Cowboy Boots: The Pinnacle of Western Wear

Cowboy boots were not always like they are today. In the beginning, the cowboy had to wear whatever kind of shoes he could get his hands on. From moccasins to the boots of sophisticated gentlemen - all types of footwear was worn by the working cowboy when battling the perils of the range. Somewhere along the way, it become obvious that a change was needed to accommodate the safety and comfort of the cowboy, who faced a number of obstacles every day.



Before the appearance of cowboy boots on the western wear scene, southern planter and calvary styles were among the most popular shoes worn by cowboys. That is, until an opportunistic bootmaker and a cowboy, whose name has been buried in the sands of time, put their heads together to create a unique design with some novel features. The product that emerged had a steel-shank arch, a slender toe, and a uniquely-shaped heel which would ensure the security of the foot when braced against the stirrup.



The invention of cowboy boots was an historical event in the history of western wear. It was a development considered only to be exceeded in importance by the invention of the saddle. The event took place in Spanish Fort, Texas in 1878. A man named H. J. Justin had shown up in Spanish Fort that year, fresh off the boat from Indiana, looking for a new opportunity. Justin had two bits in his pocket and a roll of boot leather under his arm. Fortunately, one of the first customers to walk into the tiny shed where he had set up shop was a cowboy who had some new ideas about footwear that would be suitable for his work on the range. That day, the discussions and contrivances of the bootmaker and the cowboy marked a new era in western apparel and footwear.



Those who saw the new approach to cowboy footwear quickly recognized the features that were so ideal for the kind of work cowboys did, making Justin's style the leader in the world of cowboy boots (which it still remains). Word of the new design spread to bootmakers and cowboys all over the American West. Soon after 1880, the new style was fairly standard among cowboys, so much so that they were considered cowboy boots from that point on. Enough can't be said about the importance of cowboy boots in western apparel and American fashion as a whole.

Written by Melanie River. Brand name cowboy boots and western wear at The Boot Store online store for western apparel. Ariat boots, Justin boots more at western-wear-store.com