Sheriff WoodyOne hat. Plenty of characters.
Cowboy Hat Costumes & Character Ideas
Already have a cowboy hat? Build a costume around it. Find recognizable characters, compare hat shapes and choose the details that turn Western clothes into a complete look.
48 costume guides Latest costume added Oct 11, 2026Save these ideas
Cowboy Hat Costume Ideas to Start With
A brown cowboy hat works for Woody, a white hat for Cowboy Ken and a red cowgirl hat for Jessie. Follow the character’s guide for the shirt, boots and accessories that complete the outfit.
Sheriff WoodyBrown hat & checked shirt
Cowboy KenWhite hat & Western fringe
JessieRed hat & yellow detailingCharacters With Cowboy Hats
Find your character, or narrow the costumes by hat color.
48 Cowboy Hat costumes
Cowboy-hat costumeAgent Tequila
Kingsman Golden Circle rodeo spy look: wool cowboy hat, lined denim jacket, solid long sleeve shirt, rugged relaxed jeans, aviator sunglasses and smoky mountain boots.
Cowboy-hat costumeAgent Whiskey
Dress up like Agent Whiskey, the Statesman agent in a bold blue snow outfit from Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Cowboy-hat costumeAndy
Toy Story cowboy-playing kid look: raglan t-shirt, cargo shorts, red cowboy hat, converse sneakers, plus a Jessie figure and a Buzz Lightyear figure.
Cowboy-hat costumeArthur Morgan
How to dress like Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2: light blue western shirt, brown canvas pants, black suspenders, dark cowboy hat, toy pistol and brown boots.
Cowboy-hat costumeBeyoncé "Cowboy Carter"
Cowboy Carter rodeo queen look: black cowgirl hat, long ash blonde wig, white long sleeve shirt, ribbon bow tie, rectangle sunglasses and black pointed toe heels.
Cowboy-hat costumeBlondie
Good, the Bad and the Ugly gunslinger look: olive western poncho, cream western shirt, brown leather vest, brown trousers, a weathered cowboy hat and a black holster belt.
Cowboy-hat costumeCarl Grimes
Walking Dead young survivor look: western cowboy hat, plaid flannel button-down shirt, silk eyepatch, short brown hair, straight-fit jeans and dual wild west toy pistols.
Cowboy-hat costumeCherry
Forbidden Fruits coquette-cowgirl look: long blonde wavy wig, white cowboy hat, pink pointelle cardigan, dusty-pink gingham bloomer shorts and white fringe cowboy boots.
Cowboy-hat costumeCooper Howard
Fallout cowboy survivor look: cream cowboy hat, fringed long sleeve shirt, square neck scarf, cowboy leather belt, rancher dress jeans, leather boots and a gun belt with holster.
Cowboy-hat costumeCordell Walker
Texas Ranger build: a blue denim jacket over a light tan western shirt and jeans, with a black cowboy hat, boots and a ranger badge.
Cowboy-hat costumeCowboy Ken
Barbie’s cowboy look: white cowboy hat, pink cowboy bandana, fringe long sleeve shirt, black slim jeans and a short blonde wig.
Cowboy-hat costumeCowgirl Barbie
Barbie Movie cowgirl look: pink cowgirl hat, pink vest, light blonde wig, pink bandana, white cowgirl boots and high-waist disco pants.
Cowboy-hat costumeCreeper
Jeepers Creepers winged killer look: a cowboy coat over a red long-sleeve shirt, with the weathered Creeper mask, hat and a spear axe.
Cowboy-hat costumeCrocodile Dundee
Australian Outback adventurer look: brown outback hat, tan leather vest, alligator tooth necklace, brown leather belt, black dungaree pants and a plastic Bowie knife prop.
Cowboy-hat costumeDallas
Magic Mike club-owner look: black faux leather vest, felt cowboy hat, faux leather pants, leather cowboy boots, a concho western belt and a silver snake pendant necklace.
Cowboy-hat costumeDigger Rockwell
Tom Cruise’s pinstripe cowboy look: gray pinstripe suit, tan cowboy hat, bolo tie, western boots, comb-over wig and the shovel prop.
