As an up-and-coming fashion designer, I like to think that I know a lot about clothes, but until I signed up for a class on western apparel, I really knew very little. Not only is the history of western apparel fascinating, but the complexity and attention to detail that is involved in the making of things like cowboy boots is quite impressive. I had never given much thought to fashion that was authentically American, as everything I always concentrated on usually originated on the runways of Milan or Paris. I think a lot of designers make the mistake of narrowing their view, and then the next thing you know, we're creating trends that are in one day and out the next.
I just love that there is a timeless style that is uniquely American, not to mention the fact that people all over the world love it. When an aspect of fashion has proliferated across the globe over a long period of time, you just know that it is around to stay. Western wear can take several forms--the utilitarian, function-oriented form; the "rhinestone cowboy," fashion-oriented form; and the form in which one or two aspects of western wear show up in another style altogether. This last form is probably the most common these days, especially in more metropolitan areas. There are, however, many people who still sport the full get-up, either because they like it or because they work in a cowboy-esque profession. After all, western apparel was born of necessity, and when it is made for work purposes, you can bet money it will always be strong, durable, and comfortable.
No matter how you choose to wear western apparel--for fashion or function--or even if you choose not to wear it at all, you can't help but have an appreciation for it. Western wear triggers a sense of nostalgia in many people--conjuring up almost idyllic images of life on the range, wide open spaces, campfires, stories of the trail, and the satisfaction of honest, hard work. I believe that having icons in our present day reality that bring about those visuals reminds us to pay homage to where we came from. Not only is western clothing classy AND fashionable, the most wonderful thing about it is that it truly never gets old.