Telling Stories With Western Fashion: History, Materials

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the simple concepts you might consider if you’re using Western fashion to tell a story. This is a common way people utilize numerous different areas of fashion, and the Western garb world in particular offers a number of great options for those going down this road.

At A Cut Above Buckles, we’re proud to offer a wide range of Western products, from trophy and rodeo belt buckles to Western jewelry, Western accessories and more. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over some other ways of going about telling a story with your Western fashion.

Consider the History

There are many different kinds of Western fashion, and it can be useful to consider the history of the different sub-genres of this style. One example is Texas country attire, which was created in the late 20th century by artists such as George Strait and honky tonk singer David Allan Coe. This look involved brown or tobacco-colored boots and hats, plain jeans and denim shirts, bolo ties (or other necktie styles) to match the belt buckle, and a Western hat.

This look is historically significant because it was a major milestone in the history of country music fashion. By creating this style, artists like Coe created their own brand that fans could immediately recognize as part of this country music subculture.

Another example of Western fashion that has a fascinating history is the grunge look, which became popular in the 1990s as an alternative to mainstream style. This consisted of torn-up jeans, flannel shirts (often with a plaid pattern) and beanie hats. It was inspired by bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana, who often combined Western fashion with heavy metal elements for a truly unique look.

Think About the Materials

In addition to considering the history and sub-genres of Western fashion, it’s also important to think about what kind of materials you want your clothing or accessories to be made of. One example is leather, which has been used throughout history to make Western wear. You can find everything from leather boots to belts and jackets in the Western fashion world, and this material has become a hallmark of cowboy style.

Wool is another popular material that’s commonly used in Western fashion. Usually woven into flannel or plaid patterns, wool clothing was first introduced during the California gold rush in the 1800s. It was used then because it was less expensive than leather and offered a great look, which made it perfect for the rugged outdoor life that early pioneers lived.

Other materials that you might consider incorporating into Western fashion include denim (a staple of jeans) and cotton, both of which were originally developed in the 1800s by Eli Whitney to make the manufacture of clothing more efficient.

For more on how to use Western fashion to tell a story, or to learn about any of our custom belt buckles or other great Western products, speak to our team at A Cut Above Buckles today.