Cowboy Boots: From El Paso to Paris

By: xdavid

An old friend of mind flew in from Los Angeles the other day, and when my roommate and I picked him up from the airport, we were delighted to see that he was rocking a pair of cowboy boots. Now, it is nearly 2009, which means that cowboy boots and other aspects of western wear have been around for quite some time. It seems that this is the only genre of fashion that, no matter how it evolves over time, will remain stylish and timeless despite the ebb and flow of popular trends. If you're into western apparel, even if just on a novelty basis, this should thrill you as it does me--and my friend who loves to wear his cowboy boots.

If you're looking for some indication of what will be fashionable in 2009, look no further than the runways of the world's fashion capitols: Milan, Paris, New York, Tokyo and LA. Now, while you probably can't picture yourself standing in line at the bank dressed in runway couture, you can still look at what shows up on the world's runways, and incorporate elements of those styles into scaled down, ready-to-wear outfits that are more appropriate for daily life. In Paris recently, Hermes, a well-known fashion house, showcased its 2009 spring/summer collection by designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. What's unique about this collection is that it is entirely centered around a western apparel theme. Gaultier's choice of theme was meant as a sort of nod to Hermes' saddle maker roots.

Some of the items that kept recurring in the new Hermes collection included fringed ponchos, crocodile-skin jackets, and floppy suede hats. A number of other accessories, such as leather bags and tall leather cowboy boots, were faithful displays of classic Hermes style while clearly remaining true to that classic American West theme.

Remember, you don't have to be fashion savvy to experience the trickle-down effect that so often begins with high-fashion runways and ends with Middle America. For instance, if you like western wear (or certain aspects of it, like cowboy boots), you'll be pleased to know that it is a trend that's here to stay--and really, never went away to begin with. And while western apparel never really goes out of style, it's nice to know that it's being highlighted once again as one of the top trends to look for in the new year.

Written by Melanie River. Brand name cowboy boots and western wear at The Boot Store online store for western apparel. Ariat boots, Justin boots more at western-wear-store.com