The Collector:

Kim Lyon, Tioga, Texas

The Collection:

Lyon’s collection of hats ranges from those for the arena to stylish hats for a night on the town to a special Kentucky Derby topper. But her collection didn’t start so elaborately.

“I really like the adornments and fun colors,” she shares, “but when you’re first starting out you need a really good hat in a basic color. Then you can branch out into fun ways to express yourself and your personality.”

Especially for an arena hat, shape and quality are the two most important factors in any hat, Lyon says.

“I gravitate toward custom hats,” says the model for Shorty’s Ca’Boy Hattery. “A hat custom-fitted to my head is the only one that doesn’t fly off in the arena [without pins to secure it]. I want a hat that’ll hold up in any weather and is well shaped for me.”

[WATCH KIM’S HUSBAND HERE.