You can try for Texas style in a pair of slacks, but it’s like a duck in a tuxedo—it never looks right.
Demand denim
You can try for Texas style in a pair of slacks, but it’s like a duck in a tuxedo—it never looks right.
“Denim jeans have always served the cowboy well,” Phyllis says. They’re durable and they protect from the elements. “Wrangler and Levi Strauss are the normal brands, but there are hundreds of varieties now to choose from.”
See ’em, starch ’em, and sport ’em, is the motto, with one addendum: don’t sag ’em.
And remember to check where the hip pockets ride; some are so low on your hindquarters, going horseback with a wallet in there will leave you feeling like you squatted on your spurs.
And no high waters, please. Alyssa says the bottoms of the jeans should “stack” a little bit when you’re sitting down. If you usually wear a 32” inseam, go ahead and bump it up to a 34” for cowboy wear, since they’ll need to go over your boots—which they should always do. Never tuck them in your boots unless you want to look like a sheep in a herd of goats.
Yes, there’s a lot of pretty stitching on the boots’ front quarter, but keep it to yourself, for now.
Buckle down and belt up
A belt is an absolute requirement. Don’t even consider leaving the house without one. It should be leather, hopefully hand-tooled with coils, curlicues, rosettes, longhorn cattle and artful renderings of wildflowers of the Texas range. And all the better if it’s anchored by an eye-catching buckle big enough to serve steak and beans on.
Where you get that buckle is, well, about as unsettled as a jackrabbit in a horse stampede. Not everybody can win their buckle in a rodeo. “Sporting a genuine trophy buckle that someone else may have won—while some may disagree with me on this—is perfectly acceptable,” Alyssa says on her blog.
Bottom line: Retro is in, so there shouldn’t be any problem with using an old championship buckle you find in a Western shop. Think of it as a tribute to the cowboy who won it and the rodeo lifestyle’s bruises and broken bones—and your gratitude not to have any of your own.
An ace up your sleeve
Shirts can be pretty simple: cotton, button-down, long sleeve. Plain white can work, as can plaid. Piping? OK, just don’t go all Roy Rogers and put enough on there to knock Dale Evans off her horse. Make your dance partner cross-eyed and she’ll be Texas two-stepping on your $1,000 pirarucu boots.
“All cowboys know the Western shirt was born out of necessity,” says Phyllis. “You need long sleeves to protect you from the burning sun and a collar that can be turned up in the heat, or the cold.”
And if you’re riding, cotton is crucial. “You don’t want some high-tech fabric that won’t give if it gets wrapped around a limb. It could pull you off the horse,” she says. Cotton also breathes when it gets moist—important on the range or the dance floor.
FAQs
“Denim jeans have always served the cowboy well,” Phyllis says. They're durable and they protect from the elements. “Wrangler and Levi Strauss are the normal brands, but there are hundreds of varieties now to choose from.” See 'em, starch 'em, and sport 'em, is the motto, with one addendum: don't sag 'em.
Where is the most cowboy area in Texas? ›
Bandera. In the Texas Hill Country, the small town of Bandera, 53 miles west of San Antonio, has been described as the “Cowboy Capital of the World.” That title originated when the town became a staging area for the last great cattle drives of the late 1800s.
How to pull off the cowboy look? ›
Saddle up, and let's hit the trail of cowboy fashion!
- Invest in Classic Cowboy Boots. ...
- Stock Up on Button-Ups. ...
- Jeans That Just Feel Right. ...
- Don't Forget Your Hat. ...
- Cowboys Can Accessorize Too. ...
- Keep It Simple. ...
- Confidence Is Key.
Many people in Texas do wear blue jeans, cowboy hats and boots. And many of them are working cowboys, and some are not. Some actually own a ranch, or they live on a small ranch called a “place.” Some just have a small place, with a house, barn, and a pasture, with a couple of horses.
What are fake cowboys called? ›
A pretend cowboy is also called a “gunsel”
What kind of jeans do most cowboys wear? ›
The Best Pant Cuts for Cowboy Boots
The best pant cuts to wear with your cowboy boots are: Boot-Cut - Boot-cut jeans and cowboy boots go together like peanut butter and jelly. The flared leg accommodates your boots without bunching around your legs.
What state has the most real cowboys? ›
Texas is known as the cowboy capital of the world. From South Texas mesquite trees to open prairies in the Panhandle, there are cowboys hard at work.
What town is the cowboy capital of Texas? ›
Bandera, Texas Cowboy Capital of the World.
Who is the biggest cowboy in Texas? ›
Known as the most popular “World's Tallest Cowboy,” and official icon of the State Fair of Texas, Big Tex has stood 52 feet tall with a grin and a welcoming wave in Dallas since 1952.
What is the cowboy rule? ›
This is the most significant cowboy hat rules when entering a building, whether it's a restaurant, a church, or someone's home, it's customary to remove your hat as a sign of respect. Men should hold the hat in their hand or place it upside down on their lap, while women can simply put it on the table.
The functional aspect of jeans was exceedingly important to rodeo performers. Cowboys needed a high back rise jean to keep their shirt tails in while riding. The higher rise also kept the jean from binding cowboys across their waist while they rode. They needed more seat and thigh room to work in the saddle.
Can cowboys wear skinny jeans? ›
If you're sporting booties or zip boots, skinny jeans can even be rolled up just above the top of the boot. For this style, choose cropped skinny jeans that can be easily rolled once to pass the top of your boot.
What brand boots do real cowboys wear? ›
Sport Big Country Western Boots
If you were to ask most real-deal cowboys what boots they wear, it's likely a pair of Ariat boots. They're favored by folks who need a pair of boots that can handle some hard labor since they're built with comfortable insoles and durable lugged outsoles.
Why do cowboy hats curl up? ›
Over time, the cowboy hat underwent changes in shape to better suit the needs of its owner and evolved into the form we are more familiar with today. The brim curved up on the sides to stay out of the way of a rope, and the crown became pinched to allow better control.
Why do cowboys wear denim jackets? ›
Ranching: This is one of the main cowboy activities, and being so, clothing needs to be suitable for withstanding long hours in a saddle, and protection against harsh weather conditions. Clothing has consequently developed to be durable, and functional, normally using materials such as denim, and leather.
What do cowboys actually wear? ›
Western wear typically incorporates one or more of the following: Western shirts with pearl snap fasteners and vaquero design accents, blue jeans, cowboy hat, a leather belt, and cowboy boots.
What brands do ranchers wear? ›
Featured Brands
- Rocky Brands. (215 styles)
- Dan Post. (475 styles)
- Stetson. (1164 styles)
- Scully. (1667 styles)
- Laredo. (117 styles)
- Roper. (4004 styles)
- Circle S. (44 styles)
- Smoky Mountain Boots. (216 styles)
WE LIVE IT EVERY DAY. Ask any cowboy what brand of cowboy hat he wears and chances are you will hear the name Resistol. Resistol has been the preferred choice for working cowboys, ranch hands and rodeo cowboys for over 90 years.
Do all cowboys get branded? ›
Certainly, it is not hard to find examples throughout history of humans being branded, but most of those cases were done as punishment to criminals and slaves. There do not appear to be any stories of real-life cowboys voluntarily taking a brand as part of their job.
