Cowboy style of clothing is differentexpressive models, convenience and practicality. During its entire existence, it has hardly changed. The birthplace of this trend is considered to be the United States of America, or more precisely the territory that used to be called the "Wild West". The Americans themselves call this style "western". Just a few decades ago, such things were worn mainly by cowboys and farmers, that is, strong men who moved a lot, carried heavy things, rode horses, periodically took part in fights, worked in the field. Therefore, the main requirements for clothing were practicality and non-marking. The models were comfortable, sewn from natural, "breathing" fabrics. On their heads, cowboys wore wide-brimmed hats that protected them from dust and sun, and on their feet - jeans and characteristic boots, very durable and designed specifically for horse riding. But today such clothes can be seen not only on modern men, but also on cute city girls.
Cowboy style yesterday and today
The emergence of the Western style was facilitated bycertain living conditions. Thus, dust storms, which very often raged in the American prairies, forced cowboys and their wives to wear neckerchiefs, as well as wide-brimmed hats, which did not fall off only thanks to a cord attached to the headdress. As for fabrics, suede and leather gained enormous popularity at that time. These were the most durable of all materials, they did not wear out for a long time and behaved perfectly in everyday life: they did not shrink from washing, did not tear. If holes appeared on the clothes, then a new piece of fabric was sewn on top. Even today, many Western-style models have patches, but this is more a tribute to fashion and a decorative element, rather than a forced necessity. Cowboys wore checkered shirts made of cotton or flannel, which perfectly camouflaged dirt and stains, and, thanks to the material, were not hot. Many people mistakenly believe that the country style in clothing is intended exclusively for men. During the Wild West, girls kept house, so their wardrobe was also practical and comfortable. Women wore wide long skirts with flounces, white blouses with lantern sleeves, decorated with original embroidery and sewing. Dresses were multi-tiered and gathered at the waist, thereby making it visually narrower, and American women wore aprons on top, to which large roomy pockets were sewn. Ladies put various small items needed in everyday life in them. Warm jackets made of fluffy yarn, reaching the waist or lower, were intended for the cold season. Clothes were made of dense material: calico, cotton, wool. At that time, no one knew about the existence of elegant shoes with heels - girls made do with comfortable, durable high boots with laces. As for the color scheme, the costume of Native American women consisted of a light top and a dark bottom. Experts consider hippie clothing to be the closest relative of the Western style. They really have a lot in common, namely: natural fabrics, free spacious silhouettes, an abundance of folklore motifs. However, there is also a fundamental difference. So the wardrobe of "flower children" is a cacophony, a combination of the most diverse, sometimes absolutely incompatible elements. While country obeys certain rules and creates a special, inherent only to it entourage. Today, the cowboy style is mainly preferred by people who are fond of horse riding. And even in this case, the clothing of Native Americans is combined with other modern elements. Thus, the Western, which came into fashion in the 70s of the 20th century, today often returns to the podium in the collections of many famous designers, such as Phillip Lim, Gucci, as well as Christian Dior, Isabel Marant, Anna Sui. Recently, this theme can be seen in the shows of the famous brand Cacharel and fashion designer Derek Lam.
Characteristic features of style
Country style clothing is characterized by pastel colorswarm tones. Primary colors: brown, beige, gray. Buttons are often decorated with metal or wood. Country style is characterized by free and calm silhouettes: dresses, blouses, sundresses, as well as long skirts, wide sweaters and cardigans are made of natural materials - cotton, tweed, linen, wool. Lace, openwork and knitted fabrics are ideal for the Western style. All kinds of patterns, ethnic or country ornaments that decorate clothes are very popular. As for the decoration, it is often beads, lacing, fringe, applique or the already mentioned embroidery. Leather trousers with fringe on the sides, wide comfortable jeans, scarves that are tied around the neck are reminiscent of American cowboys and farmers. Today they play the role of a fashion accessory, but in those days they performed a protective function, preventing sand and dust from getting into the collar of a shirt. An indispensable attribute of the country style is a hat with a wide brim and a cord that helps keep the headdress in place and not fall off while riding. Another distinctive feature of the cowboy wardrobe is a checkered shirt. Girls preferred light blouses with wide sleeves in the form of lanterns. And instead of jeans, ladies covered their legs with long cotton skirts. Dresses were sewn mainly from chintz, complementing the outfit with an apron with large pockets located at arm level. In the Wild West, where instead of asphalt there was dirt, earth and sand all around, people wore comfortable and practical shoes. Men could be seen in high pointed leather boots, and ladies preferred more sophisticated lace-up shoes, naturally, without heels.
Creating an image in the country style
Nowadays, it is rare for anyone to dress in style.American cowboys - such clothes are mainly worn by people who are fond of horse riding. After all, it is very convenient and comfortable: movements are not constrained by a tight style, and the fabric from which country models are made breathes well, so a person does not sweat and can spend his leisure time actively. Such things are ideal for country walks, barbecues in the bosom of nature and work on a personal plot. Modern teenagers quite often arrange costume parties, and for this it is not even necessary to look for a reason - it is enough to wait for Halloween or New Year's carnival. If you are going to such an event and want to try on the image of a cowboy, the instructions below will help in the implementation of your plans:
- First, forget about the stereotypes. To dress in a country dress does not mean to repeat the look of Western heroes. The origin of the traditional American style was a necessity, justified conditions of life of the Wild West. However, today to create an image, it is enough to combine modern models with the clothes of the past. There are a lot of different directions of westerns, for example: "city cowboy", "Tex-Mex" or "Rodeo" and others. Determine what will make you feel most comfortable, and wear such things.
- Looking for inspiration? Turn to pop culture: bright representatives of this style in the clothes were Johnny Cash, as well as Tim McGraw. Look at Westerns or TV shows about the Wild West, pay attention to the individual details of the movie heroes' wardrobe, however, while forming the image, try to preserve your individuality.
- If you decide to limit yourself to jeans instead ofleather pants, then choose comfortable wide models of smooth, but at the same time rough material. As for the color, it can be a classic dark blue or another shade, as close as possible to this color scheme. Perfectly complement the image of homemade denim shorts.
- Strips and tears are the characteristics of a countrystyle. Therefore, it is recommended to use clothes with these elements. You can decorate this decor yourself - cut out round patches from another fabric and sew them on jeans or trousers.
- An indispensable attribute of any real cowboy is a wide-brimmed hat, a leather belt with a massive metal plaque and a checkered shirt. The latter can also be made of denim.
- Girls should pay attention to calicoDresses, light blouses with sleeves-lanterns and long flared skirts. Do not forget about the apron with pockets sewn in front, worn by women who grew up in the Wild West.
- Shoes cowboys, like other elements of theirwardrobe, is comfortable and practical, so choose high leather boots with sharp socks. Young women of fashion are advised to pay attention to shoes, sandals or sandals on a low heel with lacing or straps.
Now you can easily dress in styleWestern. But remember that you don't need to blindly follow the recommendations - add your own character and individuality to the image, then success is guaranteed! We recommend reading:
