Many people, when they stop to think about how clothing reflects culture, land on western wear as an example. Western apparel is, after all, one of the more iconic styles of clothing available to look at and still purchase new designs of today. Rich in history, the style continues today much as it did back in earlier times, and what's more so, the changes that we have seen have interfered very little with the original lines of the clothing. Some of the more obvious differences are today you might see different fabrics thanks to the introduction of synthetic fibers and the sheer variety of prints available. The original fabrics are still strongly present, however, and don't show any sign of going away.
Many people think about western wear and have an instant image in their head, from the cowboy hat at the top, the cowboy boots on the bottom, the fitted jeans, belt buckle, pearl snap shirt and vest in-between. So many of these items have been around since before what we think the west was, as having become somewhat of an entity (when it was "won" to speak the vernacular of Hollywood-west). Cowboy boots are among the most well-known aspects of a western apparel outfit, although these days, there are very few pieces of a western wear ensemble that couldn't be identified on its own.
Now, as then, much of the aesthetic embellishments on western wear come in the form of stitching, whether that is complex embroidery or simply contrast stitching. The yoke of a western shirt can come in just about any shape imaginable from pointed, curved or scalloped and many more. The yoke is, of course, representative of the actual yokes worn by the ox that pulled wagons, and is a reminder of how life in the west came to be what it is today. The snaps on the shirts also tell part of the story- snaps are used instead of buttons so that in the event of the shirt getting caught on a fence or other obstacle, that the shirt could pull free in a matter of seconds. This is how the design of cowboy boots came about as well, they were made to pull on and off easily, so that a cowboy with his boot tangled in the saddle stirrup could pull his foot free without needing to untie the boot. Other aspects of cowboy boots also point to the demands of life in the saddle the pointed toe and stacked heel for ease of interacting with stirrups, the tall stiff shaft to protect from snakes, rocks and other hazards on the trail and in their daily environment.
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Western apparel not only functions well, but it tells us a little more about history and life out in the old west. Cowboy boots were designed for safety, as were the snaps on the shirts. You can still find these elements in current western wear, but there is a little more flair and detail in the newer designs, which you can check out at the Boot Store.
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