Cowboy boots appeared in Texas cities in the middle of the 19th century. At first, they were worn exclusively by cowboys and ranchers, who noted their unusual practicality and endurance. Later, high boots with a Cuban heel and a pointed toe became a traditional element of Western fashion and culture. Read more on dallaska.
Perfect riding boots
Since horseback riding was an integral part of the life of every resident of the state of Texas, Dallas was no exception. As soon as cowboy boots became popular among the townspeople, the number of craftsmen who were ready to make them in the shortest possible time increased. The design of the shoes was individually selected. In the middle of the 19th century, it was greatly influenced by the culture that was imported to America from Spain by the so-called vaqueros. At the end of the century, after the events of the industrial revolution, mass production of cowboy boots became possible.
There is a legend that the first cowboy boots were made in America by a Kansas farmer named Charles Hyer. He made shoes for another farmer. When he started driving around the villages in them, everyone started to share information on where to buy such shoes.
Cowboy boots can without exaggeration be called ideal for riding, because they have:
- high upper parts that protect the feet from bushes
- pointed toes, which facilitate access to the stirrups
- high heels, which help to confidently stay on the horse
- spurs used to indicate the direction of the horse’s movement.
Cowboy boot styles
There are two main styles of cowboy boots: western and roper. Western (or it is also called classic) style is distinguished by a high upper part, which usually reaches the middle of the calf. The heels can be angular (cowboy) or free. The roper can be recognized by the significantly shorter length of the boot and by the unusual embroidery in the middle, which is not at all characteristic of classic cowboy boots.
Over time, cowboy boots constantly changed their design, which made their style almost the same. Dallas residents have always preferred classic boots with a pointed toe. In addition, their shoes stood out among others thanks to decorative seams, intricate leather work and rather exotic materials. Dallasites liked to order or buy boots made from ostrich, alligator, snake or buffalo skin. Although usually most shoes are made of cowhide. In the 2020s, cowboy boots began to be made from vegan leather. The material is made from plants specifically for those customers who avoid any animal products.
How to care for cowboy boots?
Due to the fact that the boots were put on every day, they quickly became dirty. Cleaning them and making them look good again has become a real art. Not every man could clean his shoes by himself, so his wife or a specially trained person often helped him.
Since cowboys had to spend hours in mud and water, their shoes had to be cleaned each time depending on these factors. If the boots were simply dirty, they were washed with warm water and soap. Spots were cleaned with a brush with soft bristles. In a few minutes they looked like new. More effort had to be made if the shoes got wet. In this case, they first washed it in clean water and tried to find a place where the air would be conditioned as best as possible without sunlight.
From function to fashion
Contemporary life in Dallas no longer requires people to herd cattle, wade through thickets and ride horses every day. However, cowboy boots remained part of the culture, becoming traditional footwear.
Cowboy boots are often worn during events where traditional clothing can be worn. They are usually festivals, fairs, concerts and other public events. They do not forget about the culture of their ancestors even during private events. Thus, you can often see how tour guides on farms meet guests fully dressed as cowboys: in a hat, shirt, vest, pants and cowboy boots.
As everyone knows, modern fashion is constantly looking for ideas and trends in the history and traditions around the world. That’s how cowboy boots waited for their return to fashion houses. When famous brands started to promote traditional shoes, people began to show a desire to bring them back into their lives en masse. In the early 2000s, cowboy shoes began to be bought for weddings. Many residents of Dallas arranged themed wedding photo shoots, made a dress code for guests of the ceremony, etc. In the modern world, it became clear that cowboy boots have no gender. They can be seen equally often on both men and women. Men’s models are made from rough leather and add a minimum of design, while women’s legs are decorated with models with refined and elegant lines.
A sculpture of cowboy boots located in the state of Texas
Bob Wade is a world-renowned American artist from Austin, Texas. Throughout his life, Daddy-O has admired nothing more than the natural beauty and cultural heritage of his native land. He often traveled within the state and repeatedly visited Dallas. One of those things that really impressed him was traditional footwear, cowboy boots. Therefore, when the artist participated in the Washington Project for the Arts in 1979, he decided without hesitation to create a giant statue of cowboy boots. Its size is impressive: forty feet high and thirty-five feet wide. During the exhibition, the statue set a world record and was recognized as ‘the largest cowboy boots’.
The design of the boots consists of black, brown and white faux ostrich leather. With its color scheme, the statue seems to convey all the pride of the cities of the state of Texas for their traditional shoes.
After the exhibitions held as part of the art project ended, Bob Wade was asked to remove his creation. Since the man did not know where to put such huge boots, he decided to simply leave them at the exhibition site. Soon, Bob got a call from the owners of North Star Mall in San Antonio. They wanted to buy them. So, the statue of cowboy boots became a real business card of North Star Mall. $20,000 was paid to the workers to disassemble them and load them onto three flatbed semi-trailers. On January 16, 1980, the boots were assembled again in their permanent place. From that moment, they became the main decoration of the city.
Every citizen considered it necessary to take a picture next to traditional Texas shoes. An ideal photo was considered if it was possible to climb onto the boots. Then, Bob Wade’s cowboy boots became a true center of entertainment. DJs and radio presenters have been placed on top of the statue. They climbed with the help of a ladder, which was placed behind the boot. Hundreds of people gathered outside the shopping and entertainment center to dance with cowgirls to music played by DJs. There was another side of events, when city beggars settled in boots.