From Work Horse to Stylized - The History Of The Cowboy Boot

Many people may think that they have a pretty good grasp on the history of cowboys and a lot of the things associated with them. The fact is that the cowboy boot has quite a storied past. Despite what many people think, cowboy boots did not start in the United States. The first recorded instance of wearing cowboy boots or the precursor to modern day cowboy boots goes all the way back to the 1600’s in England.

The Different Types of Boots That Were Used

There were many different types of boots that were used in Europe at the time. Riding horses was the main type of transportation so having a durable pair of riding boots was essential. Some of the boots were made just for equestrian riding so a specific cut was needed. There were also military cowboy boots that were created by different military supply factories. The boots changed with each culture as they had different styles as well. Often times the different countries took certain styles to make their own to make an original mixed version of the boot to match their culture’s style at the time.

After the industrial revolution the ability to create mass amounts of certain types of boots was possible. The boot “the Wellington” was a popular style and according to America’s Horse Daily it was “a calf-length boot with a low heel, and was easy to mass -produce because of its four-piece construction – the same construction used for cowboy boots today.” During the American Civil War this style of boot was preferred. After the war was over the soldiers took the boots home and continued to wear them as they were a very versatile piece of foot attire.

The next big step was that of H.J. Justin in 1879. Justin was able to produce on a mass scale, a westernized style version of the cowboy boot. This helped mold cowboy boots into what they are today regarding the styles used. People began seeing cowboy boots as much more than riding boots but boots that could be used in everyday life. The cowboy boot industry began to really explode during the 1900’s though.

What Caused The Boom?

As TV and radio became much more prevalent and popular so did cowboys boots. Many heroes in the programs during the time were cowboys. Children and adults looked up to these heroes alike and before Nike or modern day shoe ads, everyone wanted to be like their favorite cowboy hero. During the 1950’s this was especially prevalent and the rise of the rodeo as a form of entertainment also started to gain popularity. Movies years later are also the things driving the cowboy boot style these days. There have been boots that became popular just because an A-list celebrity wore them in a popular movie.

Today cowboy boots are acceptable for almost any occasion. They’re obviously used for riding as well as doing farm work. Cowboy boots can double as down and dirty work boots for certain jobs. Country music and country bars have also seen a meteoric rise in popularity in the past decade or so. This reinvigorated country scene has permeated into the most urban areas, giving an outlet to all the city dwelling cowboys and cowgirls.  

Modern day cowboy boots have roots stretching back more than 400 years and have evolved throughout history and are sure to continue to evolve going forward, to keep up with the fashions of the time. Online boot shops like Russell’s Western Wear have been supplying people with the newest, yet traditional cowboy boots from all of the best boot brands like Justin Boots, Ariat, Tony Lama, Chippewa and more for decades now. Feel free to browse for a pair and once you slip them on, you’ll feel like you’re wearing a little part of history.

 

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