Game days, weddings, bachelorette weekends, Halloween: Baton Rouge has no shortage of reasons to wear a statement hat. Now there's a shop on Perkins Road where you can make one yourself.

Rancher Hat Bar is officially open at 3535 Perkins Road, Suite A5. The idea is simple and very hands-on. You pick the hat, then work one-on-one with a trained hat stylist to customize it with bands, feathers, charms, cards, bandanas, burned accents and branding. Nobody walks out with the same hat.

From a camper to a national brand

The company was founded in January 2023 by Shantelle and Kenny Girard, who started out with a vintage camper trailer and a small startup budget. After building a following at local events, they outgrew the trailer and opened their first storefront in Folsom, California, that April. The brand now lists 19 locations across the country, and Baton Rouge is one of the newest.

What it costs and how long it takes

According to the company, hats range from $70 to $215, with some options starting at $50 and straw hats at $35. Trucker hats start at $25, and accessories run $5 to $45. Stetson premium hats are sold in stores, and there are kids' hats too. You can also customize a bolo tie.

Choosing your look is the slow part, and that's up to you. Once you've decided, the hat crew typically needs three to five minutes for a trucker hat and five to seven minutes for a cowboy hat.

Plan your visit

The Baton Rouge store is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and walk-ins are welcome. Weekend waits can get long, so the company recommends reservations on Saturdays and Sundays. Bigger groups can book a dedicated hat builder, and the brand also handles private after-hours parties and event packages for a fee.

Bring the group chat and plan on taking a lot of photos.

Photo courtesy of Rancher Hat Bar.