The Most Important Aspect of Western Wear

By: xdavid

Throughout the history of western wear, probably one of the most important events occurred when an industrious young cowboy, of whose name we are uncertain, and an opportunistic bootmaker got together in a shed in Spanish Fort, Texas and refashioned cowboy boots into what they are today. This landmark event is believed by most to be only second in importance to the invention of the saddle. The importance of the invention of cowboy boots stemmed from the need for the cowboy to be both safe and comfortable during his work on the range. The shoes most cowboys were wearing prior to this time were simply not suitable for this task.

Born of absolute necessity, the brainchild of the aforementioned bootmaker and cowboy was a pair of cowboy boots with some distinctly unique features, including a slender toe, a heel that was shaped to ensure the security of the foot when braced against the stirrup, and a steel-shank arch. These were functional features that made riding in the saddle for hours on end, trudging through rough terrain, and remaining comfortable throughout it all possible. Imagine how you would feel performing a task in shoes that weren't conducive at all to whatever you were doing. You'd be hard-pressed to get anything done without hurting yourself or at least being terribly uncomfortable. From nurses to dancers to cowboys, there is a reason why certain styles of shoes are appropriate for specific occupations.

Now, you may or may not be familiar with Justin Boots, but they are the number one designer and maker of cowboy boots and have been ever since that cowboy walked into the the bootmaker's shop on that fateful day in the late 19th century. That bootmaker's name, if you haven't already figured it out, was H.J. Justin. Cowboy boots really haven't changed much since H.J.'s time, they have only really evolved in terms of design, not structure. These days, you can find them in just about any color, with just about any plain or intricate design, and made out of just about any kind of fabric - from leather to snakeskin.

As you can probably imagine, word quickly spread of Justin's revolutionary design, and from that point on, the world of western apparel was never the same. Justin fashioned his signature cowboy boots in 1878, and by shortly after 1880, just about every working cowboy in the American West was donning a pair. Folks were quick to recognize the functional features that these boots had compared to the footwear cowboys were wearing before, which included just about anything they could get their hands on - from moccasins and farmer's boots to southern planter's boots and cavalry boots. You can probably imagine the relief all of those cowboys felt when they slipped on their REAL first pair of cowboy boots and then slid them through the stirrups as easy as you please. You can bet that was a good day on the trail.

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