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!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Dealing with a Grown-Up Halloween


Growing up it always seems easy to decide what to be. We either had something in mind, or our mom did. Now that we are adults it isn’t that simple since we don’t have mom there to help us out now. We have to make these decisions on our own.

First, we have to find a costume that is comfortable to wear. Not all materials are going to be comfortable to wear. You want to be sure that you can actually stand wearing it for longer than a few minutes.

You also need to be sure that the costume is not going to overheat you. A lot of costumes will work outdoors in the cold fall air, but when you go inside for a themed party you can quickly get extremely hot. To avoid hot flashes find a costume that caters to the temperature you need it to.

Another thing to consider is whether the costume fits you or not. Some costumes are more specific to the size of the costume than others. Unless it is a costume that caters to the “one size fits all” category, be sure to find a costume that is the correct size for you.

Modesty is another thing to consider with adult clothing that you don’t really have to think about as a child. Now it seems that all women’s costumes are made to be “sexy”. If you don’t want to show off that much skin at your work party, you might have to do a little more digging around with your costumes to find one you like.

Some costumes are always going to be classic fallbacks. One classic fallback is the cowboy or cowgirl costume. Dress up in cowboy hats and cowboy boots, and add a plaid shirt or vest and you have a costume. You can make it fun by choosing a fun cowboy hat. There are a lot of different options with cowboy hats, like leather, straw, or even felt.

Other great options are ghosts, vampires and witches. Each allows you to use your own interpretation as far as coming up with the costumes. They also can be found both in stores or can be handmade.

Celebrate Halloween this year with a great costume. Perhaps your costume is already waiting for you in your closet, or maybe you can find accessories at the local store. Whatever your decision, find a costume you feel comfortable with and really love wearing.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

The Magic of Cowboy Parties


All children love to dress up. One of the most popular children’s costumes is the cowboy costume. Children cannot get enough of the western wear attire that comes with dressing up. They love wearing cowboy hats and cowboy boots and pretending to be someone that they have grown up knowing and loving ever since they were little.

There is something magical that happens when a child puts on a cowboy hat. It is like a transformation actually happens. The child is brought in to a fun world of imagination.

When you have a party with a cowboy theme all the rest of the guests behave the same way too. They proudly display their western wear gear. Western parties are popular for boys and are becoming even more popular for girls as well.

There are plenty of designs and styles available for kid western dress up parties. There are a variety of colors that are available to choose from. You can find some that are catered towards bright parties, and others that are more antique.

Costumes also come in different quality levels. Some costumes are cloth or plastic designs. Others are intricate and come with embroidery and embellishments.

If you are hosting a party with both girls and boys be sure to have fun with colors. You can usually find western gear that come in different shades of pinks, blues, greens, etc. Having different colors can be good for co-gender parties.

Cowboy hats can also be a great option if you are having an outdoor party. They are able to protect the kids really well from the harmful rays of the sun. No parent can complain about that.

Kids love dressing up. Dressing up as cowgirls and cowboys has always been a favorite for children. The western movement will always be a classic choice.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Reasons to Get Your Toddler Cowboy Boots


Toddler cowboy boots are a fun footwear item. They look great, but they are also recommended for infants and toddlers. The reasons they are so great is because they not only offer protection for the child’s feet, but they also offer stability.

There are a lot of benefits that toddler cowboy boots can provide. They hold up really well, for one thing. They offer great durability and you know they won’t easily break down and fall apart.

They also can be part of a fun tradition. Some families love to pass the boots along from siblings to siblings, or from cousins and other family members. Since the boots hold up so well some grandparents are even able to pass their toddler cowboy boots on to their grandchildren.

They come in a variety of designs, styles, and colors. They also come in different materials and textures. Usually they are made out of leather, but other materials can also be used and be less expensive.

They are easy to maintain. They look great with any wardrobe piece. You can still look classy in them, whether you are wearing a sweatshirt or a dress shirt and tie.

They also have the ability to be worn any time of the year. You can wear them easily during the wintertime or during the summer. Unlike a sandal or snow boot, cowboy boots work with all seasons of the year.

The problem with children at this age is that toddler’s feet grow very quickly. When purchasing toddler shoes it is important to remember that factor. Getting the boots a tiny bit on the big side may mean they can wear them a little bit longer. Be sure to not get them too big, however.

The other nice thing about purchasing toddler shoes or boots is that they don’t come with adult fastening systems. A lot of the boots come with zippers, flaps, or Velcro, which allows them to be tightened. This may be a great option to look in to as well for your cowboy boots when you are searching for shoes for your toddler.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Using Your Hat as a Fashion Statement

Through out history people have wanted to wear hats and caps. The reason was usually because they needed protection from the harsh environment. While the hats were used for a practical purpose, that did not mean there were all drab.

Hats do make a fashion statement. They make one today, just like they did in the past. Caps a worn in the winter to protect our heads from freezing, and protect us in the summer from the sun. But a lot of headwear is worn simply in the name of fashion.

Women and men use hats today as a fashion accessory. The popular styles for men are cowboy hats and baseball hats. Other types of hats that are rising in popularity are messenger and newsboy caps.

Women appreciate a variety of hat styles. Baseball, sun, paige, and cowboy hats are all types women like to wear. These types of hats come in a variety of styles and materials.

Cowboy hats are made out of many materials, though the most popular choice is leather. Other materials include straw, cotton, velvet, wool, and felt. Men like to use these materials, though the wool and leather hats are the most popular.

Women like embellishments. They like having bows, ribbons, and furs with their caps. Having a hat embellished adds a lot of fun to the outfit and cap. Women like these types of glamorous embellishments, but men usually do not. They like it better when it is free of embellishments. That is why baseball caps are so popular with them.

