Western Wear History

You don’t have to look to far to find out theout of when fresh water could be found. This is
origins of western apparel, whether you listen tohow, allegedly, the name the “Ten Gallon
tales of the wild west, watching  those oldHat” was born because of its ability to hold
cowboy films or listening to the stars of countrywater.
music.The early days of Hollywood revived the old
Western wear derives its name from a uniquewest spirit, the cowboy way of life, and sparked
style of the clothes worn by men and women innew interest in western wear across the nation.
the 19th-century American West. It hasGene Autry, John Wayne, and Roy Rogers lit up
undergone many changes since the early days ofcinema screens and those of a certain generation
the Wild West with its open ranges, wagon trains,will never forget our television screens filled
cattle drives, and notorious outlaws. The apparelpopular western series such as Rawhide with
worn by legends of the west such as WyattRowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood), Gunsmoke with
Earp, Billy the Kid, and Wild Bill Hickock is decidedlyDennis Weaver as Chester and Bonanza with
different from most of today’s westernLittle Joe (Michael Landon) all dressed in western
fashions, but it was this era that laid theapparel.
foundations to the western fashion we know andWestern wear became prominent in pop culture
wear today. The cowboy way was a way of lifeduring the 1960’s with even the Beatles
throughout the American west up until the earlywearing cowboy boots. Western apparel
1900s.popularised by this era included cowboy hats,
Western apparel got started along with thosefashionable cowboy boots and jeans, as well as
who were known as cowboys after thecollared shirts featuring designs and patterns.
American Civil War. Ranchers in Texas had to findSome of most articulate western wear is the
a market for their large excess stock of cattle.custom work created by rodeo tailors such as
Meanwhile, on the east coast beef was in shortNudie Cohn and Manuel, which is characterised by
supply. Thus, the ranchers drove their cattle northelaborate embroidery and rhinestone decoration.
to the nearest railroads, for example Fort Worth,This type of western wear, popularised by
which became a major shipping point for livestockcountry music performers, is the origin of the
in 1876. This prompted plans in 1887 for thephrase rhinestone cowboy.
construction of the Union Stockyards about twoNashville’s country music scene with has kept
and one half miles north of the Tarrant Countyup the interest in the western fashion industry
Courthouse. It went into full operation about 1889.and the western way of life, and its artists, with
Mexican vaqueros and Americans fleeing the lawsuch country stars as Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw
also made up a large number of cowboysand Dwight Yokam all sporting cowboy hats,
roaming the untamed west. The attire of thesecowboy boots and clothing’ have heavily
early cowboys was usually very plain and simple.influenced the western wear of today.
Full length trousers made of canvas were tuckedSand-blasted jeans, distressed leather, and
inside their cowboy boots, allowing them to rideultra-casual dress have become the frontier in
several rough trails before their jeans wore out.modern western apparel; which has become
Shirts of the early cowboy were usually cotton orpopular with line dancing, western riding, and
wool, sometimes with simple pin striping, and hadwestern fashion together with country music fans
no collar. These shirts pulled over their heads withall over the world. Classic western wear is still
buttons running only partially down the front ofcommonplace in American culture.
the shirt. A bandana was worn to protect theSome western companies focus on maintaining
neck of the cowboy from the elements whilecowboy authenticity in their events, to support
riding the trail, which was also used as a mask inre-enactments, staged events, film and theatre.
dust storms as well as outlaws using them as aWestern wear ranges from accurate historical
mask during bank raids and hold ups. Areproductions of pioneer, mountain man, Civil War,
cowboy’s hat was very practical and usedcowboy and Mexican vaquero clothing to the
for everything from protecting them from thestylised garments for the show business world.
sun, to providing them with something to drink