Cowboy-hat costumeDjango Freeman
Unchained bounty-hunter look: brown cowboy hat, trucker jacket, henley shirt, olive scarf, jeans, driving gloves and a leather holster.
Cowboy-hat costumeDoc Holliday
Build Doc Holliday’s Tombstone look with a red vest, high white collar, silver puff tie, black hat, and layered coat.
Cowboy-hat costumeDolores Abernathy
Westworld theme-park host look: brown cowboy hat, sky blue bandana, blue and white stripe shirt, brown belt with gold square buckle, grey skinny jeans and brown leather boots.
Cowboy-hat costumeDoug Dimmadome
Small-town tycoon in a white two-piece suit: a white cowboy hat base, black cowboy boots and a gray mustache and sideburns.
Cowboy-hat costumeDr. Alan Grant
Jurassic Park paleontologist look: light blue chambray shirt, safari hat, flat front pants, leather belt, aviator sunglasses, red paisley bandana and wheat work boots.
Cowboy-hat costumeDudley Do-Right
Rocky and Bullwinkle Mountie look: Canadian Mountie uniform, yellow wig, red western cowboy hat, knee high equestrian boots and gold leather paint.
Cowboy-hat costumeDutch van der Linde
How to dress like Dutch van der Linde: black wide-brim cowboy hat, slicked-back dark hair, white dress shirt, black waistcoat, long frock coat, red neckerchief and black leather boots.
Cowboy-hat costumeErron Black
Dress up like Erron Black, the Western gunslinger from Mortal Kombat 11, in denim, a cowboy hat and dual holsters.Showing 1–24 of 48 Cowboy Hat costumes
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Choose the Hat Before the Rest of the Costume
A brown hat does not make every outfit Woody, and a black hat does not make every outfit a gunslinger. Start with the crown, brim and color, then add the clothing that tells people who you are. If you already own a hat, use those details to narrow the character list before buying anything else.
Brown & Weathered
Woody, Arthur Morgan, John Marston and the Ghoul all use brown or weathered Western headwear, but the finish matters. Woody’s hat has a clean, toy-like outline. Arthur and John need a lived-in look; the Ghoul pairs his with a battered long coat. A removable band can suggest a different character without permanently changing a hat you wear outside Halloween.
Black & Structured
Try the Man in Black, Wyatt Earp, Hector Escaton or Beyoncé’s black-suit Cowboy Carter styling. Dark hats work especially well with a contrasting shirt, a visible hatband or a distinctive jacket. Choose the character first: a frontier outfit and a modern tailored suit need very different pieces below the same black brim.
White, Cream & Pale Felt
Cowboy Ken and Cooper Howard offer two different directions for a light hat: playful fringe and a pink neckerchief, or a vintage screen-cowboy outfit. Do not assume “silverbelly” means bright white. Compare the seller’s color photographs with your shirt and accessories, particularly when the outfit depends on a clean black-and-white contrast.
Pink, Red & Cartoon Colors
Cowgirl Barbie and Andy’s red-hat look are good reasons to choose a costume hat over an expensive everyday one. The strong color is part of the joke and the recognition. Keep the rest of the outfit equally deliberate; a bright hat with random Western accessories usually reads as a generic party outfit.
Compare crown and brim shapes
| Shape | What to look for | Costume decision |
|---|---|---|
| Cattleman | A lengthwise center crease with dents along either side. | A useful starting point for a traditional Western outfit. Compare the brim curl and height too. |
| Pinch front | The front of the crown narrows between two pinches. | Useful for some Western and outdoor-inspired looks, but not automatically a cowboy hat. |
| Open crown | A rounded crown without a preset crease. | Choose it for that rounded look or professional shaping; it is not a ready-shaped substitute for every character. |
| Flat or gently rolled brim | A broad horizontal outline rather than sharply lifted sides. | Often more important to a period or screen outfit than the hat’s brand name. |
For named profiles and exact measurements, compare Stetson’s cattleman profile and open-crown profile.
