Western & Outback
The Western hat is most often referring to the "cowboy hat", well known from films about 18th century American Western ranchers and farmers who became action stars in early cinema. In reality, few "cowboys" actually wore the famous 10 gallon hats- wide brimmed with a curved shape and a high pinched crown, the cowboy hats associated with the Old West were actually the less popular style of the time! Most Western settlers still wore derby hats or top hats, among other more casual styles. The original Western hats were inspired by those worn by Mexican ranchers called "Vaqueros", and John Stetson took that wide brimmed high crowned look to make the waterproof Boss of the Plains, beginning a tradition of Western hats that leads to the cowboy hats of today. Stetson is the most famous American Western hat maker, and is responsible for marketing the hat as an all-American look every man should have.
Outback hats generally refer to the Australian bush hats or "slouch hats", which were a form of wide brimmed hat made to combat the harsh Australian sun. They were a staple of Australian military and their distinctive slipe downward at the front and back allowed moisture to roll off while still shading the eyes.
