Gambler Hats

Gambler Hats through History

Believed to have derived their name from its use by riverboat gamblers who, hoping to be seen as wealthy landowners, emulated plantation owners' fashion, Gambler hats have remained a favorite among the wealthy and the everyday man alike. It lends its panache to any suit while also providing protection from the sun along with cool ventilation for those working outdoors and those simply enjoying open-air activities. In short, the Gambler is stylishly versatile.

It's the construction of the Gambler hat that distinguishes it from other designs. Devised of sisal straw, wool felt or leather, among other materials, a Gambler hat is a smaller version of a cowboy hat, often featuring a slight upturn to its smaller brim as well as a lower crown with a distinctive oval silhouette, all of it bespeaking confident style. The fact that the straw versions are open-weaved hats is decidedly cool in every way, making this one of the go-to hats for summer.

Together, all of these elements explain the allure of the Gambler. Our selection of gambler hats for sale is of the utmost in quality and appeal for today's fashion.

Classic Looks and Character

A nod both to the rough-hewn style of the cowboy and the genteel persona of gentry, the traditional look of the Stetson Gambler hat makes it among the most popular. It's the prototypical wool felt or fur felt design that are the foundation for its good looks, with its classic ebony hue expanding on that foundation. A case in point is the Black Hawk, a felt Gambler hat whose transcendent design is equally complementary to chaps and boots as it is to a well-tailored blazer and trousers. What's more, it's a look that supersedes trends. That's classic.

Gambler Hats Have Vintage Charm

Hearkening back to a time when men routinely tipped their hats to ladies and a man's word was his bond, Gambler hats offer a vintage look that evokes a bit of nostalgia for that courtlier time. Nothing represents this better than a straw Gambler hat. Whether you select the time-honored look of sisal straw, as in our Muldoon, with its pecan color and black band that pair perfectly with virtually any summer attire or a paper straw hat such as the Scala MS320, whose natural color and dapper, printed band are summer staples, the Gambler adds a touch of vintage charm to contemporary attire.

Make a True Fashion Statement

While the Gambler hat is a classic, it's an assertive accessory as well. With this in mind, those for whom cutting-edge fashions are their sartorial statement say it boldly with a leather Gambler hat, for instance. Just as declarative, a fur felt Gambler like the Royal Flush offers the manly allure of a cowboy hat deftly combined with the debonair flair that is just part of the mystique of a Stetson Gambler hat. That's a fashion statement without argument.

Feminine Appeal

Although the Gambler hat's strong lines have tied it to a male aesthetic, several woven hats proffer a softer silhouette that is unmistakably feminine. Such is the case with our Scala natural crocheted raffia straw Gambler hats as well as our Scala natural twisted seagrass Gambler hat. What makes these styles especially appealing to women is the juxtaposition of the masculine design and feminine details. In our Scala models, the crinkle-cloth bands in neutral tones on the crocheted raffia straw hats and the animal print scarf on the seagrass hat, both with bows trailing behind, are just the right touch of delicateness, making an otherwise unobtrusive design into a pretty wardrobe accent.

Ultimately, a Gambler hat marks the person who wears it as a style setter. Garnering silent applause for that style, those who select the Gambler never gamble on style.