The Cowboy Boot

Cowboy boots date back to the time of Genghis Khan but in America, cowboy boots started in the early 1600s. The first pair of western boots had high tops, were pointy-toed, and were well heeled i.e. up to 2 inches in height giving the cowboy a boost. Through the years, different designs were introduced in the market depending on what the cowboy boots were used for. Riding boots were invented but other than that, boots were also made for the military and some for the aristocracy. It wasn’t until the 1880s however that the cowboy boots we know today got its distinctive style.

Styles have evolved though and today, various styles and colors have been introduced giving the bootmaking market more space for creativity. Although there are many different styles of cowboy boots, an expert will still be able to tell which region a certain pair of boots comes from basing of course on its style.

If you are thinking of buying new cowboy boots, you may refer to the list below:

Sheplers –the company offers a huge selection of cowboy boots and this includes boots for all ages. One can visit Sheplers.com to take a look at the selection of boots offered.

Cowtown Boots – this is a bootmaking company based in Texas and is one of the leading retailers in the west. Cowtown offers Acme, Dingo and Dan Post boots as well as a range of other cowboy boots made from exotic leather.

Langstons – this company established in 1913 is a western wear retailer known for its wide selection of cowboy boots. They have a store in Oklahoma and also has a website.

Justin Boots –Justin is a venerable brand now owned by the Berkshire Hathaway company. It has been producing sturdy and comfortable boots since 1879.

There are other cowboy boot brands of course and this includes Tony Lama, Lucchese, L.M. Easterling, Olathe Boot among others.

If you love your cowboy hat, whether you are a real cowboy or someone who just loves western wear, you should take good care of your hat.

Water Damage

Use a non-silicone based protector to protect your cowboy hat from water damage. Some often wear their felt cowboy hats in the rain and if done so without a non-silicone based protector the hat will definitely get a few rain stains. There is a brand called “The Protector” that helps keep your felt cowboy hats in tiptop shape –at least when it comes to water damage.

Regular Brushing

Your wife probably does this to her hair but did you know that if you apply regular brushing technique to your cowboy hat (felt), you would keep your hat looking brand new? Yes you got that right gentlemen. Use a brim brush to get rid of dirt and dust. Make sure that you brush clockwise on the underside and counter clockwise on top.

Cleaning

If you want to clean your felt cowboy hat, you can always use lukewarm water, a sponge and mild soap. Do not use a detergent to clean it because this will only ruin your hat. Let the hat dry naturally after cleaning it. NEVER use a blow dryer –that is for your wife’s or girlfriend’s hair.

Reblocking

If you mishandled your cowboy hat and it has now lost its original shape, you can always go to a professional and get it fixed. Professionals can fix this problem through reblocking i.e. putting the hat on a shaping block and later on steaming it to get its original shape. If you just need  minor adjustments, you can always go to a hat or western store –they can do that for you. Remember however not to expose your felt hat to heat or moisture as this will not only affect its integrity and beauty but also its shape.

Mention boots, leather and thigh high to a man and he will think about a femme fatale or maybe of women the likes of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.


When one talks about boots in general or cowboy boots on women, what really goes on in the heads of men? Sexy is probably the best word to describe it but what else?

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Boots are a rather difficult subject and if worn the wrong way can definitely send the wrong signals. When it comes to cowboy boots, women who wear them are either stylish or rugged –either way however they would still look undeniably hot.

If you are talking about boots however i.e. leather, stiletto boots, men are divided. Some say it all depends on the woman wearing these types of shoes. While some look awfully slutty (excuse the term) others can make boots look graceful and stylish. We are guessing this all depends on the whole ensemble and not just how the person wearing the boots pulls off the look.

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According to some, boots (and not just cowboy boots) give off a sense of power i.e. power signals probably due to the confidence a woman must have to wear an item. Many women nowadays although they are very modern would still need some preparation before donning something as conspicuous as boots most especially leather boots that have high heels.

Wearing boots or cowboy boots for that matter is an individual thing. It does not necessarily mean that every person who wears them will be able to pull it off. It might be best to refer to photos with styles of cowboy boots and what outfits to wear with them. Individual style is of course important and you must never sacrifice that.

Whatever boots you are planning to wear, make sure that it suits your style and of course the place you are going to.

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Rule #1 Never wear your cowboy hat backwards

First things first, do not wear your hat backwards because aside from it making you look funny, it is bad luck to wear it backwards. Make sure that you see that tiny bow is at the back of your head. The bow is usually on the crown. Now that you know this, we may now move on to other cowboy hat etiquette tips.

