Wrangle your best denim because a certain good old Western staple has got a firm grip on me. It’s made its rounds around generations of pop culture and is only getting more popular –– the cowboy boot. It’s everywhere. I’ve seen it worn on the runways of fashion week, at concerts, weddings, and in the office. It’s a fascinating piece of fashion that has been consistently reinvented, but is a piece that has never changed in actual design while modern-day style evolves around it.Â
The cowboy boot is not just a style, but is a symbol of country culture; the labour life, and horsemanship of the American West. The values of authenticity, practicality, and functionality come first and speak to tradition, hard work, and freedom. Their unchanging design represents that, and there’s a natural classicness to them that charms any modern-day fit and doesn’t steer away the storytelling aspect of fashion.Â
Along with those values come versatility in style and season. We can dress it up with an all-denim suit for fall or dress it down with a mini dress in summer and it will still look good. It can turn into a business-up-top-and-rebellious-down-low fit, pairing the boots with a blazer and tucked jeans. You’ll look chic without even trying. A leather jacket and skirt combo? Nothing says confidence like a rich and edgy aesthetic.Â
Pop culture hasn’t just evolved around the cowboy boot but the Western style itself, and a cultural shift has happened with how people have interpreted the symbol of it. Wearing them has become an outlet of expression, not just lifestyle. In the late 60s and 70s iconic artists like Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones tapped into Western wear as an act of rebellion in the Rock and roll genre. Despite worldwide success in multiple genres like blues, rock and roll, and gospel, Elvis Presley was influenced by the Western aesthetic, as country was his roots. In current times, the style has become more glamourized but still claims the rough-and-tough personality, from artists like Lil Nas X, Kelsea Ballerini, and even Taylor Swift.Â
I wore a pair of cowboy boots for the first time not long ago and they were surprisingly comfortable, and turns out they can actually provide long-term support. Their high shaft supports your ankles and calves, and cushioned insoles make long wear feel less impactful, preventing soreness. In another way, wearing cowboy boots roped in a level of my self-confidence. I’m not sure if it was the pointed toe or that they were wrapped in smooth, rich leather, but it made me feel like I had suddenly stepped into a community that was bona fide and raw. In other words, I didn’t feel trendy by wearing them, but grounded and respected. So, will I be wearing cowboy boots more often? Yes, yes I will.
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.