Check Out Great Western Accessories

Over the last few years, western wear has changed a quite a bit. People are discovering how stylish western wear can be, and developing their own personal western style. Because of its rising popularity, western wear has begun to expand into a whole range of useful accessories. Now you can make your western wear practical as well as stylish, or else just liven up an every day outfit with a western accessory or two. So, what are some of the most popular western wear accessories?

Well, with almost everyone carrying a mobile phone nowadays, you really ought to have a western cell phone case. There are many western options beginning to appear for cell phone cases. Tooled leather with silver conchos or southwestern designs are becoming very popular and will definitely show your cowgirl style.

For most women, carrying a handbag is basically a necessity. Western wear handbags are available in a huge range of styles and colors, so it's easy to find one to match your style.

Other accessories that are available in western style, are check book covers, wallets, hair accessories, sunglasses, and key rings.
So where do you find all these great western accessories? There are many western stores around the country, but if there's not a western store near you, you can find many great options online. Check out http://www.thecowgirlboutique.com/ for some great selections of western accessories

Cowgirl Rules for Wearing Western Hats

I've titled this blog a little bit "tongue in cheek". There really are no rules for wearing your western hat - your hat is an expression of who you are and should be worn to reflect that.

However, having said that, there are some traditional do's and don'ts to wearing western hats.

Well, first of all, you never, ever want to be caught wearing your cowboy hat backwards. It's not pretty, or cool, and on top of that it's bad luck (well, so they say). On the inside of the hat, look for the small ribbon bow, that is the back of the hat. Also, the hat band on the outside of the crown will most likely have a bow, feather, a buckle or some other adornment and that always sits on the left side when the hat is worn. Also the hat will usually look narrower to the front.

Originally felt hats were intended for winter wear (protecting from moisture and cold) and straw for summer (protecting from heat and sun) which is logical. The fashion rule seems to be felt between Labour day and Memorial Day, and straw in between. Now however, both are seen worn either time of year depending on where you are. I tend to follow the general rule of heat & sun=straw, night or cooler weather=felt. Of course, I was raised on that motto of black patent shoes in the winter and white for summer and I still find myself thinking of that when dressing.

Now there seems to be two areas of thought on handling hats. One side says when putting on or removing your hat, you should hold the brim near the crown in the front and the back. The other side says to never handle by the brim, to always lightly grasp the crown. Actually it boils down to this: Any handling which causes flexing or bending of the brim or crown will gradually weaken the body of your hat. The more you bend the crown or brim, the more likely it will lose its natural ability to maintain its shape.
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To travel with a hat, you can make use of Travel Hat Boxes with Handles. These are solid containers that protect the hat from physical and environmental damage, especially if it's a more expensive hat.

Well, there you have it. Everything you wanted to know about proper hat wearing! Just remember how great cowgirls look in hats and go and find one that fits your style!

Contemporary Western Style

Western is as American as you can get. It is the symbol of freedom, individuality and pioneering spirit. Western style was borne out of necessity. Furniture and fashions were created to fulfill a need. At a time when very few possessions could be carried in wagons or on horseback, pioneers made do with what they could find.

Today, Western Décor has a much more contemporary look, but many of the same types of materials are used to keep the unique look that is Western. Some of those materials are wood, such as pine or juniper, leather, antlers, stone. Indian designs were often integrated into western designs. Buckskin, hides, beadwork and fur were as essential then are they are now to western fashion.

Whether you actually live in the West or the West just lives in you, you can create that atmosphere of relaxed western lifestyle by incorporating western style into your décor. Pieces don't have to be "rustic" to reflect western style. Many modern furnishings and décor are a blend of modern sophistication and rugged traditional materials.

Take a look at some of the new contemporary styles in fashion and décor and find the style that most reflects who you are! There's a little bit of cowgirl in all of us!

Collecting Western Memorabilia - A New Trend

I have a collection of little decorative western boots. Some are toothpick holders, some are handcarved wooden boots and some are metal. I have a few that are vintage styles and some that are modern decorative items. I really enjoy looking for different styles of boots to add to my western collection. I have added some information here about the benefits of collecting western items.

People from around the world have been fascinated with the west ever since Buffalo Bill started his famous Wild West show. The antiques and collectibles that show the true history of the west have become very popular over the last decade.

Saddles, spurs, bits, chaps, Hollywood Western memorabilia, native American articles, Custer memorabilia and really anything used by the cowboy on the range have become very sought-after.

There are so many categories of western memorabilia that the hardest part of becoming a collector is trying to decide what to collect. Collecting Western objects is really quite similar to collecting decorative objects. Basically, you should collect what you like, but remember that condition is important, and the rarer the item the better.

Saddles are the one item that was probably the most important to the cowboy. They usually bring the most money at auctions. The earliest saddles, of course, are the most desirable. You should look for condition, style, decoration and rarity. Saddles that are heavily decorated with silver are the most desirable.

