[Hitch]

Interesting, but to repeat my question of post no.51, do people in these places really dress up like cowboys in their normal daily lives? I mean people who aren't cowboys, obviously.

In eastern Oregon you would notice 'cowboys' by their snapped not buttoned shirts, boots ,usually pull on but laced are seen as well, a cover, baseball style or wide brimmed traditional 'cowboy' , jeans with a worn circle visible in the back pocket and a sturdy jacket as likely as not made of denim. Dressing up usually means newer versions of what was mentioned above. An American made pick-up with gun rack and dog are also required.*
If you're thinking more along the lines of movie cowboys- Yes there are still open range cattle drives and the riders look the part. Open and livestock range land in Oregon is roughly 25K square miles, the poorer the land the more area required to support a steer, so a rider might well be out several days at round-up time.
* An optional interior wire hoop is often installed in the pick-up cab, designed to secure the drivers 'good' hat, suspended from the roof upside down.

 

[JLibourel]

It's just with the "western" shirts, cowboy boots, cowboy hats, those funny string ties etc. being suggested or pictured or discussed, it creates an impression that people wear these things, which is what I meant by dressing as a cowboy. As I never saw anybody dressed like that in the places in the US that I've visited, I wondered if anybody really does, or is it like kilts in Scotland, a kind of tourist thing.

A few decades back, there were quite a few dedicated "Western wear" stores in Los Angeles. I actually had quite a bit of Western apparel at one time myself. I think such establishments are less common if not extinct these days, the result of changing demographics and tastes, but I seldom get up to Los Angeles these days. I am pretty sure there are no such stores in Long Beach, where I live. When I was growing up in Central Los Angeles, when it was still largely white, a few of my neighbors wore Western wear almost exclusively.

 

[Oldsarge]

There are still a few individual stores and then there's the Boot Barn chain in twenty-three states. They're all over the place. In fact, Jan, if you want some Western close by, there's a BB in Los Alamitos on Katella.

 

[Tilton]

It's just with the "western" shirts, cowboy boots, cowboy hats, those funny string ties etc. being suggested or pictured or discussed, it creates an impression that people wear these things, which is what I meant by dressing as a cowboy. As I never saw anybody dressed like that in the places in the US that I've visited, I wondered if anybody really does, or is it like kilts in Scotland, a kind of tourist thing.

Bolo ties have largely disappeared but cowboy boots, Wrangler jeans, western shirts, cowboy hats, etc. have a pretty strong hold. In fact, real cowboys do indeed still exist in states like Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and California (probably also Nevada, but I haven't been to Nevada or known anyone who has lived in Nevada, so I can't say for sure). Right out of college, I had a two roommates from Texas (one from Falfurrias and one from Alpine) and I would conservatively say that 50% of their wardrobes consisted of western shirts (with the pointed yoke and pearl snaps instead of buttons) and jeans and they wore cowboy boots almost everyday unless wearing sandals or sneakers.

 

[Oldsarge]

I might also point out that the American Indian 'sort-of' uniform is jeans, cowboy boots, a chambray shirt and either a leather belt with a beaded buckle or one made of silver conchos. No cowboy hat, though. A ponytail or pair of braids is more usual. Really! One of the members of my thesis committee is the chairman of the American Indian Studies department and he dressed like that when lecturing on American Indian Art and Craft. So did all the Indian students and by the end of the semester half the white kids, too.

Unfortunately, my back will no longer permit me to wear my Tony Lamas. I do want a pair of alligator ropers, though . . .

 

[Jersey Boy]

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful posts. I think I'm going to go with a tan suit from Brooks Brothers that will keep me grounded in what I think is appropriate for how I'd like to present myself (although, I think most people will have on jeans).

I have a bolo tie with a Hawaiian crest that was given to me by the great grandfather of my wife. Her family will be there, and that item will be a conversation piece regardless of it's fashion appropriateness.

I will bring the hat. I'll see if everyone is getting into the "cowboy" theme, it's going to be mostly visitors from outside Montana, so we'll kind of make our own rules. If it seems to be the trend, I'll wear the hat. I'm serious that there will be people with aloha shirts. Probably, they will have on some cowboy hat as a nod to the location. As I said before, it can't be helped.

My question is on the shoes. I have saddle shoes. They seem not to be the choice of people who actually sit in a saddle, but it's a tough association to ignore. My alternative is brown wingtips.

I'm sure I'd be able to find an occasion to wear cowboy boots again, but I'm hoping to get through this without purchasing them.

