Question about cowboy attire

Maddie&EthansMom wrote: I was under the impression that there were western shops everywhere and that everyone/anyone could purchase cowboy boots if they so desired. (not talking about the internet)

A friend of mine from Atlanta is coming to TX in a couple of months and she wants a 'real pair of cowboy boots'. I'm stumped on where to find them. All we have around here are real cowboy boots. (Assuming she doesn't want me to take them off the poor ol cowboy's feet.) Seriously, you can find a western shop on every corner. Okay, so cowtown (Ft Worth Stockyards) would be the place to go for the custom cowboy boots, but you can get some great boots without paying over $1,000 for them. She does want some 'dressy' boots. She is originally from Boston, but I still assumed you could find boots in Atlanta. I've resumed to the fact that she wants "Texas cowboy boots" as a souvenir.

So, my question is, can you find cowboy boots in your town? Do you have western shops? Is it odd to see people in western attire? Do you see cowboys often? (I know some of you live with them ) It is nothing around here to see someone in boots or a hat...even in the city. We all own cowboy boots, too (and wear them often)

coasterqueen replied: Well I've worked for 2 bosses who own horses so it's not odd for me to see someone in cowboy boots and cowboy attire. My current boss is nicknamed the Marlboro Man. He's a very handsome guy (all the ladies swoon over him SERIOUSLY and so do a lot of guys ) and he really does look like a cowboy. So again, living out in the country I see a lot of people wear cowboy attire being that they either have farms, raise horses or cows.

As far as shops I know there are a few but have never stepped foot in one of them.

I remember when I was little and my dad wanted a pair of cowboy boots. I thought he was so gay wanting a pair until the 80's when they became popular (or was it 90's?) and I just HAD to have a pair.

I particularly like cuttin' boots much better than plain old cowboy boots.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: I know of one store here that sells cowboy attire and one store where I used to live in Southern California. Ther should atleast be the chains like Western Warehouse everywhere.

Bee_Kay replied: I have no idea....

living in northern MN ya know
But, I remember when cowboy boots were the "in" thing, so I bought a pair... only wore them a couple times because I felt completely ridiculous in them!! LOL (there is snow here 6 to 7 months out of the year)!! hahaha

luvmykids replied: Most places around the state you see more cowboys than regular joes. We're still very much a ranching/farming/rodeo type of state.

You can get it everywhere here, but we are a cowboy type place, ya know? I would't expect to find them in Atlanta, I don't think. I think if you did find it somewhere like that its more like the "fashion" cowboy boots, kwim? The crazy designers who think they've put a cool twist on western, if that makes sense.

But around here we're pretty snobby between "real" cowboy gear, etc and "tourist" type stuff. We have both and to be honest you can pick out the tourists a mile away and boy do they get made fun of. Please don't let her get anything ridiculous!

TANNER'S MOM replied: Humm yes they are here. Not alot of real tack shops where you buy actual rodeo equipment and saddles..but alot of Western Attire.

www.cavenders.com
www.drysdales.com

I think she would love it those. Here we aren't far from a Justin boot outlet so I get flashy boots for nothing..and I love it.

I am wanting some neon green ones with a matching rhinestone belt now!

Kaitlin'smom replied: I know of one place about 45 minutes from where I live to buy them. My boss who is fromTX would probably know better. I dont see cowboys often here in Ohio but my boss does were it often, hat, duster, boots.

luvmykids replied:
Mel, you would love the pair DH just got me, I've had one of the rhinestone belts with the leopard forever and he found boots that are too!

I like flashy too, I don't really know how to explain what I mean about the difference between cheesy tourist cowboy stuff, Mel, do you know what I mean though?

TANNER'S MOM replied: oh Btw.. our local Wal Mart sells Wranglers cowboy cut 13MWZ so we buy Wranglers at Wal Mart.

Wal Mart also sells a brand of boots called ACME.. I have bought them.. they dont' last long for every day wear..but most people dont' wear them everyday like we do.

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well yes I do..

Real cowboy boots don't come from the mall.. those are fashion boots.

