In 1952, Arthur A. Callister began trading wool with his father in a little shop on Redwood Road in Salt Lake City, Utah. Noticing how many customers were in need of quality tack to outfit themselves and their horses, AA Callister's Western Wear and Tack was born! Over 50 years and many satisfied customers we are still a family owned tack shop still located on the original site. We are proud to represent the traditions and lifestyles that made the West famous. We are also proud to feature some of the finest tack, clothing, and equipment made. Come live part of the American West today!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Fashionable Western Wear Items to Wear to Horse Shows


Western wear show outfits need to be in good form if you want to wear them during this years shows. Western show season has already started. The beginning of the year is a great time to make sure that your wardrobe is up to par.

Out of date clothing choices will catch judges eyes, to be sure, but not in a good way. Find items that will bring you attention but for the right reasons. Western wear show items need to be in fashion this year, not three years ago.

Upgrade worn items or out of style items and put the rest aside. Some western wear items may not be suitable to wear to this years show, but they can still be used in the future for other events. Look through your closet and see if you have any items that need to be replaced.

It is important to find western wear clothing that is comfortable and will fit you well. You will do better in your show event with both of these purposes in mind. Show clothing has a purpose and it is important to remember that.

Black is a very popular choice because there are so many things that can coordinate with it. It offers a lot of versatility as far as clothing choices go. The majority of riders choose to wear black as their base color with western show clothing.

Riders are being judged for more than just style, and wearing dark pants and chaps will make movements in your legs much less noticeable than light colored pants would. Black is a classic color and works well with show riding. If you are bored with the color try spicing it up with a bright colored cowboy hat instead of brightening up the rest of your outfit.

Natural tones are the next popular choice. Different colors can be worn besides black if you do not want to wear it. Consider using colors that can coordinate well together, such as greens, blues and browns.

Try on your outfits to make sure that you will be comfortable riding in them before making your choice to stick with them. You can see what styles are still in season by visiting horse shows before you compete. This will give you a good idea of whether your western wear show apparel is still in fashion.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Quick History of Western Wear


Western wear apparel came in to being during the 19th century. It was worn by now famous cowboys such as Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid. While the styles worn back there are different than western wear worn today, it founded the styles that have evolved today.

Western wear began with plain origins. Simple trousers had canvas tucked in them to keep their legs from chaffing and their pants from wearing down. They also wore cotton shirts that were simple, with no collar so they could easily slide the shirts on and off.

Bandannas were an important accessory. They kept cowboys safe from the elements. It protected their necks from the sun, and protected their wind pipes from dust storms while out on the plains.

Cowboy hats were another essential accessory. Cowboy hats also provided a lot of protection from the heat of the sun. It was also a handy drinking cup whenever they ran across a stream or watering hole.

These simple styles remained for some time. It was revived when Hollywood began making Western movies. Western wear styles became popular once more thanks to movie stars such as John Wayne.

The public started wearing western style clothing more regularly starting in the 1960s. Cowboy items were making their way in to general stores and people who were not cowboys began making fashion statements with cowboy attire. Even the Beatles wore cowboy boots and cowboy hats.

The apparel became even more popular once Nashville musicians began wearing them in concerts and music videos. While these stars are obviously not cowboys, but musicians, they brought a new dimension to western wear attire. Distressed leather, and more varieties of cowboy boots and hats were introduced in a more trendy style.

Currently there are hundreds of different styles of western attire available. You can choose to buy replicas of authentic cowboy attire from the pioneer days, or more trendy styles like Nashville country music stars wear. With so many options available, you are much more likely to find something that fits your taste and style.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Guidelines With Western Show Clothing




There are certain guidelines that need to be followed when competing in Western Shows. Your clothing needs to be carefully chosen so you have the best chance of doing your best during the competition. Below are a few guidelines.

Showmanship classes do not judge the horse as much as they judge the rider. It is important to find an outfit that reflects you well. Outfits need to be chosen to minimize small actions.