Rule #2 Never mess with another person’s cowboy hat

According to cowboys, one should never mess with another man’s cowboy hat. Trying another guy’s cowboy hat is like trying on his underwear so if you are a newbie to this, PLEASE do not lay a finger on another person’s cowboy hat.

Rule #3 Take off your hat when entering a building

This is basic and should also be implemented amongst cap-wearing men. If it is a formal occasion, it is advised that you do not put your cowboy hat back on. If it is an informal occasion however, you are allowed to put it back on. One must remember too that there are 2 degrees of politeness i.e. lifting your hat or tipping it versus taking it off. If you tip or lift your hat, this means you are interacting with strangers. If you take it off fully however, this means that you are doing it for friends.

Rule #4 There are times when you take your cowboy hat outdoors

For example, if you are being introduced to someone or when you are bidding goodbye. You can also take off your cowboy hat when outdoors if you are passing someone you know or when talking to a woman, an elderly man or a priest. One would also need to take one’s cowboy hat off when the National Anthem is being sung or played. Cowboys also take off their hats during a funeral.

So you’ve decided to buy cowboy boots made from ostrich leather. Since these are rather prized in fashion circles, you figure that you must take good care of your cowboy boots made from this particular type of leather. The question is, how does one take care of ostrich leather?

Believe it or not, one does not need to spend too much time and effort when taking care of ostrich leather. In fact, all you have to do is wipe the dirt off it using a soft, lint-free cloth and you’ll be fine. Using microfiber cloth is advisable because it makes it easier for the dirt to come off and by extension, making it easier for you to clean your ostrich cowboy boots.

If you would like to make your cowboy boots look good, you can buy a conditioner that is used for ostrich leather. Make sure that you buy one for this material and not for another type of leather because doing the latter will only ruin your ostrich cowboy boots. You can apply a thin film of ostrich leather conditioner and leave it to dry.

To buff the leather of your ostrich cowboy boots, you just have to rub the skin in circular motions once the thin film of conditioner applied to it has dried.

Quality ostrich leather is typically colored with transparent dye which means that you should be able to see the leather grain.

Although this type of leather is not really sensitive, you should never use detergent of any kind to clean it –a damp microfiber cloth should be enough to clean it. For those with oil stains, putting talcum powder on the surface as soon as possible is advisable. The powder will help absorb the oil without affecting the integrity of the leather.

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What are the things you have to take into consideration when buying a cowboy hat? The first question that comes to mind is choosing which type of material would you like your hat to be made out of. Although straw hats can be rather attractive and also provide good ventilation for the head of the wearer, felt hats are usually the top choice for many cowboys.

Why Get A Felt Hat?

A good quality cowboy hat made from felt can last for a very long time -20 years or a little over to be exact. Buying a hat like this one means you will be investing your money on a lifelong investment so do not be turned off by the higher price ranges.

Cowboy Hats: Size and Fitting

Do you know what your cowboy hat size is? A size 7 hat for example is a hat that will fit someone who has a head with a circumference of 7 x 3.145 or 22 inches.  One has to note however that different hats and different models are sized differently too so it would be best to go to a brick and mortar store and see how certain sizes fit you.

Colors

What color should you choose? The usual colors used on felt cowboy hats include white, brown, black and silver. Other colors are available too but this all depends on the felt used on these hats.

How Round Should The Hat Be?

This all depends on your taste. The oval of the hat depends on one person to the next since there are those who have more oval heads while others are more of the oblong kind i.e. longer oval.

The crown and the crease should also be taken into consideration but this of course depends on the individual who wears the hat.

Old Gringo cowboy boots give off a designer look that both men and women who have a penchant for artisan handmade cowboy boots will surely love. The rather popular brand is definitely one of the most loved cowboy boot brands today especially those who use cowboy boots to make a statement.


Old Gringo cowboy boots capture the vintage charm of traditional western wear while offering cutting edge and still very contemporary designs. This mixture is what makes Old Gringo unique. Many fashionistas love buying from Old Gringo not only because they are hip and trendy but also because they are quite sturdy as well.

Photo Via Sheplers.com

Old Gringo boots are not your ordinary cowboy boots because they are considered to be couture cowboy boots. This does not mean however that you will not find any Old Gringo boots in rodeos because you will but what is really amazing about these boots is that they can also be found in big cities and are worn not only by cowboys and cowgirls.

If you want high quality cowboy boots with beautiful and intricate details, Old Gringo boots are your best bet.