They are in style right now..but they aren't real...lol

Real cowboys who rodeo especially love flashy, they tuck their pants in to show off the top of the boot..and when they are spurring and the chaps are flappin it's noticable..lol That is why the cowboys like flash..

It's cowboy bling bling!

Kaitlin'smom replied: I would love to have a pair, never have owned any

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Okay..so that is what she meant by 'real'. Cowboy boots purchased at a western store. Those are the only cowboy boots that I know of so I was stumped. We all have cowboy boots in my family. My dad wears them with everything so I never paid attention. I need a new pair and so does Scotty. Ethan doesn't have any (yet), but I found some really cute ones online (sheplers.com) that I want to buy him. He has the wranglers, but no boots.

She is very classy. I'm sure whatever she buys will look great!

TANNER'S MOM replied: I can't wait to see Ethan in his little boots

I have all my kids first tiny boots as decoration in my living room. Tanner's is size 5 Justin Work Boots with little spurs attached..lol I will keep them forever!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Mel...

When we put Ethan in his big boy bed we are redoing his room in Western stuff. We have Scotty's cowboy boots when he was an infant. Oh they are SO CUTE!! We will put those in there, too.

Maddie's boots are pink

luvmykids replied:
I hope I didn't come across wrong, I didn't mean your friend would look silly or anything, I just meant I feel sorry for people who *think* they're getting the real deal and end up looking like Jim Carey in Dumb and Dumber. Hope I didn't offend you.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I'm never offended and I rarely take anything the wrong way. I knew what you meant.

C&K*s Mommie replied: To answer your questions, I believe that we have western shops around here. I do not shop there, and I have never really paid much attention. I know TLH had one (at least) since Chris' GP's old house was right next door to a shop.
It is no more wierd to see cowboy attire on people, than to see "Jesus' walking down the road (have not seen him in quite some time) or 'Mary Poppins' riding her bike around town.

I hope your friend has success in getting her souvenior boots in Texas like she wants to.

PrairieMom replied: We have a few shops here, an RCC western store, and one other one. I've never been in either.
I live in the biggest city in South Dakota, and while we aren't a metropolis by any means, we are a large city. about 150000 people and growing.
We are surrounded by farm land, but it isn't RANCH land. We have quite a few "cowboys" but I call them urban cowboys. IMO they aren't the real thing. It dirves me nuts when I see someone in the whole get-up with boots hat and buckle and all that, but they have never saddled a horse. (no offence to anyone who likes that attire, this is just my oponion)
Anyway, My DH is originally from Wyoming. They have real cowboys there there. I was totally floored that their walmart has a cowboy section.

Cece00 replied: I'm sure we have a couple of places here.

You dont see many cowboys around here....if you do, they are usually guys from the sticks who we call "country", and its kind of like a joke to everyone b/c its like "country came to town". They are usually those "pseudo cowboys" as we call them...HUGE belt buckles, etc....probably dont even own a horse, etc.

My3LilMonkeys replied: We have a few small western shops around here. You don't see a lot of people in cowboy hats/boots for everyday wear - that's for special occasions like county fairs.

I don't own a pair but DH does. He wears them on occasion but he won't buy a cowboy hat b/c he thinks they're silly looking.

earlsmom replied: I'm in East Texas so yes we have real cowboys. They ride rodeos, raise cows, etc.

I get tickled at the "outsiders" that come to town for a party or social event and they are dressed like they just came from a Dude Ranch . I know people that live in the bigger cities think that is all we wear, but actually we do wear regular clothes.

CantWait replied: IN Alberta, you can definetly find cowboy boots and western wear. Within a 15 minute drive, I can think of at least 4 shops that sell that kind of gear.

NEWMOM05 replied: Here in Vegas we have several Western Wear shops. We have the National Finals Rodeo here and The Heldorado Rodeo as well so during those times of year we see Western Wear. During other times a little bit, but not too much.

luvmykids replied:
I love the NFR. DH and I have never been together, we just started trying to plan it this weekend.