Cowboy Hats Worth Comparing
Buy for the job the hat needs to do. A single costume night, regular Western wear and a carefully matched cosplay call for different purchases. These are researched options selected for their stated shape and construction, not products we have personally wear-tested or confirmed as the originals used on screen.
Brown Cowboy Hat
A classic brown starting point for Western costumes. Pair it with a neckerchief, vest or worn jacket for an Arthur-inspired outfit.
View on AmazonBlack Cowboy Hat
Build a dark frontier look with a black hat, coat and boots. Check the brim shape against your chosen character.
View on AmazonWhite Cowboy Hat
Try it with fringe and a pink scarf for Cowboy Ken. The bright white finish makes the hat a key part of the outfit.
View on AmazonStraw Cowboy Hat
A woven option for a casual Western outfit or warm-weather party. Its texture gives a different look from smooth felt.
View on AmazonGet the Fit Right Before Halloween
Measure Where the Hat Sits
Use a flexible tape around your head, keeping it level above your eyebrows and ears. Compare that measurement with the particular maker’s chart. Resistol recommends measuring about three-quarters of an inch above the ears; its guide also explains how to handle an in-between size. A label such as “adult” or “one size” is not a head measurement. See Resistol’s sizing guide.
Try It With the Finished Hair
Wear the wig, braid or hairstyle you plan to use before judging the fit. A hat that works on bare hair can perch too high over a wig. Move your head, sit down and take a photograph from the front and side. Your eyes should remain visible, and the hat should feel secure without a pinching band.
Use the Right Kind of Adjustment
A slightly loose hat may work with suitable hat-sizing inserts. That does not make a very large hat the correct size, and a tight hat is not a good purchase simply because you hope to stretch it. Follow the maker’s instructions or ask a hat shop for help, especially with stiff felt or an expensive purchase.
Keep the Shape Between Wears
Store the hat so the brim is not being flattened. Stetson recommends storing felt hats upside down on a clean crown surface or in a hat box. Follow material-specific cleaning directions and avoid improvising a steam treatment on an unknown costume fabric. Read the manufacturer’s care guidance.
Turn One Hat Into a Complete Look
Arthur MorganBlue shirt & neckerchief
John MarstonVest & frontier layers
Sadie AdlerShirt & teal bandanaStart With Clothes You Already Own
Lay out jeans or dark trousers, boots and a shirt before buying a costume set. Arthur Morgan’s blue-shirt look, a Western sheriff outfit and a black-suited frontier character can start from familiar separates. They still need their own details: a particular neckerchief, vest, coat or badge. Use the linked guide to decide which version your clothes can actually support.
Make It a Pair or Group
Woody and Andy make a playful Toy Story pair, while Cowgirl Barbie and Cowboy Ken give each person a distinct outfit. A Red Dead Redemption group can use Arthur, John, Sadie and Dutch without dressing everyone identically. Agree on the story first and let each person choose the hat and clothing that fit their role. Explore our couples costume guide for more complete pairings.
Choose Props After the Outfit
A hat, shirt, boots and a recognizable coat or vest can carry a Western character without a toy weapon. If you are going to a workplace, convention or family event, check its rules before bringing props. Keep the character-specific clothing even when you leave a prop at home; removing accessories does not require turning the whole look into a generic cowboy.
Match the Costume, Not Someone’s Identity
Use clothing, hair styling and accessories to portray a character or performer. You do not need to imitate their skin color. Cowboy and cowgirl describe a style of hat rather than a rule about who can wear it; choose the head size, brim and outfit you want.
What Counts as a Cowboy Hat?
A cowboy hat is Western headwear with a substantial brim and a raised crown, but it does not have one compulsory crease. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum traces the influential Boss of the Plains to John B. Stetson in 1865; its early shape was different from the pinched and curled hats familiar today. That history helps explain why a period Western character may wear a flatter or rounder hat than a modern rodeo outfit. Read the museum’s history.
