can be personalized and made truly stand out by embellishing it with decorative bands or ribbons, silver conchos, or leather fringe. These details give it its signature appearance that sets it apart from other sombreros; its wide, flat brim is usually wide with a slight upturn at each side, providing ample shade against sun exposure – an attractive feature ideal for working cowboys who spend long hours outside.
Aside from being an excellent fashion choice, the sombrero vaquero also provides many other advantages. For instance, its lightweight construction makes it comfortable to wear for prolonged periods. Plus, its variety of colors and finishes means it pairs with various outfits seamlessly.
Sombreros are an integral part of Mexican culture and can be worn by both men and women. There is a wide selection of styles available; each has its own unique characteristics and cultural meaning. One such hat, known as the vaquero style hat traditionally worn by Mexican cowboys, is the vaquero; this traditional cowboy-inspired design features a tall crown topped by an upturned flat brim at both ends with turned-up edges – it makes an excellent way to add Western flair to one’s wardrobe!
