While living in the South, I fell in love with Country music and “Cowboy” western fashion.
My style has been greatly influenced by travels and all the places that I’ve roamed. Here’s a crazy fun fact. While attending undergraduate school at Cameron University, I lived in a small country town called Lawton. Lawton is located in the southwestern region of Oklahoma, close to the Wichita Mountains in Comanche County.
While living in the South, I fell in love with Country music and “Cowboy” western fashion. I remember those early mornings or late evenings on a country road listening to the soothing sounds of Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, or Shania Twain – Such A Vibe. I love the storytelling in the lyrics, the simple ways of living, and the endless poetic love stories.
Not only did I fall in love with the music, but above all, I also fell in love with Western “Cowboy” fashion. Lawton happens to be a city where Fort Sill’s military base is located. Fort Sill also housed the Buffalo Soldiers Cavalry units that were also famous for wearing hats across the prairie, which also influenced western fashion.
Cowboy fashion – like that old pair of leather boots or felt hat – has been an important part of western culture since the 1800s. Considered the ‘golden age’ for cowboys, the Wild West is hailed as the beginning of western fashion – an era defined by cowboys, ranchers, and outlaws.
The HAT
Western wear is comprised of distinct items of clothing, each serving a particular purpose. Typical of the 1800s was the bowler hat – considered to be better apt for riding horses than the slouch hat, as it was less likely to blow off in the wind. By the 1870s, however, the bowler hat was quickly replaced by the Stetson hat, which was popularized by its use in the Union Calvary, and is still worn today. To help prevent the hat from blowing off while riding at fast speeds, stampede strings were added to the design: long strings made from leather or horsehair that wrapped half-way around the crown of the hat, with a hole on each side through which the string was passed. It was then secured under the chin or around the back of the head, holding the hat in place.
My love for Hats is limitless – I love hats in all fabrics, shapes, and sizes. My love for hats can be attributed to my love for western fashion; which has played a significant part in discovering my unique Bohemian Gypsy Style. I’ve worn many hats in my journey including designing my own, but I must admit that some of my favorite hats are from my very good friend Designer Teressa Foglia.
The SHIRT
The western shirt, characterized by a yoke and elaborate decorative additions including embroidery and piping, has become a staple of modern western wear. It wasn’t until the Western films of the 1950s, however, that the modern western shirt became popular – usually produced in bright patterns with snap pockets, long sleeves, patches, and sometimes fringe.
For western-style shirts, I love rustic denim, fringe western-style shirt, oversized checkered shirt, or cotton poncho shirt to pair with my western looks.
The PANTS
In the early days of the Wild West, the most common type of pants were wool trousers, or canvas trousers during the warmer months. During the Gold Rush of the 1840s, denim overalls became favored by miners for their cheap pricing and breathability. Levi Strauss built on the demand for denim and improved the denim look by adding copper rivets. By the 1870s, ranchers, and cowboys adopted jeans for everyday use, with many other jean companies emerging in the wake of its popularity – such as Wrangler and Lee Cooper.
For this look I like a relaxed pair of jeans perfect to tuck into my boots
The BOOTS
The cowboy boot is more than just a shoe. It’s part of a lifestyle, and it’s one of the key pieces of clothing that transforms your style instantly. Even with a horse, a cowboy hat, a six-shooter, a lasso, and a dusty street at high noon, no cowboy would be complete without the boots.
The history of Western boots lives on in the millions of enthusiasts that wear them every day; whether it’s a fancy pair for the weekends or a rugged pair to get dirty riding out in the country. My favorite pair of boots is The Drifter boots ( worn above) available at Island Tribe. It’s quite a fashion statement piece, with its generational artisanal stitching, stylish design, in addition to being the most comfortable pair of boots in my closet.