Gaucho Hat

What is a Gaucho hat? The Gaucho hat is a flat, wide-brimmed hat primarily worn by the so-called Gauchos, the cowboys and herdsmen of the Argentine and Uruguayan Pampas. It was typically made of wool felt, commonly black or brown, and featured a hatband.

The heyday of the Gauchos in the grazing lands of South America was from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century. A Gaucho's typical attire included not only the hat but also wide trousers, a wide-buckled belt, a wool poncho, a red neckerchief, a lasso, a sling, and often a guitar. Many Gauchos supplemented their livelihoods by travelling as musicians.

Gaucho hats are rarely worn in modern times but are considered a traditional accessory in many parts of South America, similar to the cowboy hat in the United States.