This archive also contains some neighboring outdoor and stylized costume hats. Alan Grant’s safari-style hat, Van Helsing’s outback-style hat and Dudley Do-Right’s Mountie-inspired headwear are useful comparisons, but they should not all be sold to you as the same cowboy shape. Read the hat note on each card and compare the actual costume image. We tag a character’s relevant outfit, not every appearance that character has ever made.
Cowboy Hat Costume FAQs
What characters can I dress as with a cowboy hat?
Woody, Jessie, Cowboy Ken, Cowgirl Barbie, Arthur Morgan, John Marston, Rick Grimes and the Ghoul are useful starting points. Pick a character whose hat color and brim resemble yours, then add the clothing in the linked guide. The archive below the introduction includes more options and updates as matching guides are tagged.
What is an easy costume with a brown cowboy hat?
Woody is a recognizable option if you can add a yellow checked shirt, cow-print vest and red neckerchief. Arthur Morgan is another direction if you already have a blue shirt and sturdy trousers. Neither is just a hat: choose the outfit that needs the fewest extra pieces from your wardrobe.
Are cowboy hats and cowgirl hats different?
The words are often retail labels rather than a reliable description of shape or size. Check the head measurement, crown, brim, color and materials. Anyone can choose the hat that fits their costume; a product marketed to another gender may still be the right shape and fit.
Can I use a straw hat instead of felt?
For a general cowboy outfit, yes, if you like the woven look. For a specific character, compare the reference: straw can look noticeably different from a smooth felt or costume hat. Color alone does not make two hats equivalent.
Is a fedora or campaign hat a cowboy hat?
Do not treat those labels as interchangeable. Some outdoor and period hats share a broad brim, but the crown creases, brim shape and intended style can differ. Compare the guide image and hat note. Alan Grant, Van Helsing and Dudley Do-Right are included as adjacent or stylized comparisons, not proof that every broad-brim hat is a cowboy hat.
Do I need an expensive Stetson for a costume?
No. A costume hat with the right shape and color can work for a one-night outfit. A genuine Western hat makes more sense if you want to wear it regularly and have checked the fit. None of the products here is presented as the original screen-used hat.
How do I make a cheap cowboy hat look closer to a character?
Start with the closest crown, brim and color you can find. Add a removable hatband or lightweight character detail where appropriate. Test any material before attaching it, and avoid permanently reshaping or painting a borrowed hat. A better-matched shirt or vest may do more for recognition than extra decoration.
Will new cowboy-hat costumes appear here automatically?
Yes. The character list comes from published Costume Wall guides tagged Cowboy Hat. Newly tagged published guides join the list automatically. Hat-shopping recommendations and written advice are reviewed separately; their review date is shown in the sources section.
Sources & How We Choose
Costume suggestions use the outfit shown in each guide, not every version of a character. The sources below include studio references, publisher background and interviews with costume designers. They support character context and visual details, not claims that a shopping item is screen-used or officially licensed. Shopping recommendations compare published specifications and costume usefulness; they are not hands-on durability reviews. Prices, availability and fit remain the seller’s current information.
Editorial and shopping sources reviewed . New character guides appear automatically when tagged; this review date changes only when the editorial advice is reviewed.
Character & Costume References
- Pixar: Toy Story — official Woody character information and visual reference.
- Rockstar Games: Red Dead Redemption 2 — official Arthur Morgan and game background; not a specification for a replica hat.
- Vogue: Jacqueline Durran on Barbie’s costumes — an interview with the film’s costume designer, including Cowboy Ken’s Western Stampin’ Ken inspiration.
Hat History, Buying & Care
- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: cowboy hat history — historical context.
- Resistol: cowboy hat sizing guide — measuring and fit.
- Stetson Help Center — materials, X ratings and care.
- Stetson Skyline 7242, Moab and Classic 20X — manufacturer specifications.
- Eric Watson / ehowbeauty: Care of Stetson Hats — professional hatter’s video demonstration.
Start With the Hat You Want to Wear
A good cowboy-hat costume has a clear character underneath the brim. Choose the closest hat you own or can borrow, work out which guide fits it, and spend on the few details that complete that look. If you want a hat for everyday wear too, give its fit and construction the same attention as its costume potential.
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