Darker shades are best with western wear. Light colored clothing tends to show off movement a lot more than darker clothing does. When you are competing you want to keep distracting movement to a minimum.

Because you are the one being judged, don't draw extra attention to your outfit. Find an outfit that has a matching colored top and bottom. Drastically different western wear top and bottoms are distracting during competitions. Use a good showmanship pattern by keeping attention to your outfit to a minimum.

Horsemanship still reflects mostly on the rider, not the horse. It is very similar to showmanship, though you are now riding your horse. Remember during this type of class you want to keep your clothing looking fresh.

Small details are big deals in placing competitions. The rider's movements, if easily seen, can distract from his or her performance. Be sure that the western wear clothing worn flows with both the top and bottom.

When riding a horse it is important that your western wear outfit does not look like your waist simply cuts off. Continue using the same color bottom and top. If you decide to wear light colored jeans make sure to remember that your actions can quickly be spotted by judges.

Western pleasure classes are much more relaxed. The horse is the one being judged, so the rider is not being focused on. Be sure to keep your outfits coordinated, though you can wear vibrant and colorful western wear tops and dark bottoms that look well together.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Western Wear: Western Gun Holster

Cowboys are known for their unique style. Cowboys are always going to have a classic style. Modern cowboys also have an updated edge to their western wear, while also keeping up with the traditional cowboy accessory items.

Things were different in the Wild, Wild West. Cowboys needed to have guns on them at all times, in case of invasion or emergencies. The hip shooting technique was very popular during this time, which began the cowboys to strap on western wear gun holsters.

There is no need to wear gun holsters today. The only need to wear a gun on you at all times are only if you are a cop or detective. Otherwise it can be impractical and dangerous.

However, you do not need to have a fun in the holster to have a cowboy western gun holster. Even with out the gun, a gun holster can add another dimension to a cowboy outfit. If you would like it to case a gun, just remember that the gun should fit in the holster tightly since leather holsters are known to stretch.

If you would like your cowboy style to remain classic, a western wear gun holster can be an important accessory to your wardrobe. Find a holster that is firm, but still flexible. Leather gun holsters are a popular choice because they allow a tight fit for your gun, but they stretch to allow you to easily access your gun when you need it.

Western gun holders were important in the 1800s. They can still be used in today's fashions. They come in many different colors and designs.

Gun holsters can match the rest of your western wear. Holsters can be designed to match your cowboy hats, cowboy jackets, and cowboy boots. That way you can tie together all of your western fashion articles of clothing.

Guns are not carried on our person all the time, but that does not mean we have to stop benefiting from the style that gun holsters provide. Gun holsters can still be a great accessory to western wear. Cowboy fashions can be classic with out being outdated.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Cowboy Style: North America


There is no doubt that cowboys have a style of their own. A cowboy hat is one piece of their attire that definitely stands out. Usually if a hat is worn, a cowboy is easily recognizable by those around him.

Cowboy hats have really allowed cowboys to be noticed in North America. They are easily recognized by the general public. Traditionally these hats bring on a style of their own.

Cowboy hats are easily recognizable because of their design. They have a wide brim around the hat, with a high crown. All hats are different, but these hats usually have the same basic design.

While the build of the hats are all pretty similar, the materials they are made from differ. The most common material used for the hat is felt. Straw and leather are also other popular options.

They usually will have a small band on the inside of the hat. This is put in place to help them stay on your head. Most hats will also have a decorative headband around the crown.

Cowboy hats come in a variety of colors. Brown, black, white, and beige are the most common colors used with the hats. Other colors can be used as well, though they are not as commonly used.

In old Western movies the villains usually wore black hats. Thus, the term "black hat" came in to meaning. A black hat today is used when referring to someone who is doing unethical activities.

Cowboy hats are used by many different people. Actual cowboys like them because of the advantages they provide when they work outside. These hats are also popular with ranchers and horseback based animal herders, for the same advantages the hat provides to cowboys. However other people wear them, such as when they go country dancing. Country singing stars also wear the hats as a symbol to their music genre.