Some of the most desirable items to collect are bits and spurs. Iron spurs adorned with silver are very popular as are silver decorated bits. These items are much fancier than the bits and spurs that are sold in western stores today.

Hollywood memorabilia has always been a great item to collect. Clothing worn by actors and actresses in famous Western Movies are fetching very high prices at auctions. Also items belonging to famous western people such as Gen. George Custer, Sitting Bull, Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, Annie Oakley and more continue to increase in value.

Considering the speed with which the market has grown in the last 10 years, then Western memorabilia will soon be one of the most popular collectible areas around. Some believe cowboys are a dying breed and we need to preserve their memory and history. A great resource you might want to check out is "Collecting Western Memorabilia" by Tim Lasiuta. This book clearly shows the facts behind the new Western Collectibles movement and would be a great addition to the Western Collection.

Check out some of the great western collectible deals at http://www.rusticbarnwesterncollectibles.com/.

Cowgirl Boots - Timeless Style

Cowboy boots are a timeless fashion that has been around for a long time. Once only worn by those known as cowboys or cowgirls, cowboy boots have made a very popular come back in the fashion arena.

Western boots come in a huge variety of styles and materials. They can be made from just about any material you can think of from synthetics to a whole range of animal skins, snake skins or pelts. Traditional leather is the most popular, but the variety of hides is quite amazing, depending on the price you want to pay. They come in every color and style imaginable. Fancy stitching can be seen in many decorative shapes and patterns, including animals, landscapes and all sorts of other impressive designs.

What is it about women’s western boots that makes them so popular? It’s not too hard to figure out, it’s sex appeal. There is something sensual about women’s cowboy boots whether they are worn with complementing western wear or any other casual outfit. There’s also just a feeling of attitude that comes with wearing a pair of boots, a feeling that you can handle just about anything that comes your way. You just don’t get that feeling in a pair of flip flops or a pair of flimsy heels!

Proper fitting boots can be one of the most comfortable choices in your shoe wardrobe, but if you’ve never purchased a pair of western boots before there is a couple of things to keep in mind. You will need to allow a little time to break them in. The leather will stretch a little so it’s okay to buy them a little snug. Take your time and wear them for short periods of time to begin with. If you don’t over do it and allow them to break in over time they will become like an extension of your feet and will be your favorite shoes to wear!

Western boots can be found in just about any shoe store, but for authentic "Cowboy Boots", your best choices are at exclusive Western Wear Stores. If there's not such a store in your area, there are many options and stores online to find just what you're looking for. Check out the selection at: www.thecowgirlboutique.com. Try out a pair of "Western" or "Cowboy" boots and see if they don't become a favorite part of your wardrobe!

Cowgirl Spotlight - Enid Justin

Who says Cowboy boots are all about "cowboys". I was reading today about Enid Justin. She was the founder of Nocona Boot Company. Enid started making boots with her father, Joe Justin, at the age of 15. When her brothers decided to move the Justin Boot Company to Fort Worth in 1925, Enid felt that her father would have wanted to stay in the town of Nocona, where he had started his business. So the Justin Boot Company moved to Fort Worth and Enid, starting with $5000.00 borrowed money, started Nocona Boot Company in Nocona. After building the company's national reputation as a quality bootmaker of the next 50+ years Enid merged her company with Justin Industries in 1981. She continued to serve as honorary chairman and consultant until her death in 1990 at the age of 96! Enid was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame before her death.

Just goes to show that "cowgirl" IS all about attitude and grit.

Great Western Horse Vacation

I'm always looking for fun things to do with horses and today I came across a really cool vacation package on Ebay. Its a package for a mother and daughter vacation on a real ranch in Texas. Now the problem for me is: should I go and take my daughter, or should I be generous and send my daughter and her daughter , or I could just take me and my granddaughter! Well, maybe they would consider a three generation package. :) Anyway, I put it on my website - The Cowgirl Boutique - go check it out for yourself.

Speaking of fun things to do with horses, now that the weather is getting nicer, I need to stop spending so much time on the computer and get out there on my own! Catch ya later!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

I've always been a cowgirl at heart. I didn't grow up on a ranch, but a farm in the midwest was the next best thing. From the earliest memories I have, a cowgirl was all I wanted to be. Roy Rogers was my hero (now you know how old I am!). My favorite toys were a stick horse with a red plastic head with white features and my trusty set of six shooters and holster. I think I had dolls, too, but they were mainly "extras" (along with my 2 little sisters) in my great cowgirl adventures. Nowdays, besides being a grandma, I have 2 horses and live on a farm with cows, so I'm pretty happy! There's lots to being a cowgirl and I'll be sharing lots of facts and fun stuff as the days go by.