How to Dress Like a Cowboy
The attire of a cowboy served useful purposes on the ranch or the trail drive, but they can look quite impressive on any man today. The key is to get the right clothes and accessories to make you look like you’re straight from the Old West. Here are some ways to dress like a cowboy.
Cowboy Boots and Hats
The most common articles of clothing worn by cowboys are boots and hats:
Boots are specially designed for cowboys to be able to ride horses and to do many tasks in the trail. Most cowboy boots are traditionally made from cow leather, although skins from other animals like snake, alligator, or stingray are also used. Cowboy boots are also decorated and customized according to the preferences of the person wearing them. (For more information regarding boots, read The Guide to Boots)
Hats. Wide-brimmed hats made from felt, straw, or even animal leather are often used by cowboys to protect themselves from the heat of the sun. The Stetson hat, which has rounded corners and straight sides, is popular among cowboys.
Upper Body Wear
Cowboys also wear useful clothing to protect themselves outdoors, and also to look impressive in town:
Most shirts worn by cowboys are light ones made from wool or cotton, although many cowboys have taken to wearing shirts made from denim. Many cowboy shirts have decorative embroidery to make them look good.
Vests are often worn by cowboys not only to look good, but also to protect themselves from harsh weather. Most vests are made from animal hide or thick cloth.
Coats. Most cowboys wear waistcoats because they are not cumbersome when riding a horse. Some people who dress like cowboys like wearing old Western-styled trenchcoats to add to the mystique of the Western cowboy.
Lower Body Wear
Here are some of the common things a cowboy wears for the lower body:
Pants. Wool pants are common among cowboys, but many people today prefer to wear boot-cut jeans that fit neatly into the top of the boot.
Chaps are leather coverings worn above and around a cowboy’s legs. Chaps are used to protect a cowboy from snake bites and to keep clothes from fraying when he has to walk through brush. Decorative chaps today include rivets, buttons, or even frills made from narrow strips of leather.
Accessories
Clothes make the man, but accessories make the cowboy. Here are some accessories that you can wear when you’re dressing up to be a cowboy:
Spurs are attached to the heel of the cowboy boot. Be careful when you walk with spurs on, because you may end up tripping on the spurs.
Bandannas are decorative handkerchiefs usually worn as a scarf around the neck.
Gloves are used by ropers to protect themselves from rope burns. Leather ones work really well for a cowboy get-up.