Saturday, July 9, 2011

ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE

NICE HAT

What is the origin of this term? I've heard this quotation more in the last few years than I ever have. What does this actually mean? I found definitions such as these:
"Full of big talk but lacking action."
"Talking like one is more important than one is."
"High-falootin' goals."
"I aim to be rich and a big shot."


BAD HAT!
I kept searching and believe I have found the original source:
An old Texas gal and her guy are in Paris and she is sort of teasing him/flirting with him, calling him a cowboy (which he isn't) and saying he's "all hat and no cattle," which may or may not teasingly mean that he's a pseudo-cowboy or low-level cowboy in the cowboy pecking order.

TEXAS RANGER
This term came to me as I watched the local news here...yep, in Texas. A sheriff was in front of a microphone explaining a break-in assault, but I became more intrigued by his Western wear, especially his hat. Now, let me say that wearing cowboy or Western hats in Texas is as common as grass burs so, I have no quarrel with the practice. Texas Rangers have always worn the Western hat since the mid-1800's, and they do today, even though they drive cars or pickups. (Note: in the open western part of the state, some law enforcement members drive pickups.)


COOL COWBOY AND HAT
I rather like a man in boots, jeans, and a cowboy hat, even though he might not be a rancher or ride a horse. It's only a manner of dress, when one gets down to it.

WILL AND KATE IN CALGARY
Did any of you see the photo of Prince William in Calgary in his white cowboy hat? I thought he looked so handsome! He'd pulled it over his forehead a little, and he could have been a hero on the cover of a Western romance novel.

THIS IS GOOD, TOO!
These are some of my favorites.
MARLBORO MAN--TOO BAD HE SMOKED
JAMES DEAN
JOHN WAYNE
 Now I've had my fun today. Most of the time, I've worked on something either inside or outside the house, so to entertain myself, I Googled "Men in Cowboy Hats."
What do you think of my choices?
Celia

22 comments:

  1. Great post.
    As native Texans, my wife and I both have definite opinions about cowboy hats. For example, a "real cowboy" would never be caught dead wearing a straw hat in the winter - unless he is Mexican, which is a whole different set of rules.
    And some people, in spite of their best efforts and intentions just look damn silly wearing a cowboy hat.

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  2. Hi, Bob--congratulation on being one of the guys who knows how to wear a cowboy hat! I, too, definite opinions about cowboy hats--I've seen some that were downright goofy.
    Thanks for your comment--I enjoy your visits. Celia

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  3. Ooooooooh, there is something about a cowboy hat on a tall, lean man (you know the strong, silent type) that sets my heart beating faster. And no, I'm not a westerner but the John Wayne type appeals to everyone, don't you think?

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  4. I too love to see men wear a cowboy hat, especially if they're comfortable in it. Loved seeing Will and Kate in their hats. They fit right in, didn't they?

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  5. Hi, Linda--you're right. The tall lean cowboy appeals to everyone--I think it's a universal thing. I don't know why. Same as men in Kilts--we all swoon.--why? Celia

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  6. Linda L.--When I saw that photo of Will in his hat, I had the idea for this blog--mainly so I could post his and Kate's photos in their Western gear. Notice how we address them by their shortened first names as if we know them well? How odd.
    Celia

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  7. Loved the James Dean photo. Be still my heart!

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  8. JANNINE--ah, yes, Jimmy Dean. Every female's dream.This is my favorite photo of him. Celia

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  9. There is something so macho about the cowboy hat. Look at John Wayne. Isn't he every woman's real hero.

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  10. Loved this post Celia. As a country gal, a man in a cowboy hat is the epitome of sexy!

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  11. Oh yeah, Celia. You nailed it several times with the photos. A couple others come to mind who wore a cowboy hat well, Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford.

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  12. I enjoyed the information about cowboy hats as well as reading the comments. My DH is one of those guys who doesn't wear a cowboy hat well, however, he's looks smokin' good in a baseball cap. Just goes to show ya.

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  13. MONA--John Wayne, yes, seemed like the real deal. He sure knew how to wear a hat! Celia

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  14. Calisa--I love your name. It seems a good cowboy hat on the right person is good for us all--city girls or country girls. Celia

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  15. Joyce--Oh! Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford! How could I have forgotten? You're so right. Celia

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  16. LORETTA--You made me laugh. You know, there's an art to a good baseball cap, too--the kind and how to wear it. My husband, too, look great in a good cap. He wears a kind of straw hat in the summers with short and sandals--not exactly a Panama hat,but sort of, with fabric around the crown. He usually gets comments from some woman about "love that hat." It's because it looks good on him. Oh, he'd kill me if he knew I was talking about him.
    Celia

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  17. Great post. We live in cutting horse and cattle country. Most of the men wear western boots and western hats--even to church. Of course, they don't wear the hats inside the church.

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  18. Wearing boots and a cowboy hat is more than a style of dress, it's a state of mind, a statement of who a man thinks he is or would like to be. But what about women? Does wearing a cowboy hat make a woman look sexy, too?

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  19. My DH is one of those guys who doesn't abrasion a cowboy hat well, however, he's looks smokin' acceptable in a baseball cap. Just goes to appearance ya.

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  20. There is something of a cowboy hat in a long, thin man with this great heart beat faster. This kind of appeals to everyone and good for body.

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  22. I appreciated the information on cowboy hats and reading the comments. My DH is one of those guys who does not use a cowboy hat, but she looks smokin 'a cap well.

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