Fashion
Custer’s Dash
- Published May 13, 2013
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
Courageous. Brilliant. Foolhardy. Ambitious. Insubordinate. Aloof. Flamboyant. Vainglorious. These are all terms used by contemporaries and historians to describe Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer.
The Mexican Hat Dance
- Published April 15, 2013
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
The elegant Californio gentleman shown in the accompanying photo may or may not have ever danced on his hat, as the fellow did in Allan Sherman’s 1963 parody “Mexican Hat Dance” (or “Jarabe Tapatío”). Resplendent in his white suit, complete with pinned cravat, watch fob and pearl-handled pistol, he wears a pristine straw sombrero charro that has obviously never been stomped.
The Legacy of the Ranger Belt
- Published June 12, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
The desperate clash between 14 Texas Rangers led by John Coffee Hays and 70 or more Comanches in the Texas Hill Country in June 1844 left 23 Comanches dead on the ground—including their chief, Yellow Wolf—and another 30 wounded.
A Rustler’s Roughouts
- Published March 18, 2013
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
In rock ’n’ roll’s first across-the-charts hit, written on a paper bag in 1955 by Carl Perkins, the singer admonishes his dance partner not to step on his precious blue suede shoes. Sueded leather, whether it be blue, black or brown, is commonly made from split cowhide and is relatively fragile; it scuffs easily.
Great Movie Hats
- Published May 16, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
Movies both reflect cultural trends and influence them. The hats worn by cowboys in countless Western movies and television shows were and are often symbolic of the characters wearing them.
On Wild Bunch Time
- Published February 11, 2013
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
The infamous Wild Bunch made a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, in November 1900 to attend the wedding of gang member Will Carver to Callie May Hunt, one of Madam Fannie Porter’s girls from San Antonio.
Making A Character Hat
- Published May 14, 2012
- Written by TW Editors
For every Roy Rogers, Gene Autry or James Arness in their perfectly blocked, spotless hero hats, there is a Gabby Hayes, Slim Pickens or Ken Curtis in sweat-stained, broke-ass hats riddled with bullet holes.
The Tucked-In Rangers
- Published January 08, 2013
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
During the Canadian River Campaign of 1858, Texas Ranger Capt. John “Rip” Ford wore his striped trousers tucked into heavy-top boots. In the most widely-circulated Texas Ranger photo in history, Company D Rangers posed with their tucked-in boots while on assignment to protect a silver mine in 1890.
From Vaqueros to Buckaroos
- Published April 16, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
“He is ever a picturesque figure, whether in groups or dismounted and standing alone on the great prairie, watching the train flash past him, broad-hatted and clad in buckskin pants, with many little fringes down their seams.”
– Lee C. Harby passage accompanying Remington’s Mexican Buckaroo in Texas illustration in the July 1890 issue of Harper’s New Monthly Magazine
Western Wear of 2012
- Published December 10, 2012
- Written by TW Editors
After Buck Brannaman got his deserving tribute in the award-winning Buck feature documentary last year, we all thought that Paul Bond should be next on the list.
Head Over Heels
- Published March 13, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
“These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do.
Let’s Rodeo
- Published November 05, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
Wild West shows and frontier rodeos are largely responsible for the distinctive styling and flare seen on cowboy shirts today.
Fake or Real?
- Published January 10, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
“The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels: it is always the false ones that look the most real, the most brilliant.” –Salvador Dalí
Dreamin’ of Being a Cowboy
- Published October 01, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
We all need heroes. We need champions whose deeds and accomplishments thrill, inspire and teach. For much of the 20th century, the cowboy was the archetypal American hero. Strong. Brave. Self-reliant. Virtuous. Several generations of Americans grew up wanting to be like their cowboy heroes. We started by dressing just like them.
Ponchos Ride Again
- Published November 08, 2011
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
“Is that a real poncho?… I mean, is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho?” —”Camarillo Brillo” by Frank Zappa
Life-Saving Buffalo Robes
- Published September 02, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s Corps of Discovery passed the first winter of their epic 1804-06 expedition on the northern banks of the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota.
Artistas & Fashionistas
- Published October 05, 2011
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
Western style, like Western art, is largely indefinable, but always recognizable.
A Tribute to Paul Bond
- Published August 06, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
Renowned bootmaker Paul Bond passed away in February. He was just 96 years old. He was “just 96” because, by all accounts, his youthful vigor belied his advanced years. Right up to the end of his life, Bond frequented the bootmaking shop he established in 1955 in Nogales, Arizona, to design boots and talk to his customers.
Boot Scoot & Boogie
- Published August 28, 2011
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
Long Ike and Sweet Betsey attended a dance.
Rodeo Ben’s Jeans
- Published July 07, 2012
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
Western wear as a separate apparel category got its start in the 1940s after WWII ended. Rockmount Ranch Wear, Westmoor (Panhandle Slim), Miller and Karman (Roper) initially catered to ranchers, farmers, cowboys and tourists living in or visiting the American West.
Medicine Bags to Purses
- Published July 28, 2011
- Written by G. Daniel DeWeese
“In the bag,” he said as he opened it and removed two objects, “is the broken shell of the iron kettle, a pebble from the butte, and a piece of the sacred sage.”
