Well, snaps were never seen on western shirts until 1946. When we speak of western wear we must think of where it originated, the western states of the USA. The first blue jeans were Levis and made 1871. They were designed for western miners and cowboys. Wrangler got in on the scene in 1904. All early jeans had a button fly. So by early 1900's cowboys and miners were seen wearing button fly denim pants (blue jeans) and long sleeve, button front, cotton or wool shirts. Western wear was made famous by Hollywood and it caught attention worldwide. Most western wear today is just fashion and has little to do with what was functional for the early cowboys or miners. Snap front shirts caught on with working cowboys in the 1950's because of ease of removal when sweaty. Since traditional western working shirts were long sleeve and heavier fabric, cowboys would remove them when not working in hot weather The T or A shirt became a popular undergarment, because it also looked good as an outer garment. So now with all kind of synthetic fabrics and ways of mixing them with cotton, silk, and wool we have access to an amazing choice in western styled clothing. Using western instead of cowboy became popular because it appealed to a larger group. Western clothing stores sell a lot of styles that are Hollywood born or influenced. Early 1920's the term drugstore cowboy became popular to describe the people that dressed in the cowboy clothes of the day, but never worked on a ranch. We don't hear it much anymore, because western wear is a fashion loved by many and not indicative of ones profession. Personally, I hate snap button shirts and button fly jeans. Never wore them and never will. Originally collars on shirt or jackets were so they could be turned up when weather turned bad. They were buttoned or snapped down to keep them in place when not turned up. Now it is just for looks. I rarely wear a collar shirt. I love my women's Carhartt tee shirts, both long and short sleeve. I love my AE mom high rise jeans with taped leg. I love my semi round toed 2 3/4" heel booties. It is western styling, but nothing says I am a former working ranch girl. Boots! The reason for the pointed toe was for riding and ease of putting in the stirrups. The heel was for staying in place in the stirrups as well as for digging in the dirt when roping. The western cowboy boot was really a Spanish design. My father and both grandfathers never wore pull on boots, just lace up. All my great uncles wore pull on custom made traditional cowboy boots. I love pull on boots! I was never one for a sharp toe and the semi round is my favorite. Old Gringos are an example of a pointed toe gone wild. I tried on a pair once and my feet looked twice as long. Hats! I love cowboy style hats but never wear one anymore. I am proud to say one of my great uncles creased his hat a special way in the 1920's and that crease is considered one of the old west cowboy creases. The cowboy of old had his hat made to suit his needs. The design of a cowboy hat was a functional one. Now it is just fashion and a statement. I love looking at all the online western stores. I fill my cart with everything that my heart desires, but never push it to the cash register. I delete emails daily titled, "Faye you must have forgot to checkout." Yes, western wear will continue to change just like all other styles. Companies have to introduce new and revisit old fashions with a new twist in order to keep their coffers filled.
Went a couple of weeks ago, but haven't gone back due to wife being sick with a cold. Cold goes from bad to better, than back to bad. She is calling her PCP today to see about an appointment as soon as she can. Anyway, as far as the Cowboy Church goes, I want to have a private talk with the Pastor about some things I have on my mind about the area.
Good history, but I will add this...…. Roper style boots, be the slip on type or the lace-up type were brought to life by rodeo and tie-down (calf) roping. Here is the history of them: The Roper Cowboy Boot Throughout the 1860s to 1880s, the Classic Western boot was the most popular footwear among cowboys. Eventually, a new boot style appeared when Rodeos and calf roping became popular. This was the Roper boot, which was a predecessor of modern cowboy work boots. Unlike the Classic Western, Ropers had a rounded toe and a low, squared-off heel. This made it more comfortable for cowboys who needed to run quickly after the calf during a Rodeo. These boots may also have a shorter boot shaft and may sometimes feature laces, which makes it fit better around the ankle. Since then, many of the newer cowboy boots share styles with either the Classic Western or the Roper. This classic work boot is still highly popular as both a rider’s boot and a fashion accessory. The "Roper" brand was first introduced in the Denver Market during their January rodeo in 1986. As for me, I chose, first, the pull-on Roper boot and later the lace-up type. Both type of boots allowed my foot to go into my stirrup much easier and ride easier, than the pointed western boot I had before my first pair of Roper boots. For me, it was like the difference between Wrangler jeans and Levi's. Wrangler jeans, for me, were a much nicer jean to ride in than the Levi's. As far as cowboy hats go, wife and I have had/have both Resistol, Wrangler and Rodeo King brand hats. Felt and straw. My wife loves wearing either, whenever she can..……...and, she looks GREAT in hers. Don't see nearly as many ladies, young and older, wearing cowboy hats at a nightclub and/or rodeo than back in the late 90's and early 2000's. Every rodeo my wife went with me to, after we met in 2000, she wore her cowboy hat. She still does.
Something else I either read about or heard, was that many ladies in Hollywood/Beverly Hills see any jeans as to "manly" looking to wear. Now, believe it or not, I tried on a pair of Cinch jeans today. Don't look to bad on an old dude that, basically, is a Wrangler Cowboy Cut jeans man.
Snap western shirts were a blessing when I had my mastectomy since it wasn't easy at first to button and unbutton...and I'm sure others with arthritis in their finger joints benefit from snaps too. Frankly, I've always been more interested in comfort then fashion or the latest style.
Whether its snaps or buttons, either can be hard to do with hand arthritis. Some folks like comfort over fashion/latest style, while other folks like all three. All three is somewhat us.
I always wear a t-shirt under a western long-sleeve shirt, especially in winter months. Actually, in professional rodeo, their rules state the a long-sleeve shirt is worn in the arena during a performance. I now like button-down collars and I don't think snap shirts have them.
I like snap-on shirts. I have had a few of them, as they were more commonly found in Texas than they are in Maine. One thing that I don't like buying online is clothing because nothing ever fits when I order it online.
When I was growing up, I think that all of the real western dress shirts (and most of the work shirts) had snaps and not buttons. When I rode my horse in the parades, or the rodeo grand entry, it was always with a western shirt with some kind of colorful western embroidery on the front, pearl snaps, and either a regular western neckerchief or my eagle bolo tie with turquoise trim. There was a western store in one of the larger towns near Spokane, and sometimes my mom would stop by there when we were on our way home from a Spokane trip. I was never much of a clothes shopper, and lived in my jeans and t-shirt mostly; but I did love looking at all of the colorful rodeo and parade outfits, and the fancy boots. When I learned how to do beadwork, I made myself a beaded hatband with thunderbirds and other Indian designs on it. In high school, I took leather tooling, and got a Tandy kit for a bridle and breast collar, and handtooled, carved and painted a picture of my horse’s head on both of them. I really miss those years of having horses, and riding just about every day. This is me riding with the mounted drill team in the Spokane Lilac Parade.
I missed this before. Beautiful horse Yvonne and I love the timing and capture on this photo with the horse's foot placement and with its head positioned wonderfully and it appears you are just lightly reining. Very stately and authoritative. Again what a beautiful horse and you look great also. Very classy indeed.