This was either as a fedora or with the now essential Cattleman Crease. This means that the top of the hat was left rounded and unstyled so the hat could be finished however the wearer wanted. When the hat was first offered the “open” in “Open Road” also referred to the fact that the hat was sold with an open crown. Unless you steam it and curl up the sides, it will remain flat and provide another horizontal line to parallel your eyes, mouth, and chin. This is wide enough to shield your eyes from sun and rain, but not so big to become floppy or to hide the face beneath it. Some modern versions have a cattle brand pin (that I thought was a key until I took a good look at it). It also features a very narrow Grosgrain ribbon around the crown finished with a small unobtrusive bow. Its form is well balanced, working on a variety of faces and head shapes, and with both men and women. Too low and it will give off a G-Man vibe and too high will feel like Daniel Day Lewis in “Gangs of New York.” Crown height should balance your face and chin. The crown height is still fairly tall at 4.25”, without feeling out of proportion. Another important feature is that the brim is dead flat, giving a certain seriousness to your eyes. By comparison, a typical cowboy hat has a 4” brim. What makes an Open Road an Open Road is its relatively narrow brim, at just 2 ¾”. I own the Stetson Open Road Royal Deluxe in Silverbelly. Let’s talk about the particulars and my experience with this iconic hat. Now ask yourself whether it’s going to be this one. If you have read this far, you want to wear a hat. Dressed up or down, this hat adds an exclamation point on your look a dash of insouciant cool. These days you are as likely to see it in Brooklyn as West Texas, and it pairs with a variety of styles. It carries an air of authority, competence, creativity, edginess, and grit. It’s range is so broad owing to its flexibility and adaptability. Harvey Keitel wore it fighting vampires in “From Dusk till Dawn.” Shakey Graves has worn it performing, also Leon Bridges. Kennedy was offered one and famously refused it. Johnson that it was referred to as an “LBJ” for over a decade, but Presidents Truman and Eisenhower wore one as well.

This style of hat was so identified with President Lyndon B.

This hat has been worn by Presidents, lawmen, musicians, artists, and actors. Why this matters is that this hat carries an amazing amount of history for over 80 years. A Stetson catalogue from 1938 does not include it, but since hats were so customizable (then as well as now), it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when it emerged. The Stetson Open Road was introduced somewhere around 1940, although some sources show it as early as 1937 with a wider ribbon. Worn by presidents, musicians, and everyone in between.Latest posts by Timothy Steiner (see all).

Stetson open road straw