Using Western Wear Items to Decorate Your Home

Western wear decor can really liven up a room. There are many ways to decorate your home so it has a beautiful western theme. Adding boot accessories and other western wear items can bring some authentication to your western decor choices.

Begin your decorating plans by deciding what you would like to accomplish with the room you will be decorating. What area of the house will it be in? Would you like to decorate more than one room in the house?

Once you know the location in your home, decide if there are any specific items you would like placed there. Some rooms work well with decorative shelves that you can place items on. Other rooms, such as the kitchen of your home, would be better suited for wall hangings and small trinkets that can be placed on the window ledge above the sink.

It is also important to figure out your budget. While you may have grand plans for your home, a budget helps you make smart choices with your expenditures. Beautiful antique western wear can still be bought on a budget, as long as you use affordable items along with them.

Using western wear items can turn an average item into a beautiful western theme. Small details can make a mediocre room into a beautifully decorated one. Here are a few examples of ways you can add small details to a room to bring in a western theme.

Many times when you enter a home there is a coat rack on the wall by the door. During the summertime, when there are no coats to hang, consider using the hooks as a western decoration. You can hang western wear items, such as cowboy boot straps, cowboy hats, and straw rope to add a western theme.

If you have a shelf in your home decorate it with cowboy boots. The more worn down the boots, the more authentic they will look. Make sure to clean off the boots well before placing them on your shelf, and add other small details such as a straw cowboy hat if there is room on the shelf.

Garage sales are great places to find western wear to use for decorations around your home. Use an inexpensive wood frame and hot glue straw twine around it. You can hang a beautiful western art piece in it to pull off the frame.

American Indian Clothing

Before the white man came, Native American western wear consisted mainly of animal hides. Native American Indian men wore leggings or a loincloth, seldom adding a shirt. Women wore leggings, a skirt, or a one piece dress - depending on which tribe they belonged to.

American Indians used paint as decoration on clothing and on the body, and indicated what tribe they belonged to. Specialized war and ceremonial clothing also varied by tribe. The amount of clothing worn depended largely on weather.

Traditional winter western wear consisted mainly of clothing made from furs for added warmth. Indians of all tribes wore moccasins. The biggest difference between the tribes was in their headdresses and ceremonial clothing.
Clothing adornments differed according to tribe. The Crow liked to use elk's eye teeth, either natural or carved from bone. The teeth represented longevity since they remain long after the rest of the carcass has decayed.

In Idaho the Blackfoot tribe used natural colorings in their clothing. Their western wear emphasized the beauty found in nature. They emphasized the natural beauty of leather and combined colors that blended well together.

As tribes came into closer contact with one another, they began borrowing each others tribal dress. Fringed buckskin clothing, headdresses and woven blankets soon became widely used by all tribes. Indian women also began adding beads, embroidery and other decorations to embellish their clothing.

With the increased availability of cloth, western wear for Indians included cloth skirts, dresses and shirts. "Indian cloth" had white edges that hadn't been dyed during manufacturing. The American Indians used these edges a part of their design along the edges of sleeves and the hems of skirts.

It is still possible to buy and purchase traditional American Indian western wear. It is mainly used for ceremonial purposes. Preserving the American Indian's dress also helps preserve their heritage.

The Most Popular Cowboy Attire

1. Cowboy western wear attire started out of a necessity to protect cowboys from their environment. Now western wear attire not only fits a practical purpose, but a designer purpose as well. Here are the most popular western wear items currently on the market.

2. Jeans: Denim jeans are a favorite pick for cowboys. They provide protection because of their sturdiness, but are comfortable to wear. Most cowboy jeans need to be close-fitted to protect thighs or knees from blistering when riding on horses.

3. Chaps: Chaps are still a popular item. Chaps protect cowboys legs while they are riding horses. They are especially handy when riders have to ride through harsh conditions, such as working with livestock.

4. Cowboy hat: A cowboy hat is easily identified and one of the most popular western wear items to date. A cowboy hat comes in a variety of styles and colors now to fit everyone's tastes and likes. Plus, it is still very practical for anyone working outside in the sun.

5. Gloves: Gloves are a perfect accessory to a cowboy. They are normally made of soft material that is flexible and easy to work with. Leather is the most popular glove material, though deerskin can be a good substitute as well.

6. Cowboy Boots: Cowboy boots are very popular as well. They can bring a lot of style to any wardrobe. Cowboy boots are still a handy accessory for cowboys out of the field as well.

7. Bandanna: In the past cowboys used a cotton bandanna around their necks. It provided cowboys with a neckerchief that protected them from the sun and dust storms, and also was handy for wiping of sweaty faces. Today bandannas are normally only used as an accessory to a cowboy outfit.

8. All of these items have had a history with cowboys back in older days, but they continue to be a popular choice for western wear attire. Western stores are a wonderful place to look around and shop for these items. It is fun to shop for practical pieces of clothing and fashion items as well.

Most Common Western Wear Choices

Below is our list of western wear items that are popular choices to western wear fans. Western wear started out with complete practicality in mind to protect cowboys and ranchers from the harsh environment. Now western wear fits both a practical purpose and a stylish choice as well.

a.) Jeans: Jeans are sturdy, yet comfortable to wear. Cowboy jeans are close-fitted to protect the cowboy's thighs and knees while riding horses. Denim jeans in particular are a favorite choice.

b.) Chaps: Chaps protect a cowboys legs. Riding can have a lot of wear and tear on pants and legs, and chaps help with that. They are very handy when riding through tall bushes or working with livestock.

c.) Cowboy Hat: This is the most popular choice for western wear items. Cowboy hats are a stylish choice because they come in a variety of styles and colors. It is easy to choose one that fits your taste.

d.) Gloves: When working with a horse or livestock, gloves are a very good choice. Choose gloves that are flexible and made out of soft material to allow you a firm grip. Leather gloves are the best choice.

e.) Cowboy Boots: Cowboy boots work well with any style of clothing. They are still made to help aid cowboys that ride on horses. They also bring a lot of style to your wardrobe if you do not.

f.) Bandanna: A Bandanna was used for practical purposes when it first became a cowboy accessory. Cowboys used it to protect themselves from the elements. Now, most bandannas work well to accessorize and pull together an outfit.

All of these choices can really work well together. You can find all of these items at Western stores. Shop around and find one that fits your style and tastes. You can still look fashionable in practical clothing.

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.

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.

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.