in the mid 40's as part of Stetson's Royal Quality fur felt fedora series and now it's back. Offered in Silver Belly, it features a teardrop crown, has a 2 1/2 inch brim, and grosgrain ribbon trim with classic airplane pin. The color is wonderful, the fabric luxurious, the hat a thing of beauty. Brand new this season is The Stratoliner in milan braid. This remake of the famous Stetson hat features a slightly narrower bound brim than the fur felt version at 2 1/4 inches, but it also has the narrow grosgrain trim with airplane pin and bound edge.

The Weekender is a Stetson fedora with a nice western hat style to it. Made from fur felt, it's a hat you might not wear to a button-down business meeting, but it's fancy enough for a more casual dress event. Fully lined, this men's hat boasts a dimensional brim turned slightly downward, and has an outstanding pheasant feather band for the trim.

One of the best known dress cowboy hats from Stetson is The Open Road, and it's offered in a couple of versions. In Grade 4X quality fur felt, the elegant western hat features a preshaped, slightly rolled brim with bound edge. The deep center crease and side dents work together to really bring out the rancher hat influence. The straw version of The Open Road is a limited edition piece, and has been produced with an exceptionally fine and tightly woven hat body. The brim measures 2 3/4 inches, and you see the center dent, narrow grosgrain ribbon trim. The most economical of The Open Road hats is also offered, as a straw cowboy hat, the weave of which is not as fine and linen-like as the pricier version.

Although a derby hat obviously isn't a cowboy hat (nor is a pork pie hat, for that matter), both were popular men's hat styles in the Old West, much as they are today. The Derby is a perfect replication of that style silhouette from Stetson, with a 2 1/8 inch brim which has a lightly bound edge. The hat is satin lined and fitted with a leather sweatband for wearer comfort.