I do have a thick leather belt with a large buckle. (It has a mustache on it and actually flips down so it can hold a beer bottle.) I know, wrong forum. But it's also a conversation piece.

As I said before, when I step out of my traditional conservative dress, I tend to go for the costumey. Stop me before I embarrass my family!

Or shall I just go for it and have fun?

 

[Jersey Boy]

Beer belt buckle FYI

https://www.thebeerbuckle.com/El-Jefe_p_408.html

Not your typical AAAC wear, but fun.

 

[Fraser Tartan]

Go to any larger Mexican neighborhood and you'll find many shops selling cowboy-cut Wranglers, cowboy boots, tooled belts, cowboy hats, etc. This is a common mode of dress for them. Seen often on those who work outdoors. I would guess in this state alone we have several million men who dress this way at least during the work week.

 

[Tilton]

Go to any larger Mexican neighborhood and you'll find shops selling cowboy-cut Wranglers, cowboy boots, tooled belts, cowboy hats, etc. This is a common mode of dress for them. Seen often on those who work outdoors.

Yes. And not just Mexican - also popular with just about all Central Americans. In fact, I've more than once wandered into a "western wear" store that blasts norteño and sells a huge amount of votive candles and has very few English-speaking employees and left with a haggled-down purchase (my previous job required a professional proficiency in Spanish). CMDC knows exactly where I'm talking about.

As an aside, I work for a small, Hawaiian-based tech firm. Prior to working here, I thought aloha shirts were 99% kitsch. Nope. I have counterparts in Hawaii that wear them every day, as evidenced by VTC meetings.

 

[Hitch]

My question is on the shoes. I have saddle shoes. They seem not to be the choice of people who actually sit in a saddle, but it's a tough association to ignore. My alternative is brown wingtips.

Just say no.

 

[Grayson]

...My question is on the shoes. I have saddle shoes. They seem not to be the choice of people who actually sit in a saddle, but it's a tough association to ignore. My alternative is brown wingtips...

No. Just... no.

If the wingtips are your only alternative, then go with them.

Forgive the forensic assessment (now that the deed is done), but you would've gotten far more wear opportunities from a pair of conservative, well-made boots than a cowboy hat.

 

[StylePurgatory]

Blucher boots resemble paddock boots.

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[Tilton]

Forgive the forensic assessment (now that the deed is done), but you would've gotten far more wear opportunities from a pair of conservative, well-made boots than a cowboy hat.

Very much agree with this, but perhaps you can return and exchange the hat for good boots - they're often sold in the same store.

 

[Jersey Boy]

Very much agree with this, but perhaps you can return and exchange the hat for good boots - they're often sold in the same store.

You are all killing me with the anti-hat opinions. I think I mentioned that the NEWARK, store I bought if from was a haberdashery. (I'll translate that - there are no cowboy boots sold in Newark haberdasheries. No return-for-boots option exists in this case.) Anyway, I'm happy to keep the cowboy hat. Trust me, I'll wear it somewhere.

I'll leave the saddle shoes at home. Thanks for the unanimous response on that.

I'm surprised there were no snide comments about the kitchy belt buckle. But the hat? A definite no? {Sigh.}

Now, we'll be in Montana for a while before the wedding. Won't I want the hat if we go on a trail ride, or something? Come on, throw me a bone here.

I have to say, I'm kind of psyched that I came to AAAC and was advised to wear boot cut wrangler jeans and to emulate the style of dress of Mexican laborers.

I did not expect that. Yo estoy muy impresionado. iViva Montana!

 

[StylePurgatory]

I think your plan with the hat is dead on. If others are wearing them, and getting into the theme that way, wear it. If not, leave it in the car. Can't see how that could go wrong. Same way you might leave your tie behind if you feel over dressed.

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[Jersey Boy]

I think your plan with the hat is dead on. If others are wearing them, and getting into the theme that way, wear it. If not, leave it in the car. Can't see how that could go wrong. Same way you might leave your tie behind if you feel over dressed.

Right? I don't want to be the only guy without a hat! Thank you.

 

[StylePurgatory]

Yeah. It's not like it's short pants and knee socks; easy enough to just not wear.

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[Gurdon]

Yeah. It's not like it's short pants and knee socks; easy enough to just not wear.

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Short pants and knee socks are very easy not to wear.
Gurdon

 

[StylePurgatory]

Short pants and knee socks are very easy not to wear.
Gurdon

Not as much, once you have them on.

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[Grayson]

A good rule is to never ask a question when you don't want to hear the answers.