Hats are a popular costume choice. With Halloween coming up, hats and caps are often used to represent the costume and tie all the costume together. For example, a cowboy hat pulls the costume of a cowboy together really well. With out the cowboy hat the costume would not make a lot of sense.

Wearing hats is a fashion statement. It is nice because there are no rules that garner exactly how you have to wear the hat. The wearer gets to decide how the hat is to be worn, and what type of style they want to wear.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Stretching Your Fashion Cowboy Boots


When you are dealing with fashion cowboy boots, you want to be sure to take care of them correctly. By taking care of them properly they will last longer. Everyone likes having his or her items last a long time, right?

One way to take care of your women fashion cowboy boots is to start wearing them. When you wear your cowboy boots you will naturally stretch them. Stretching makes them a lot more comfortable when you wear them.

Stretching them by yourself is easy to do. It does not require a lot of effort to do it on your own. Even better it does not require any additional money to do it.

You can go to your local shoe repair store and have them stretch them for you. This usually comes with an additional fee. If you do not want to spend the money, you can stretch them yourself.

There are a few different ways you can perform the stretching yourself. Before you take that step, however, you should check to make sure that they are clean inside. You can clean the inside by using a damp cloth.

Cleaning your cowboy boots before wearing them is always a good idea. The shoes might not be clean for very long, but it helps with their appearance. Cleaning them removes lines or marks that may be on it’s inside or outside.

When you are wearing your boots start by wearing socks on your feet. Socks keep your feet warm. This can help the leather get warm and loosen them.

There are other techniques that people can use to stretch after that. Some people use damp newspaper, while others use an actual shaper to soften the boots. Ask your cowboy store if they have any recommendations for you, or how much they charge for this service themselves.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Top Halloween Costumes for the Ladies


Halloween is coming up quickly. If you really want to wow your friends with your amazing costume, now is the time to start planning. Dressing up has always been fun to do, and this year should not be an exception. Here are the top girl Halloween costumes to look for this year.

The Ultimate Cowgirl - Thanks to today's amazing variety of western wear there is no better time to dress up as an adorable cowgirl. Check out western wear shops for authentic western wear, cowgirl hats, and cowgirl boots. Many second hand stores will have western wear options as well. Plaid shirts, vests, and wranglers are in this year.

Superhero - There is nothing more attractive to a guy than seeing his lady dressed up as a superhero babe. There are plenty of options for you to choose from, with the many superhero flicks that have become blockbusters the last few years. Good places to search for inspiration are the heroines from X-men, Fantastic 4, Batman, Spiderman, Tomb Raider, and the like. There are literally hundreds of options to choose from, and you just might impress your date by researching a little more and finding one a little less well known.

Pirate or Wench - This is the decade for pirates! Thanks to the ultra successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, pirates have never been more popular. Dress up as a daring pirate or a beautiful wench this year. There are plenty of costumes you can find online, or come up with one on your own.

Geisha - This is another popular costume option for women this year. For people who want to be cute, but not ultra sexy, this is a great costume choice. There are very beautiful kimonos and Asian accessories that you can find online, or search through costume shops to find one you like. Makeup with this costume can be a lot of fun as well. Ask a friend to help you come up with the perfect geisha face.

Classic Star Wars - Whether you are a nerd at heart or not, everyone recognizes the classic star wars characters. You can dress up as Princess Leah or Queen Amidala. However, you don't have to limit it to just these two. There are plenty of aliens to dress up as in the Star Wars universe, including Yoda, Chewbacca, and most of the Jedi characters in the first 3 Star Wars films.

Fairy - Dress up as a beautiful fairy this year. Fairy wings and sparkles are all that is needed to pull this costume off. If you want to be extra creative you can dress up as a particular fairy, such as the tooth fairy.

Vampire - It is no surprise that vampires are in this year. Thanks to the ultra successful Twilight series, vampires are going to be a very popular costume choice this year. The costumes will not be limited to slicked back hair and wearing all black this year. The most popular telltale sign of vampires this year will be the pale skin and the eyes. Will you be a good vampire with copper eyes, or will they be black or red? The choice is up to you.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Old Western Country Singers Wore Cowboy Hats


The cowboy hat is a defining piece of western wear for farm workers in the United States, Canada and northern Mexico as well as for country singers. It is recognized around the world as part of Old West cowboy lore. Nothing says Wild West more than a cowboy hat.

Classic country music is still popular today, and not just among country music fans. You can still hear country music legends such as Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers played on classic country radio stations all over the world. If you're new to country music, here are some classic artists who wore cowboy hats that you should know about.

Willie Nelson by far is one of the most classic western singers in the business. He’s been around for ages and still rocks the hat as well as the guitar with a style unlike any other. His hat is only outdone by his famous braids and you will be riveted watching him when he sings “On the Road Again.”



Another famous singer who wore the hat with panache was Johnny Cash. What would “Burning Ring of Fire” be without the man in black? He is easily one of the most influential musicians the country music world has ever heard.

“Your Cheatin’ Heart” could be won over by the infamous Hank Williams and his hat. With a career that began at age 14 from winning a talent competition, he won the heart of many. Mr. Williams was one of the first three people to be inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Think it was only the men who wore the hats? Even while “Walking After Midnight,” Patsy Cline wore a cowboy hat from time to time. Only some of her amazing outfits could ever detract from her amazing talent.

Today, singers such as Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw show off classic designs with a modern flair. Cowboy hats add a little something special to those who perform while wearing them. It gives drama to a performance like nothing else can.

In the early days, the cowboy hat was valued for being functional, with the wide brim protecting working cowboys from the sun and rain. While the hats can still serve these purposes, most people wear them for aesthetic value as a part of Western lifestyle. Country music wouldn’t be the same without the hats.