Old Gringo History

Old Gringo is not really that old because it was only founded in the year 2000 by Ernie Tarut and Yan Ferry. The two combines bootmaking and designing skills and 3 decades of of experience in the manufacturing of leather. What makes the Old Gringo brand different from the others is that it offers exceptional craftsmanship, a rather rigorous 110-step process as well as the focus on tanning their own leather to produce exclusive textures and designs for their customers.

Old Gringo boots is pure fashion mixed with the ruggedness of traditional cowboy boots. The brand has been well-received since its inception particularly because of the designs Old Gringo offers and to their attention to riveting designs.

The cowboy hat is part of Western cowboy lore –a defining piece so to speak. Back in the old days, it was very valuable for those who wore them because of its functions. Its wide brim was used in protecting oneself either from the rain or the sun and the whole hat was used as a means to signal other cowboys and also often utilized to fan a campfire. Cowboy hats were also used to get water from a stream and sometimes even used as a tool in swatting a horse. Today however, the cowboy hat’s uses is no longer that popular since the cowboy hat is now seen more for its aesthetic value.

There are different cowboy hats –some are made from felt, straw and other materials but the most famous amongst cowboy hats is the Stetson. The maker of the Stetson is John Batterson Stetson, a man from New Jersey who later on moved to the west. In his career as a hat maker, Stetson was known to make quality hats especially when he started making the Ten Gallon cowboy hat in the mid-1860s.

Cowboy hats are usually said to be sturdy but how long do they actually last? According to experts, a good quality cowboy hat usually lasts 20 years up to a lifetime especially if made from beaver fur. It is natural for felt hats to fade or lose its color after some time though but it does not mean that you will not be able to use it anymore –the elements usually cause the colors to change but this is definitely not indicative of the sturdiness of the hat.

Straw hats on the other hand have shorter life spans since they usually last only 2 to 3 years. It is natural for a straw hat to show signs of degradation by the 3^rd or the 2^nd year but this of course would depend on how you take care of your straw hat.

Cowboy hats and the big x –what’s that all about? Cowboy hats are usually made out of felt and felt comes from either rabbit fur or beaver. Although there are also cowboy hats made from straw or wool let’s concentrate on those made from felt.

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Cowboy hats range from $20 to a little over $4000 depending of course on which material was used to make it. For felt hats, the cost is determined by its beaver fur vs. rabbit fur content. This is seen through the X marking on the crown –well inside the crown so be sure to check it out when you are buying a cowboy hat made out of felt.

The higher the X the softer the hat and the smoother it is. This means that it also has a relatively higher price because of its beaver fur content. Back in the day, 5X or 7X would mean felt cowboy hats of the highest quality while 20X meant 100% beaver fur. However, a lot of companies started making their own scales that it is almost impossible to compare them to other cowboy hat brands. The scales now are arbitrary so be sure to buy from a trusted brand.

It is not only hats made from felt that have an X inside the crown though because some straw hats also have that on the inside. It indicates how tight the weave of the straw hat is and how sturdy it is. One thing to remember when buying a straw cowboy hat is that the better the straw quality, the tighter the weave and of course the sturdier it is. Straw hats are of course less expensive as compared to felt cowboy hats but some of them also reach up to a few hundred dollars especially those of the best quality.

If you love wearing cowboy boots but work in a corporate environment, it might not be a good idea to wear cowboy boots at all. The question is why or for the more progressive thinkers why not? A lot of people have been complaining about this online (and those that we do not know of, probably complain about it offline)  –why can’t I wear my cowboy boots to work?

While some say it is a dress code violation others think it is one way for you to show you are creative with what you wear. There is no right or wrong answer here ladies and gentlemen, it just depends on the work environment i.e. your work place. If your work place for example allows casual wear and that it does not indicate in the company dress code that you cannot wear cowboy boots then wearing cowboy boots to work should not be a problem at all.

If you work in a prim and proper environment where everyone needs to don business attire type of clothes then your cowboy boots are a big no-no. More often than not, it’s the location that should be taken into consideration in this equation. If you are in Texas, you can most definitely wear cowboy boots just about anywhere and this includes the office unless of course says it’s a no-no.

If you are in New York City for example, you can still wear cowboy boots since pretty much anything goes in this place as long as you do not look like one of those cowboy characters in the movies. Wearing daisy dukes with them may not be appropriate in such a location though so basically it’s all about how you put your outfit together. One has to pay attention to what clothes are required at the workplace though.

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