<P> The first western model was the open - crowned "Boss of the Plains", and after that came the front - creased Carlsbad, destined to become "the" cowboy style . The high - crowned, wide - brimmed, soft - felt western hats that followed are intimately associated with the cowboy image . </P> <P> Modern cowboy hats are made of fur - based felt, straw or, less often, leather . They are sold with a tall, rounded crown and a wide flat brim . They have a simple sweat band on the inside to stabilize the fit of the head, and usually a small decorative hat band on the outside of the crown . Hats are customized by creasing the crown and rolling the brim . Often a more decorative hat band is added . In some places, "stampede strings" or "wind strings" are also attached . Hats can be manufactured in virtually any color, but are most often seen in shades of beige, brown and black . Beginning in the 1940s, pastel colors were introduced, seen often on hats worn by movie cowboys and rodeo riders . "Today's cowboy hat has remained basically unchanged in construction and design since the first one was created in 1865 by J.B. Stetson ." </P> <P> The concept of a broad - brimmed hat with a high crown worn by a rider on horseback can be seen as far back as the Mongolian horsemen of the 13th century . A tall crown provided insulation, the wide brim, shade . Hot, sunny climates inspire designs with very wide brims such as the sombrero of Mexico . </P> <P> It is not clear when the cowboy hat began to be named as such . European - Americans in the Western United States originally had no standard headwear . People moving West wore many styles of hat, including top hats, derbies, remains of Civil War headgear, sailor hats and everything else . Contrary to popular belief, it was the bowler and not the cowboy hat that was the most popular in the American West, prompting Lucius Beebe to call it "the hat that won the West". The working cowboy wore wide - brimmed, high - crowned hats that were most likely adopted from the Mexican Vaqueros before the invention of the modern design . However, original cowboy hats originated in Northern Mexico and the Stetson hats came later . Credit for the American cowboy hat as it is known today is generally given to John Batterson Stetson . </P>

What is the purpose of a cowboy hat